Non-Drug Pain Control for Kids

The health care staff at AFCH and UWHC believes that all of our patients deserve a good experience when they visit their doctor’s office.  The best way to do this is to try and decrease or avoid the amount of pain a patient feels during those visits.  

 

How can a parent or support person help?

Not knowing what to do to help your child can be very stressful.  Here are some ideas that we hope you may find helpful. 

 

Be with your child

We suggest that you to be in the room, to hold, and to comfort your child during painful times.

 

The stress that a child feels before and during a painful event will increase the amount of pain felt. Children tend to feel less pain when a support person is with them.  Having a support person will decrease the amount of stress and pain.

 

Be calm

A child can sense your anxious feelings.  Your calm voice, words, and presence can help your child feel less anxious and fearful.

 

Help your child get into a helpful position

Here are some options.

 

 

Help your child focus on something else

Changing your child’s focus from a painful event to something else can be very helpful.  Getting your child engaged in playing with a toy, searching for specific items in a picture, or reading a book is great. 

Bringing items from home that comfort your child can also be very helpful.  A special blanket, pacifier, toy, or books are a few items to think about bringing with you. 

 

Do allow your child to be as involved in the process as they want to be.  Some children may find it less stressful when he/she has the option of looking at what is being done and looking away when they want to. 

 

 

Age of Child	Ideas to Try
0 - 1 years of age	Swaddle (up to age 4 months), touching, stroking, patting, rocking, playing music, light up toys, pacifier, bottle, or breastfeeding
1-4 years of age	Puppet play, storytelling, interactive books – especially ones with flaps and buttons, deep breathing, blowing bubbles, music, singing, movies, light up toys
4 - 6 years of age	Deep breathing, telling a story, puppet play, music, singing, TV, talking about favorite places, TV shows, activities, interactive books such as I-Spy
6 - 11 years of age	Music, deep breathing, counting, eye fixation (stare at an object without blinking), humor – make the child laugh, music, video games, talking about favorite places
12 year old and older	Music, movies, video games, squeezing a stress ball, talking about things the child enjoys, or just ask the child

 

Choose your words wisely

The words you use make an impact.  Praise the child and helpful behavior before, during, and after any painful event.  Let the child know when it is “all done.”  Allow the child to express his/her feelings about what just happened.  Apologizing to the child that the painful event needs to take place, criticizing, and giving complete control to the child are not helpful.  They may cause more distress to the child and decrease the child’s level of cooperation.  Below you will find words and phrases to avoid and those that can be helpful. 

 

Phrases that might help	Phrases to avoid
“Tell me how it feels.”	“This feels like a bee sting.”
“Some children say they feel a warm feeling.  How did it feel to you?”	“The medicine will burn.”
“Other kids tell me it feels like…”	“Sorry”
“When I count to three, blow the feeling away from your body.”	“Be a big boy/girl!”
“That was hard.”	“Don’t cry.”

 

The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Last Updated: 06/30/2009

Copyright © 06/23/2009 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. UWH #6835

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