Planning ahead
Talk to your doctor
Discuss your plan to ease your child's pain with your child’s healthcare team so they can support you.
Talk to your child
If your child is aged four years or older, talk to them about the needle poke ahead of time in language they can easily understand.
- Tell your child what is going to happen, for example, “The doctor is going to use a needle to give you a vaccine in your arm."
- Explain why your child needs the needle poke, for instance, “The vaccine will protect you from getting sick."
- Describe how the needle poke will feel, for example, “It might feel like a little pinch."
- Say what will be done to manage your child’s pain, for instance, "We’ll play a game so you don’t notice the needle poke much."
Before the needle poke
Numbing cream
You can help reduce the pain of needle pokes by applying a topical anaesthetic (numbing cream or gel) to the area where your child will receive their vaccine. In Canada, numbing creams are available over the counter.
- Discuss this option with your child’s team in advance.
- Make sure your child is not allergic to any ingredients in the numbing cream or gel.
- Apply the numbing cream or gel 30 to 60 minutes before the needle poke, according to the specific product's instructions. Once it is applied, the cream lasts up to three hours.
Distract your child
Use items such as favourite toys, mobile devices or bubbles to help
distract your child during needle pokes. You can also sing, talk or tell jokes to distract them from any pain they might be experiencing.
Your healthcare team can also offer you items from a
comfort kit to help distract your child. Ask your healthcare provider about the kit before your appointment.