Here are some age-appropriate tips to help your child with pain while at a Norton Children’s Hospital or Norton Children’s Medical Center.

Infants (Birth to 12 months)

• You can ask to remain with your child during procedures.
• Comfort your child using lullaby music and using soft touches.
• Assume a natural swaddling position.
• Request sucrose during painful procedures (under 6 months).
• Turn down the lights and avoid loud noises.
• Use comfort positioning when possible. This is a holding technique that provides comfort during procedures. Your child life therapist can help with comfort positioning tips.

Toddlers (1 to 3 years)

• You can ask to remain with your child during procedures.
• Familiarize your child with the hospital and procedures through simple medical play with a doll.
• Keep favorite items such as a blanket, toy or stuffed animal close to your child.
• Use age-appropriate items to distract your child.
• Request a numbing agent for procedures involving needle sticks.
• Request to use a treatment room for painful procedures.
• Keep routines as normal and consistent as possible.
• Use comfort positioning when possible. This is a holding technique that provides comfort during procedures. Your child life therapist can help with comfort positioning tips.

Preschool (3 to 6 years)

• You can ask to remain with your child during procedures.
• Familiarize your child with the hospital and procedures through simple medical play with a doll.
• Encourage your child to handle medical supplies through play.
• Give your child clear and direct explanations about procedures.
• Reinforce that illness, tests and procedures are not your child’s fault.
• Give your child a job to involve them in the care and treatment.
• Use age-appropriate items to distract your child.
• Request to use a treatment room for painful procedures.
• Reward your child often for positive outcomes and cooperation.
• Request a numbing agent for procedures involving needle sticks.
• Use comfort positioning when possible. This is a holding technique that provides comfort during procedures. Your child life therapist can help with comfort positioning tips.

School-Age (7 to 12 years)

• You can ask to remain with your child during procedures.
• Prepare your child by providing simple explanations through play.
• Request a numbing agent for procedures involving injections.
• Request to use a treatment room for painful procedures.
• Use age-appropriate items to distract your child.
• Encourage relaxation with quiet music, guided imagery or deep breathing.
• Offer your child choices during painful procedures.
• Coach your child through the procedure and remind them the pain will not last forever.
• Reward your child often for positive outcomes and cooperation.

Teenagers (13 to 17 years)

• Caregivers can request to remain with teens.
• Prepare your teen by providing an explanation and encouraging questions.
• Request a numbing agent for procedures involving needle sticks.
• Encourage relaxation with quiet music, guided imagery, deep breathing or massage.
• Involve your teen in all decisions related to care and procedures.
• Encourage socialization with friends and family.
• Coach your teen through the procedure and remind him or her the pain will not last forever.
• Stress positive outcomes related to the painful experience.