Reduce vaccination pain in babies - Part 4: Topical Anaesthetics

This is the fourth video in a series on reducing vaccination pain in your baby.
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This video is provided for general information only. It does not replace a diagnosis or medical advice from a healthcare professional who has examined your child and understands their unique needs. Please speak with your doctor to check if the content is suitable for your situation.

Cette vidéo sert à donner des renseignements généraux seulement. Elle ne remplace pas le diagnostic ou les conseils médicaux d'un professionnel de la santé qui a examiné votre enfant et comprend ses besoins uniques. Veuillez consulter votre médecin pour vérifier si le contenu convient à votre situation.

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VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Reduce the pain of vaccination in babies: Topical anaesthetics.
Hospitals all over the world use topical anesthetics to reduce pain in babies. They dull the pain where the needle enters the baby's skin. In Canada, you can buy topical anesthetics at the drugstore without a prescription. They're safe to use in all ages including newborns. They're available as a cream, gel or patch. Most people have experience with them at the dentist's office.

For babies under 12 months of age, the anesthetic is usually applied to the upper leg. And for children aged a year or older, to their upper arm. You need to wait for topical anesthetics to take effect. Maxilene takes 30 minutes to work. Ametop takes 45 minutes and Emla takes 60 minutes. If you expect to wait at the clinic, then you might want to apply them there instead of at home. Just peel off the backing and stick the patch on the skin. If you are using the cream or gel, squeeze it out of the tube in a circular pattern on the dressing that's provided until it's about the size of a nickel.This is one gram of the anaesthetic equivalent to one dose. And then put the dressing on your baby's skin. Make sure the edges are sealed so the anaesthetic doesn't leak out. You fold over one corner of the dressing on to itself so you have an edge to grab on to later to make it easier to take it off. If the dressing is not available, you can use plastic wrap. Just wrap it around the baby's leg or arm. Ask your doctor whether your baby is scheduled for one or more vaccinations so you know whether to apply the anaesthetic to one or both legs or arms.   

Make a note of the time you applied them or write it directly on the dressing or patch with a pen so that you can make sure you remember to take them off at the appropriate time.  

Remove the dressing carefully as it can get very sticky. If you pull it off too quickly, it may cause your baby discomfort, like when you pull off a bandage. Instead, pull the dressing out and away from the skin slowly while securing the opposite corner. The dressing stretches and it will lift off the skin without causing discomfort. Then just wipe the skin with a tissue. You can use a washable marker to show where the anaesthetic was because sometimes you can't tell after you take it off.  

You might notice some changes to the color of your baby's skin, either reddening or whitening.  

This is temporary and goes away after a few hours. Rarely, there can be a skin rash, which can be a sign of an allergic skin reaction. If that happens, ask your baby's health care provider about using a different topical anesthetic product the next time. This is one of the many ways of reducing your baby's pain during vaccinations. 

Don't forget to view the rest of the videos in this series. Remember, combining the different methods together will lead to even better results.

#VaccinePain #VaccinesForBabies #ReduceVaccinePain