Vaccination appointments take around 10 to 15 minutes. You will need to bring your baby’s red book with you. Dress your baby in clothes that are easy to remove – babies under 12 months have injections in the thigh. Dress toddlers and older children in loose or short sleeves – they’ll have their injections in the upper arm.
Vaccines are usually given by the practice nurse. The nurse will explain the process, any potential side effects and what to do if they happen. You can ask as many questions as you want, and you then decide if you want the vaccination to go ahead.
The nurse will carry out several checks before giving the vaccine to make sure that everything is correct. Afterwards, the nurse will record the vaccination in your baby’s red book and on their medical record.
Time of day
If possible, try to avoid making the appointment at a time when your baby could be getting tired and grizzly.
The cuddle
Between 2 and 6 months a cradled position can be most comfortable for your baby during the vaccination.
Your baby may prefer to face in one direction over the other. If your clothing is appropriate, a hold which allows skin-to-skin contact can be very reassuring for your baby.
Comfort
If you are breastfeeding, you can feed your baby while the nurse is giving the vaccine. Breastfeeding releases positive hormones and is calming for babies. If your baby is bottle fed, you could give them a dummy, along with a cuddle to help calm both you and your baby.
Just before and during the injection, it can be helpful for you to chat to the nurse about something other than the vaccination. The sound of your voice will help to calm and reassure your baby.
After the injection, you can gently stroke near the injection site for approximately 10 seconds to provide comfort and distract from any sensations of pain.
