In the first year of life, doctors recommend infants get vaccinations to prevent diseases like polio and Hepatitis B, among others. It is painful for little ones. But now there may be a way to stop the tears.
New research finds that parents may be able to make it easier, depending on how they comfort their child. One way: what researchers call the 5-S plan: it includes swaddling, side/stomach positions, shushing, swinging and sucking. The other way: more traditional methods, such as pacifiers and distraction. Investigators looked at 230 infants who were having their 2 to 4 month vaccinations, and divided them into groups. They gave some children sugar water with their vaccines, which cuts the pain, while others were given just water.
Then groups were comforted with the 5-S plan and traditional methods. And the babies' reactions were recorded. Doctors found that, overall, infants in the 5-S groups with or without sugar water to cut the pain, had a lower pain score and cried less than those babies who were comforted with the traditional methods.
