Bringing your kids for an immunisation can be daunting...... For your child and yourself! Rest assured that our practice nurses are very experienced and they have some tips to help you prepare. Bring your child’s health and development book (green book) to every appointment. Although most records are now online sometimes these records need to be double checked. Having your child’s vaccines documented in their green book provides a consistent record. Preparation is key, it is important to talk with your nurse or doctor about your concerns about vaccines. Before administering any vaccine, the nurse will talk you through the process and develop an effective plan to ensure it is smooth and easy. If you have any requests from the nurse on how to approach yourself or your child, it is important to discuss these further. Bring along your child’s favourite toy or a treat for afterwards. Distraction, relaxation, and other measures reduce distress and pain after vaccination in young children. Topical anaesthetics, such as EMLA or Angel cream, are not routinely recommended. They could be considered in a child with excessive fear. For older children relaxation techniques can often be helpful. Vaccines are administered in the legs for children under the age of 12 months and in the arms for children over the age of 12 months. Therefore, we would recommend suitable clothing depending on your child’s age. The Royal Children’s Hospital provide some further resources about providing comfort for kids https://www.rch.org.au/comfortkids/for_kids/