4 Shots on Monday...

Hi L.,

My doctor always told me to give my children Tylenol before the appointment. I also gave my kids a warm bath if they seemed bothered by the shots. I don't know why but it always helped. C.

I actually break up my child's shot schedule so she gets one once a month. I think it's easier for her to handle health-wise and emotionally. Her doctor agrees with me and won't do multiple shots. She has never had an reaction. You might want to go online and research alternatives to vaccine schedules.

Hello there L., I usually give my son Motrin before we go to the doctors, about 30mins before getting them, that seems to calm him down...

D.

OK, first of all, she should NEVER have Motrin at her age, she is too young. She has to be at least 6 months old to have it.

I'm a nurse in a pediatric office, and what we do is have the parents give Tylenol every 4 hours for 24-48 hours afterwards. The kids do great with this. If you are breastfeeding, nurse her right before and after getting the shots (or during if you feel comfortable with that), this has been proven by studies to help with pain.

I know that the thought of her getting the shots is stressful, but be assured that the vaccines are protecting her from some really nasty life-threatening diseases. If you are more relaxed about it, she will be too.

Good luck to you both!
M.

This sounds nuts, but I swear it works. You can buy this stuff that's intended to numb the skin for people who get waxing done. My mom is a nurse, and a dr at her hospital recommends this for the newborns who get lots of shots or IV's. On bottle would probably last through every shot she ever has to get....

http://www.fragrancesandmore.biz/index.php/item/departmen...

I agree with the Tylenol suggestions. Also, when my youngest was that age he had his shots and cried for two days straight. I mean every. waking. moment.

The instant I took off the band-aid, he stopped crying. It turns out he was a lot more upset by the band-aid than he was by the shots.

(Incidentally, gauze soaked in rubbing alcohol dissolves the glue of band-aids and gets the band-aids to come off without pulling on baby's delicate skin.)

If you feel guilty about the shots, go to the Center for Disease Control website and look up the symptoms to those diseases you're getting baby vaccinated against. Diphtheria, for example, is particularly gruesome, and in countries where vaccination is dropping off these diseases are making a come-back.

NO.
JUST DO LIKE YOU DID THE LAST TIME AND ONCE YOU GET HOME,THEY HAVE THAT PEDYCARELITE IF YOU DONT WANT TO GIVE HER THE MOTRIN.
AND YOU CAN ALSO GIVE HER SOME JUICE

Hi L.,

My 2 month old got his shots last week, and the doctor suggested giving him pain medicine 30-60 minute before the appointment to help with the pain.

You can give her the motrin BEFORE the appt. That helps more than waiting until after. That way the sting of the shots won't be as bad and it will already be in her systme for the soreness. If you wait until after, the effects are minimal. HTH!! GL I know how it sucks to go for those shots. My little one goes for her one year check in a couple of weeks. The older they get the harder it is to see them get the shots!! They look at you like "why did you let them hurt me mommy!!!"

When my daughter had her well baby shots at first, I was kind of "worried" about any reactinos she may have or the pain she'd feel while they administered them. Well, it was a quick 1-2-3-4 and they were done and by the time they had stuck her with the last one she had started to cry (the delayed reaction thing). I just immediately gave her a bottle to suck on (and then after her first set, just put her binky in her mouth) and she was fine. She was happy and laughing by the time we were leaving the doctor's office. It's nothing to worry about but just read over any papers the doctor should give her about each shot and any side effects your child MAY have and what to expect. As far as pain medicine, my doctor had me give her Infant Tylenol just before (or when we got home after) each set of shots to help with any fever they may experience (as a precaution). Just keep up with the Tylenol for at least a day and see what happens after that. I hope this helps. If yo have any questions, please feel free to get ahold of me. :-)

Give her motrin 30 minutes or so before she gets the shots. This way the medicine is in her system and starting to work. 30 minutes is about how long it takes for it to start.
Also, you can request to have only 2 shots done now and the additional 2 the next week. I've done that for my daughter. There may be an additional copay, etc..depending on your insurance. But, you need to do what's most comfortable for you and your child.

S.
www.sandigrass.myarbonne.com

Try giving her the Motrine before the shots that way it is in her system when she is having them done and will help with pain.

