5 Ways To Soothe Your Baby Following Vaccinations (including fever management)
UK Vaccination Programme
As a parent, ensuring the health and well-being of your baby is of the utmost importance. One essential aspect of this care is providing vaccinations to protect your little one from preventable diseases. There has been extensive research on all vaccinations before they are deemed safe for the public, especially for children, so rest assured this is a safe and effective method of preventing serious illness.
Click Here for further information from the NHS website on the vaccination programme for children.
Preparing for vaccinations
The first vaccinations your baby will most likely have will be at 8 weeks. Your health visitor will guide you on booking this with your GP surgery, or you may get a notification from your GP directly. It can feel like a daunting task to some, you may feel like you’re putting your baby through pain without them being aware it is coming. But just remember you as their parent, act in their best interests and a small amount of pain from an injection, is far from the trauma of being hospitalised from serious preventable illnesses. Unfortunately, I have seen this in my career as a paediatric nurse. So I feel somewhat responsible for making parents aware that this is the safest course of preventable treatment possible.
I digress…
So you have the upcoming appointment, how should you prepare for this?
There isn’t much preparation needed for your baby, one useful piece of advice is to dress your baby in trousers/leggings. This will make it easy to access their leg and dress them again afterwards. Remember to take along your red book for the details to be recorded. If bottle feeding, have one ready for the appointment as there may be a delay, or they may take comfort from a feed afterwards. The most important thing to organise is yourself and your tools back home for when and if, they’re feeling sorry for themselves afterwards.
I’m talking about:
having paracetamol (calpol) in your home ready for if it is needed at 2 am for example.
having your sling or favourite baby carrier ready for use - you don’t want it at the bottom of the wash pile after an accident the day before.
a reliable thermometer - more on this below.
having a calming space for you and baby to come home and ‘relax’ in for the next couple of days. They will be clingy and need extra cuddles and comfort. Yes, I am under no illusion that relaxing is a strong word, but you know what I mean! You don’t want to be sat looking at the washing that needs putting away or anything else that may cause you stress/frustration after a potentially sleepless night.
Common side effects
Below are a few common side effects you may see following your baby’s vaccinations. They are not cause for concern, however if you feel something isn’t quite right, I advise you to seek further support. This may be via your health visitor during the daytime, or you can call 111 day or night for reassurance and guidance.
Distress during and immediately after the injection - It hurts! We all know having an injection isn’t the nicest of experiences, so expect some tears. Research has shown that breastfeeding immediately after vaccinations act as a natural pain reliever. Even just having a cuddle afterwards will soon calm your little one down.
Small hard lump at the site - Babies cannot keep their leg still for the procedure, as soon as the needle goes in they will react and tense their leg. Due to this, it is common for a small lump to develop under the skin. You may feel this as you gently stroke the site. It can last for weeks or even months. I have seen this in many babies, it isn’t anything to worry about as long as it is not hot to touch, red in appearance or oozing. If it changes at all, get it assessed by your GP.
Tender leg(s) for a few days - Very common for a few tears with nappy changes as it is near impossible to change them without moving their legs! This won’t be too painful for them, you know that achy arm feeling you get with an injection, it’s very similar for them too.
Fever - One of the most common side effects in babies is a fever, particularly with the MenB vaccine (given at 8 weeks, 16 weeks and 12 months). This usually occurs within the first 24 hours or even 48 hours. More on this below.
Sleepy - Some babies can become quite sleepy after vaccinations. Their little bodies are working hard to build up their immune system. You may need to set an alarm for feeds overnight if you feel your little one is quite sleepy.
Irritable - Some babies are the opposite of sleepy - instead they’re irritable and distressed! Again, it's totally normal. They’re feeling sorry for themselves after the procedure and just need extra comfort. See below for tips on soothing your agitated baby.
Fever post vaccinations, what to do about it?
Use a suitable thermometer
I recommend that you have a reliable thermometer at home for your baby. As a paediatric nurse, I don’t recommend the forehead-scanning thermometers. They often provide different temperatures at each measurement and are not taking a core temperature, but instead a skin temperature. The in-the-ear thermometer can also give different readings due to the size of babies ears. They are also quite fiddly to use as babies will inevitably move their heads.
Use your own judgement for assessing temperature too. Before you reach for the thermometer, feel their chest and back. Does it feel clammy? Does it feel quite hot to touch? This might suggest a higher temperature than normal. Getting to know your baby’s normal temperature is useful in moments such as after vaccinations. Regularly feeling their chest and back like this will enable you to recognise a potential temperature in the future, before the thermometer has told you so.
