| Needle pokes: Reducing pain with comfort positions and distraction | 3629.00000000000 | Needle pokes: Reducing pain with comfort positions and distraction | Needle pokes: Reducing pain with comfort positioning and distractions | N | English | Pain/Anaesthesia | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | NA | NA | Non-drug treatment | Adult (19+)
Caregivers | Pain | | 2018-12-18T05:00:00Z | | | | | | 8.00000000000000 | 60.6000000000000 | 689.000000000000 | | Flat Content | Health A-Z | <p>Find out how you can use comfortable positions and distractions with your child to ease pain from needle pokes.<br></p> | | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul><li>Use age-appropriate comfort positions and distractions, along with other forms of pain relief, to help your child cope with needle pokes.</li><li>Infants and young children can be held chest to chest or back to chest. Older children and teens should, ideally, sit upright.</li><li>Some children and teens may benefit from holding a comfort object such as a blanket or stuffed animal.<br></li><li>Distractions can include light-up and brightly coloured toys for infants through to drawing, books, video games and deep breathing for older children and teens.<br></li></ul> | <figure><img alt="Parent holding infant in upright position before needle poke" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/iStock-469943960b.jpg" /> </figure>
<h2>Positioning</h2><p>Using age- and development-appropriate comfort positions can help your child relax and stay still during a painful procedure. To minimize your child’s anxiety, avoid laying them flat.</p><h3>Infants (birth to 12 months)</h3><p>Babies experience pain from procedures, so it is important to comfort them.</p><p><strong>Comfort positions</strong></p><p>Babies need to be comforted before the poke and continue to be cuddled and comforted afterwards.</p><ul><li>Cuddle a swaddled baby and keep them warm.</li><li>Place your baby chest to chest (0–6 months) or back to chest (6–12 months).</li></ul><h3>Toddler/preschooler (1-5 years)</h3><p><strong>Comfort positions</strong></p><ul><li>Have your child sit upright, back to chest, on a chair or bed.</li><li>Hold your child during the procedure if it helps comfort them.</li></ul><h3>School age (6-12 years)</h3><p>School-aged children need to feel in control. Give them age-appropriate information and choices and support them during the needle poke.</p><p><strong>Comfort positions</strong></p><p>School-aged children may or may not want to sit on your lap. Ask your child what is most comfortable for them.</p><ul><li>Sit your child upright, ideally, but let them choose which position is best for them.</li><li>Hold your child or stay close by during the procedure.</li><li>Praise and encourage your child.</li><li>Use a comfort object such as a blanket or stuffed animal.</li></ul><h3>Teenagers (13-18 years)</h3><p>Teenagers should receive information about the needle poke directly and be involved in developing their comfort plan.</p><p><strong>Comfort positions</strong></p><ul><li>Encourage your teen to sit upright, or in whatever position is best for them.</li><li>Stay close by during the procedure, if your teen prefers.</li><li>Give positive reinforcement and encouraging statements.</li><li>Let your teen bring along a comfort object.</li></ul>
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<img alt="Boy playing video game" src="https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/playtime_at_hosptial_school-aged.jpg" /></figure>
<h2>Distraction</h2><p>Distraction works by shifting your child’s focus away from a needle poke or other similar procedure. Ask your health-care team how you can use the
<a href="/Article?contentid=1258&language=English">comfort kit</a> items to provide age-appropriate distraction when needed.</p><h3>Infants (birth to 12 months)</h3><p>Babies experience pain from procedures, so it is important to distract them.</p><p><strong>Distraction techniques</strong></p><ul><li>Light-up or brightly-coloured toys</li><li>Singing</li><li>Baby’s favourite object</li><li>Patting baby and using soothing voice during the procedure</li><li>Pacifier</li></ul><h3>Toddler/preschooler (1-5 years)</h3><p><strong>Distraction techniques</strong></p><ul><li>Light-up toys</li><li>Pop-up picture books</li><li>Drawing or colouring</li><li>Bubbles</li><li>Singing</li><li>Music</li><li>Favourite objects from home</li></ul><h3>School age (6-12 years)</h3><p>School-aged children need to feel in control. Give them age-appropriate information and choices and support them during the needle poke.</p><p><strong>Distraction techniques</strong></p><p>Actively engage your child with one or more distractions. Offer several options to meet their needs.</p><ul><li>Books or magazines</li><li>Videos</li><li>Video games</li><li>Drawing or colouring</li><li>Deep breathing</li><li>Singing</li></ul><h3>Teenagers (13-18 years)</h3><p>Teenagers should receive information about the needle poke directly and be involved in developing their comfort plan.</p><p><strong>Distraction techniques</strong></p><p>Encourage your teen to choose a number of options to keep them distracted.</p><ul><li>iPad or other electronic devices</li><li>Videos</li><li>Video games or virtual reality headsets</li><li>Deep breathing exercises</li><li>Option to watch the procedure</li></ul>
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>Further information</h2><p>For more information about the Comfort Promise bundle of options to reduce the pain of needle pokes, please see the following pages:</p><p><a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=989&language=English">Needle pokes: Reducing pain in infants aged up to 18 months</a></p><p><a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=990&language=English">Needle pokes: Reducing pain in children aged 18 months or over</a><br></p><p><a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=1258&language=English">Pain relief: Comfort kit</a></p><p><a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3627&language=English">Needle pokes: Reducing pain with numbing cream</a></p><p><a href="https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=3628&language=English">Needle pokes: Reducing pain with sucrose or breastfeeding</a><br></p>
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