Your Child's Immunizations

Your Child's Immunizations

Call your clinic right away if your child has any of these symptoms:

  • A temperature about which your provider has told you to be concerned.
  • Your child is pale or limp
  • Your child has been crying for more than 3 hours and just won't quit.
  • Your child has a strange cry that isn't normal (a high-pitched cry).
  • Your child's body is shaking, twitching, or jerking.
  • Your child is not acting normal; there is real decrease in activity or alertness.
Your child may need extra love and care after getting vaccinated. Some vaccinations that protect children from serious diseases also can cause discomfort for a while. If this sheet doesn't answer your questions, call your clinic.


BEFORE THE SHOTS

pacifier.jpgFor Babies:

  • Sucking on a pacifier or parent's finger during the injection minimizes stress. shots.jpg 

 For Children 2 years of age and older:

  • Preparation seems to reduce anxiety.  It helps to tell the child just before the visit: 
    • the number of shots he will receive
    • the location    
    • how long it will take     
    • what to do if it hurts   
  • Telling her to count to three or "blow the pain" away helps empower the child as well as reduce pain.

For Parents:

  • Parental response during shots can affect the child's anxiety also.
    • Children often are more distressed when parents are distressed.
    • A matter-of-fact, supportive, non-apologetic approach is effective in reducing the child's fear of the injection

AFTER THE SHOTS

My child is fussy and I think he/she has a fever. What should I do?

Check your child's temperature to find out if there is a fever. Do not use a mercury thermometer. If your child is younger than 12 months of age, taking a temperature with a rectal digital thermometer provides the best reading. Once your child is 4 or 5 years of age, you may prefer taking a temperature by mouth with an oral digital thermometer. If your child is older than 3 months of age, you can also take an underarm (axillary) temperature, although it is not as accurate.

After vaccination, children may be fussy due to pain or fever. Here are some things you can do to help.

  • Give your child plenty to drink.
  • Do not cover or wrap your child tightly. 
  • Give your child a fever/pain reducing medication such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil®, Motrin®). Do not give aspirin.thermometer.jpg
  • Recheck your child's temperature after 1 hour.
  • Sponge your child in 1-2 inches of lukewarm water.
  • If your child is over 3 months of age and temperature is 105°F (40.5°C) or higher or, if you have questions, call your clinic.
  • If your child is less than 3 months of age and temperature is 100.5°F (38°C) or higher or, if you have questions, call your clinic.
  • If your child is fussy for more than 24 hours, call your clinic.

If your child's leg or arm is swollen, hot, and red:

  • Apply a clean, cool, wet washcloth over the sore area for comfort.dosing.jpg
  • For pain, give a medication such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil®, Motrin®). Do not give aspirin.
  • If the redness or tenderness increases after 24 hours, call your clinic.
  • If you are worried at all about how your child looks or feels, call your clinic!
  • Click here to view a table of acetaminophen and ibuprofen doses by weight
  • Click here for a printable version (.pdf) of this handout
  • Click here for a printable table of acetaminophen and ibuprofen doses by weight