Nobody likes having injections when they see the doctor, so when it comes to your baby’s turn to have their vaccinations, it is difficult for any parent to think of what their child has to experience. When a baby has a mild reaction, they can experience difficulties trying to get to sleep. Before going to the doctor’s make sure that your child has had enough rest and is feeling comfortable. Any minor reaction that your child has can be treated at home quite easily to relieve any symptoms.
Your child may develop a slight fever, so you try to give him either Acetmainophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil). This will help to reduce any fever and any pain that is felt at the site of the vaccination. It is important to remember that aspirin should never be given, as they have a risk of getting Reye’s Syndrome. The site of the injection may also appear red and swollen after a while so apply a compress or ice pack for 10-20 minutes approximately to provide some relief. Following the chickenpox or Measles, Mumps or Rubella (MMR) vaccine, your child may develop a mild skin rash after 7-14 days. This rash doesn’t usually require any treatment although it may last for several days and should eventually disappear of its own accord.
Your baby is more likely to be agitated and feel restless after a vaccination, so make sure that the home is peaceful at this time and try to keep the noise level down if there are other children around. Hold and cuddle when your child needs comforting, so that he feels more relaxed and comfy when bedtime comes round. Be sure to give him lots of fluids. The house should be kept at a comfortable temperature especially baby’s bedroom, so that he is not too warm, as this will make him more restless and fussy. Even if your baby does gets some restless nights due to the discomfort, it will only be for a short while. Soon, your baby will get back into their usual routine, and their eating and sleeping pattern will resume.
By: Abhishek Agarwal
© 2010 Parenting Tips
