Here are a few tips to make this experience as stress free as you can.

• Keep yourself calm.
• Repeat after me, "keep calm!" If you tense up, so will your baby. She'll pick up on this right away and will then have a more difficult time. I know it's hard to do this - believe me I have been there too!
• Take about 10 deep relaxing breaths and stay as calm as you can. You can do it!
• Try to hold and cuddle your baby during the immunizations. There is absolutely no medical reason why you shouldn't hold your little baby during this stressful experience. After all, you are their greatest source of comfort! I have held all my children and it comforts them a lot knowing you are there with them.
• If more than one immunization shot is required you can ask your Pediatrician to have them done at the same time. This minimizes the distress because it's all over and done with quickly. Alternatively, you can check with your Pediatrician and see if you can take advantage of combination vaccinations, which reduces the number of shots your baby will have.
• Sing to your baby -  it will be a source of comfort for him. Medical staff won't care how you sound!
• Praise your baby when it's over by giving lots of extra cuddles and kisses.
• If your baby is a little older and has a favorite soft toy - it can be a good idea to bring it along for extra comfort.
• Older babies can also be distracted by books which make fun sounds. Or you can bring a favorite toy which makes sounds or a toy which pops up.
• Be creative - you know what your baby likes the most. Bring it along and try to distract her a little from the shot. Distraction does work.
• Babies love bubbles - take some along and see if you can distract your baby by blowing some during the immunization.
• If your baby is still breastfeeding, you can offer the breast during the immunizations or immediately after. Most babies settle quickly after a comforting breast feed.
• If you aren't breastfeeding offer a pacifier or bottle to suck on - sucking is very comforting.
• Dr Olson Huff recommends asking your Pediatrician if it's okay to give your baby some acetaminophen before the immunizations to minimize some of the discomfort.
• Dr Olson Huff says it can also be a good idea for your Pediatrician to recommend a cream named EMLA - essentially it is a cream which numbs the skin and takes quite a lot of the "ouch" out of the shots. There is also an EMLA spray which is available and it works must faster. The cream can take up to 40 minutes or more to numb the skin. If you do use the cream make sure you follow all the directions carefully on the label. It is a good idea to call ahead and ask your doctor exactly where the shots will be given. Just put on the recommended amount and cover with a bandaid. Remember to factor in the length of time the cream takes to work!

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