During the first two years of your baby’s life, it will feel like your child is getting an immunization shot during every doctor’s visit. The visits can be overwhelming and stressful (often more for the parents) because of all the shots your little one may need to get. I thought that it may be helpful to talk about how you can help by providing your child with a comfort hold. You can use these comfort holds, not only for immunization shots, but most other injections in the arms and thighs. It can even work for a blood draw, but it would help if your child has a table to lay her arm down.

Here are the benefits to using a comfort hold with your child:

  • It allows the parent to safely hold the child during the injection.
  • It allows the parent to provide comfort to the child.
  • It gives the parent a role and allows for involvement during an often stressful time.
  • It helps the doctor/nurse administer the injection safely (since the parent can focus on holding the child securely).
  • It allows the child getting the injection to be in a non-threatening position (rather than having multiple hands holding a child down or having a child lay down completely on their back).

Here are the different ways to hold your child:

For infants:

baby hold3

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For newborns, it will be easier to hold both legs together securely while you are holding them in the cradling position. You can also have the leg where she will be getting the shot out, since the doctor/nurse can help hold the leg while she gives the shot. At four months, Baby Pizza does better with a sitting position  It can help to use your legs to hold down your child’s legs so there is limited movement. You could also just hold them in a sitting position, facing forward. Whatever is most comfortable for you and your baby will work best.

For the older child:

baby hold2

As your child gets older, she can sit on your lap facing forward. She can also choose to sit on your lap facing you. In these holds, it allows the child to either look while getting the shot or look away (don’t always assume that everyone wants to look away).

Here are some tips:

  • Take a deep breath.  Yes, you. If you’re anxious, then your child will be too (even your baby can sense your anxiety).
  • Sometimes, your child may need a firmer hold to help hold still. It is most important to make sure your child is safe.
  • With your baby, remember to bring items that are comforting such as a pacifier, bottle, or blanket to use to calm her down after the shot. You can nurse or feed right after to help calm your baby.
  • Provide choices where there are choices.  For example, “do you want to get your shot now?” is not a choice, so it shouldn’t be asked as a question. A choice would be, “do you want to look while you are getting your shot or do you want to look away?”
  • Some kids do much better without a hold and need just a hand to hold.  You know your child best, so simply do what works for you and your child!