An underarm thermometer is what I recommend to parents. It is the easiest to use, simply place under their armpit and hold their arm down. It can be used from newborn right up to school age. Once older, they can be used in the mouth if they will tolerate this.
Dress appropriately
If your baby is hot, dress them in loose clothing to prevent overheating and becoming distressed. This is especially important overnight where you cannot keep as close an eye on them. I advise you to use a sleeping bag without any extra blankets on top. These come in a range of togs to suit the current climate.
Give Paracetamol (Calpol)
Paracetamol is an antipyretic (reduces temperature) and also a pain reliever. It is ideal to use after vaccinations to help with both pain and fever. Read the packaging carefully - you can only administer 4 doses within 24 hours. So try to space these out so that you are not struggling with an irritable baby at 4am, but have to wait until 9am to give the next dose!
I advise to give a dose once you are home from the appointment, then see how they go for the next few hours. It might then be worth giving another dose at bedtime to help with the night’s sleep. Keep a note on your phone of when you gave each dose.
Skin to Skin
A great way to regulate your baby’s temperature is to do skin-to-skin. This has a range of benefits for both you and your baby - reduces stress levels for both of you, supports milk production and regulates temperature. If your baby does feel hot, stripping them off and lying them on your chest with a small blanket over the top will help alleviate fever and also provide them with the comfort they need.
Other Ways to Soothe Your Baby After Vaccinations
Baby carrier - Being close to you will provide your baby with comfort and help to settle them after their vaccinations. They may only want to be held so wearing them is a great option for both of you.
Bath time together - If you are really struggling with a distressed baby, and you haven’t heard them cry like this before, I advise having a lukewarm bath together. Again, you will be enjoying skin-to-skin together, but with the added bonus of the warm water to soothe them. This might not be suitable for your baby if they don’t enjoy bath time at the best of times though! Ensure the bath it isn’t too hot as your baby will most likely be running warm after vaccinations.
Movement - Rocking, pushing them in their pram, walking with them. Movements can be soothing for small babies as it reminds them of their time in the womb. Don’t be disheartened if you’re there at 3am pushing your baby in their pram to get them to sleep - you won’t be the first, and certainly won’t be the last parent to do this!
Music and white noise - I advise introducing white noise quite early on to support sleep in the newborn period. It is a great way to let your baby know it is time for sleep when they hear this noise. It prevents distractions from other noises in the home too. Playing this to help soothe your irritated baby may help calm them down, alternatively singing or playing lullabies may be comforting for them.
5s for soothing - Swaddle, side-stomach position, shush, swing, and suck. Try these out for more ways to soothe your newborn. Just be mindful when swaddling post vaccinations that your baby isn’t getting too hot. Place a finger on their chest to check it isn’t clammy or too hot.
When to seek further help
If you are concerned at all, I advise always to speak out. This might be to a friend for reassurance, to your health visitor or GP, or to 111 or A+E if there is a clinical concern.
Reactions from vaccinations are very uncommon. The most severe (anaphylaxis) usually happens as soon as the vaccine is injected into the body. This will be in the first couple of minutes where you will be in a safe medical facility. Other reactions such as redness or itching can occur but will be short-lived.
Fever is common for the first 24-48 hours. If after 48 hours your baby is still having fevers, you may want to see your GP or ring 111 for support. It might be that they have picked up a virus soon after the vaccinations, but to be sure it is best to seek further advice.
Again, if concerned speak to a medical professional. 111 is a great non-urgent option for advice. For urgent assistance such as difficulty in breathing please go to A+E and/or call 999.
Just Remember…
It is totally normal and expected for there to be a slight change in behaviour and temperature following vaccinations. Expect a worse night’s sleep with cluster feeds and a reluctance to be put down. Just remember it is short-lived whilst their body is building up their immunity. Maybe take it in shifts with your partner to comfort your baby, you could swaddle and place in the buggy to rock if that helps.
This is worst case scenario, it is also common for babies to breeze through this and have little disruption to their sleep or behaviour. As always with babies, preparing for the worst is going to minimise your stress and remember that each and every baby responds differently.
If you feel you need some help or want to ask me any questions, don’t hesitate to send me a message on Instagram or email me. Details are below. No question is a silly question, I’m here to help.
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You can send me an email at katie@athenasleep.co.uk
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Katie x
Founder of Athena Sleep Co.
Paediatric Nurse.