How to keep kids calm for shots

This year, doctors are recommending flu shots for all kids older than 6 months. Here are tips from pediatricians on easing any fears:

• Explain the reason. Tell your child that vaccinations are a way to stay healthy and strong.

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Reading is one way to keep a child preoccupied while waiting for a flu vaccination in a doctor’s office.

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• Don’t lie. Prepare your child for the fact that a shot will hurt, but that the pain is likely to go away very quickly.

• Act low-key. Talking about shots long before an appointment, constantly reassuring kids and apologizing for pain can make them more anxious.

• Use different words. For some kids, the word “shot” is scary in itself. Try “vaccination” — or your own made-up word.

• Distract them. Read a book out loud, talk about a movie you just saw, take deep breaths together or point out cool pictures in the doctor’s office. Blowing on a pinwheel is a favorite tactic of some pediatricians.

• Take a comfort item. Younger kids might like to hold a favorite stuffed animal or blanket.

• Look away. A child who stares at an approaching needle or hears a countdown before a shot is more likely to tense up, which could make the process more painful.

• Ask about pain relief. If a child is extremely anxious, see if a doctor has numbing gel, cream or spray that could help. Giving a pre-vaccine dose of a children’s painkiller such as Tylenol also can cut down on post-shot discomfort.

• Ask about FluMist. Depending on the child’s age and the spray’s availability, kids may be able to get a nasal spray vaccine instead of a traditional shot.

• Make post-shot plans. Have your child help you decide on something fun to do — a trip to a playground, maybe, or a sweet treat — after the appointment.

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