This is an often overlooked topic in the discussion about vaccination. Most parents accept the pain associated with shots because it is short lasting and does not appear to have any permanent effect on babies. Some may even go as far as claiming that these acute pain episodes build character for their children.

Actually, it's not as simple as it seems. Some doctors have found that the short-lasting pain from injection and blood draws seems to influence the perception of pain in babies later on in life. Babies who have undergone a large number of poking seem to become more sensitive to pain in the future.

If this is surprising to you, you are not alone. Most doctors and nurses do not believe that a quick injection can have long-term effects. Consequently, most children (especially babies) do not receive any pain control prior to painful procedures.

Now that you know children can experience lasting effects after receiving injections, what can you do to help your child for a painful injection? Oral pain medications, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin), typically work poorly for sudden, sharp pain. These medications work wonderfully for a headache or dull ear pain, but they do not do much to alleviate acute pain.

There are several ways that you can help to reduce the pain your child feels. During the injection, give your baby a pacifier dipped in sugar water. You can also request a prescription for a topical pain-relieving cream from your doctor in advance and apply it to the injection site on the skin an hour prior to vaccination.

Finally, don't underestimate the power of distraction. You probably use this technique all the time at home to divert the attention of your child and stop her from playing with something dirty or dangerous. Distraction works equally well for a painful procedure.

It may be helpful if you ask your child to recall a pleasant experience, like visiting an amusement park or spending the weekend with grandparents. Alternatively, you can bring her favorite toy from home to have some degree of familiarity at the doctor's office. Many pediatric offices also give out cartoon stickers or small toys to children prior to injections.

Another tried and true technique in reducing the pain sensation during an injection is asking your child to “blow out the candle.” You can hold a small piece of paper and ask him to blow it away, or you can simply hold out your finger and pretend it's a candle. Ask your child to blow it out during an injection. While he exerts energy and focuses on your finger, he feels the painful sensation a lot less.

Calming your child not only has the benefit of alleviating pain, but it also increases the chance that the injection is given properly. A squirming and crying child is more likely to disrupt the technique and cause an accidental needle injury. A comfortable child can make the job easier for the person giving the injection, and that should be enough incentive for the care provider to ease your child's pain.