When you follow the recommended immunization schedule, your child will get needles regularly. Sometimes kids develop a fear of needles or needle phobia which can carry over into adulthood. This can lead to delaying or avoiding needles and vaccines. So what can you do to help your child have a better experience when getting needles?
Preparing your child for their vaccine appointment
- CARD (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) for Parents (Immunize.ca)
How to reduce the pain of vaccination
- Reduce the pain of vaccination in kids and teens
- Reduce the pain of vaccination in children: A parent’s guide
- How to apply numbing cream for vaccination
Needle fears, phobias and needle-related fainting
- High-level need fear resource (Immunize.ca)
- What to do about needle-related fainting
- Needle fears and phobias (CHEO)
You can also ask your healthcare provider about resources and treatments to help with needle fear or speak to a public health nurse by calling 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006.