04/17/2026
As many children may be getting the flu shot in the next few weeks, parents may be wondering how to best prepare their children to cope with the pain and stress typically associated with any type of shot.
A study published in 2022 found that what parents say in the minutes after a shot may make a difference in reducing a child’s distress.
In the first minute after the shot, using coping statements (e.g.,“It will feel better soon”) was actually associated with more distress in children when compared to parents who did not use these statements. Trying to distract the children by talking about something else was also associated with more distress in the first minute after the shot.
In the second minute after the shot (when the child was presumably calmer), coping statements were associated with LESS distress. In the second minute, critical comments (such as “don’t be a baby”) were associated with MORE distress.
The child’s distress before the shot was also associated with distress after the shot, emphasizing the importance of keeping children calm leading up to the shot.
TRANSLATION:
1️⃣ Before the shot, try to keep your child as calm as possible. Engage in coping strategies (deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization) to maintain their calm.
2️⃣ Immediately after a shot, help your child by staying calm yourself and using physical strategies such as hugging, cuddling, or holding hands.
3️⃣ Do not use coping statements or try to distract your child immediately after a shot.
When your child starts to calm down (more than a minute after the shot), use coping statements (“You can do this”, “The pain will be over soon”).
4️⃣ Never criticize or invalidate your child’s fear or distress related to a shot.
For children who are still breastfed, breastfeeding before or immediately after a shot may decrease distress (Erkul & Efe, 2017).
All information provided by Parenting Translator Foundation — parentingtranslator.org
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