pain management techniques,
can help reduce injection pain
by 75%.
the physical connection to their
mother, the act of sucking and
the sweet-tasting milk all help
to reduce pain for the baby. For
best results, the breastfeeding
mother
should
start
breastfeeding
before
the
procedure and continue during
and after the injections.
3. The power of sugar
TEN TIPS FOR REDUCING THE
PAIN OF VACCINATIONS
So what are the techniques you
can use to help children through
uncomfortable
procedures?
How can Buzzy Bee help?
Here are our top ten tips for
reducing
the
pain
of
vaccinations.
1. Knowledge is power
As
it
is
the
parent’s
responsibility to bring their
children in for immunisations,
empowering them to play their
part during the procedure is
going to lay the foundations for
success. Any information given
to them prior to the
appointment, that outlines the
procedure and what they can do
to help their children have the
best experience possible, will
mean they arrive confident and
calm.
2. Breastfeeding infants
Research
shows
that
breastfeeding
can
have
analgesic effects. Essentially,
Spring 2019
L.O.G.I.C
For infants up to 12 months,
who are not breastfed, a
sucrose solution given 1-2
minutes before the injections,
also has the potential to give
pain relief. One approach to
preparing a sucrose solution is
to mix one packet or cube of
sugar with 10 ml (two
teaspoons) of water in a
medicine cup. Alternatively,
sucrose solutions can be
obtained
from
some
pharmacies. Again, if the parent
or caregiver bringing the child to
the appointment is given this
information ahead of time, they
can come prepared.
4. Honesty is always the best
policy
Building up trust with patients is
very much on the agenda, so
lying to a child and telling them
it
won’t
hurt
is
not
recommended. It may keep
them calm before the first
injection, but the inevitable pain
will then come as a shock and
the patient will have learnt that
medical professionals aren’t
honest with them. Equally,
parents should be encouraged
to be honest with their child for
the same reason. The truth is, it
will hurt a bit; but it’s also true
that it’s over quickly.
5. The medical practitioner is
not to be feared
Once
the
child
and
accompanying grown up arrives
in the room, it’s important to
put them at ease. This is your
patch, and you are in control. A
friendly and happy medical
professional will affirm the
thought that this is nothing to
worry about and certainly
nothing to be fearful of.
Introducing Buzzy Bee to the
young patient, gives you an
opportunity to engage them in
conversation and create a
rapport with them.
6. Injection order
Generally, children will be
receiving more than one
injection
during
their
appointment,
and
some
vaccinations are more painful
than others. Plus, pain increases
with every injection. Studies
have shown that, when multiple
injections are required, giving
the most painful injection last
will decrease the overall pain
from both injections.
7. Sitting up, not lying down
Research shows that infants and
children sitting up during
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