I know it sounds silly.. but love her hold her.. calm her.. motrin is good.. but love and hugs and kisses.. are much better.. keeping yourself calm while its all going on.. will reassure her that is ok.. its some scarry stuff.. imagine yourself getting 4 shots from the biggest needle you ever saw.. i bet you would be terrified too..
when my youngest was in the hospital for 4 days last month.. i sat with her.. talked to her.. held her.. and told her things were ok.. and just loved her.. she was terrified of people in scrubbs.. a few weeks ago she was tested for cystic fibrosis she was absolutly terrified when the nurse walked in.. i held her close.. reminded her that daddy was there.. that things were ok.. talked in a soothing voice.. and we got through it.. by the end whe was giving the nurse a high five...
yes somethings at the doctor are painfull.. but only for a little while.. although medicine is wonderfull.. our emotional state.. and especially our childrens emotional states.. can help healing much more than any pharmacutical ever could hope to do.. im not saying that love is the only awnser.. but that it should definitly be an ingredeient in any medical advie.
Good luck to you
Rob

I remember giving my daughter tylenol about a half hour before the visit. I also asked to hold her instead of them placing her on the table. I remember my daughter taking the 4 month shots alot better emotionally and mentally better than the 2 month shots. I also took the bandades off as soon as I got home, and placed a warm compress on the areas that she recieved the shots as per Doctors suggestion. She will prob sleep alot a few hrs after shots as she did before. Just remember to massage the area gently to relieve any bubble affect under skin. It is normal for it to be red and swollen, and just keep an eye on it. If you have or get any concerns even a week after the shot, call her ped.

unfortunately not, if I could take my babies place I would. Just premed and post med is the best solution. YOu can give motrin before which is best and tylenol after( 6 hours later) My son goes for his first set at his 2 month well baby next week.

Give her motrin before and after...like first thing in the morning, or a few hours before the appointment...and then when you get home, or within the time alotment from the first dose...another thing if it starts swelling, put an icepack on the spots that are swollen...my twins have received up to 5 shots in one visit (which means i seen my boys receive 10 shots in one visit, between the two of them, and they always cry for the other sibling)...i hate it, but i figure if they are going to be miserable, might as well get it done it one shot, not spaced out over time....but motrin before hand is the trick that worked for me.

L. F
You can give Motrin/Tylenol a few hours before the shots too and this might help her as well. Good luck.

C.

L., I have two daughters one 6 yrs and one 7 mts. with both of them I always gave childrens tylenol an hour or so prior to the shot appointment. It's hard to tell if that is what helped or if they both just generally took there shots very well. Good Luck!

yOU CAN TRY GIVING HER TYLENOL 1 HOUR BEFORE THE APPT.i ALWAYS DO THAT AND MY KIDS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FINE

Try giving her the Motrin about 1/2 before her appointment. That way it has time to kick in before the needle does. THis always seemed to work with my kids.

Good Luck
D.

We don't vax, but if we did I wouldn't go with the painkillers. Your child's system is already being bombarded with a lot of stuff at once. Adding another medication for the liver to process is a heavy burden.

Every time I went to take my son for shots, I would give him a dose of baby tylenol about an hour before we went. He wasn't nearly in as much pain, and didn't cry as frequent.

Honestly, if she was good before, just make sure they do it quick, which they normally do, and keep comforting her. She will get over it soon enough.

It does get easier as they get older.

I always gave my son tylenol or motrin before his appoinment. That is what my ped always told me to do

try giving the Motrin before you leave for the appt so it is already in her system =)It will prevent the shots from hurting as much as they would if you give it after =) My 16 month old usually falls asleep as soon as we get out of there and seems to forget about the pain. Give it a try!!! Let us know how everything works out!!!

Hey L.,
Give her the motrin BEFORE the shots i did that with both of mine and it helped alot. Thats really the only advice there is except to sooth them and tell them mommy is there and its ok.
Have a good weekend.
M. C

Hi L.,
I say the same....tylenol 1/2 hr. or hr. BEFORE leaving for appointment. Also I asked my doctor if I could hold her during the shot and that worked alot better than her being on a table feeling "held down" in a strange place by somewhat strangers. After that shot I just acted happy and distracted her to something else to think about. She sounds like she will do good.
K.

I was always told to give Tylonel to my son about an hour before his appointment.

I alway broke up my daughters shots, two at a time. The first two during her normal visit and the next set a week or two later. The doctors office called this a "Shots Only" visit, I didn't have to pay for the "shots only" visit and didn't have to wait in the reception room, they would take us right back.

I don't know about you, but I never allowed the doctor to give my girls more than 2 shots at a time. I would get two the day of the visit and then get two more a week or so after.

I feel like the shots are harder on us moms than the babies. It's hard to watch, but my girls were usually over it by the time we left the doctor's office. In addition to the Motrin you mentioned, a nice warm bath to soak her little legs might be nice too. Good luck!

Glad all went well, I tried to send a response a little too late...

Hey,

I am taking my 4-month old daughter to get her shots on Monday too! The first time we went my husband came with and he held her while they gave her the shots. It was very traumatic - I cried. This time, I just plan to let them give her the shots and then I have cleared the rest of the day to take her home and just love her up because I know she is going to be miserable. They say it hurts us more than it hurts them. So I think it will make me feel better at least. I didn't give her anything the first time. I just let her sleep and I held her a lot more. She was groggy and tired for a day or two but she was fine otherwise. So I plan to do the same thing this time around.

Hope this helps.

Dee

My pediatrician suggests that I give her tylenol or motrinn about 30 minutes before the shot and she has always done fine.

Try giving her the motrin or tylenol 1hr to 30mins before her vaccines, and also try to let her suck on something while she is receiving the vaccines, it really seems to help. Try not to get all worked up yourself, your daughter can sense your anxiety and this will get her all upset. Whenever I take my son to get his vaccines, I give him tylenol about 1hr before and then let him suck on an empty bottle while they are giving him the vaccines (he is already weened from the pacifier). The sucking helps comfort them and the reason for the empty bottle is because you don't want them to choke. He barely flinches when they give him the vaccines. He has even had blood work done and never even cried or winced because he was content being in my arms and sucking on his bottle. Hope this helps and remember to try to relax yourself.

I gave my daughter Tylenol a half hour before her appointment.

sit her in your lap! it does wonders!!!

Infant Tylenol an hour before her shots will help ease her pain. And if you know you'll wait 30 minutes at the office before getting the shots, keep that in mind when considering when to administer the Tylenol.

If they have 2 people giving the shots at the same time in each leg, it will be even better. By the time she knows what's going on, it's nearly done! That's what they did with my son and, though he still cried, they didn't have to hurt him over and over.

He did have a big lump on his leg after his 1 yr. (?) shots but that went away after MANY months. This is not unusual and like I said, it's gone now.

I had concerns about 4 shots at once, but everything I read and hear on TV says they will not harm the baby. My son is now 2 1/2 and he hasn't had any problems!

D.

L. ~

I would give Payton some Motrin before you go to the doctor, instead of waiting until after the shots. That way, she won't have to wait for the Motrin to kick in!

That, and lots of kisses and snuggles, always got us through my Emily's shots!!

i actually give my son baby tylenol before we go to his appoinment. then as soon as she's done giving him his shots i show him a wind chime in the room and he's always been fine then.

I agree with the tylenol about half an hour or so before the appointment. Be cautious with mortin on a baby so young - many peds now say not to give it until a baby is 6 months or older.

My current ped won't give more than two shots at a time. My son does really well with this. His first ped gave four at a time. It took days for him to get over it. You could try spreading them out over two different visits.

Hi L.,
Taking a child for shots is sometimes more painful for the parent then the child it's very hard seeing your little one going threw that pain. I use to give my son now 4, Motrin about a 1/2 hour before the doctors appointment this way the medicine has already went into effect when the shots are given. K.

My 4 month old son just had his shots last week. I actually give him tylenol about 30 min utes before his appointment so that it start working about the time he gets the shots. Thats what my mother and my aunts all told me to do. Talk to here while the doctor is giving her the shots so she can hear your voice and knows you didnt leave her.If she is still cranky about an hour after, make sure she isnt running a fever and that none of the shot sites are red and irratated. She will be fine. Just hold her for a few minutes afterwards so she knows you are still there for here. I know it is hard to hear her cry like that. but it only lasts a few minutes. my son cried until i put him in the car.but he was fine the rest of the day. I really think its harder on us moms to listen to them cry than it is for them to get the shots sometimes.

Hi L.....
I know just how you feel about the upcoming shots....my son is almost 6 months old. I gave him some Infants Tylenol about an hour before his doctor appointment, and then we went for his shots...they actually combined some of his shots so he only had 3 (ask them about that) and he really didnt get mad til the third one. Then I picked him up and he was fine. I am like you I dont like to see my baby in pain but she will be ok. :) ...

I would suggest nursing your baby as much as possible through this difficult time. The sucking reflex and mom's warm touch will do wonders for calming her down. If you are not breastfeeding, any skin to skin contact will help. Warm baths, calming music, and a calm mother are very soothing to baby.

L., other than Motrin, you can try the Hyland brand homeopathic colic tablets that are great for general discomfort, with no side effects and you can safely give these to your baby along with motrin/tylenol.