Some Tips to Prevent Babies from Being Fussy After Immunization

Tips to prevent a baby from being fussy after immunization is something that parents need to know. Especially for new parents with only one child, it is common to panic when the baby becomes fussy after immunization. Immunization causes the body to respond to the vaccine given. The typical responses in the body are fever and body aches.

Babies who have been immunized generally will experience fussiness. This is a normal occurrence. Therefore, parents do not need to panic if the baby becomes fussy after immunization. Here are some tips to prevent a baby from being fussy after immunization.

Breastfeed the Baby More Than Usual

For babies under one year old, breastfeeding them as often as possible is an effective way to distract them from the pain after immunization. Breastfeeding also provides many benefits for the baby. In addition to calming the baby because they are full, breastfeeding also provides a sense of closeness to the baby, reassuring them that they are with their mother and can nurse without worry.

This condition may be a bit troublesome for mothers as they need to be with their child and breastfeed. Therefore, before immunization, you can prepare the home environment to be calm and comfortable for both the mother and the baby.

Administer Pain Relief Medication

One of the tips to prevent a baby from being fussy after immunization is to give pain relief medication. This medication is usually provided by the midwife after immunization. You can administer the medication shortly after arriving home or if the child appears to be starting to fuss and cry continuously.

The medication is usually given 2-3 times a day over a span of 2 days. However, usually by the next day, the fussiness has decreased significantly due to the pain subsiding. If the child is still fussy after two days, you can consult a doctor.

Monitor the Baby's Temperature

Usually, after being given pain relief medication, the baby will fall asleep and their body temperature will become cooler. You need to monitor the baby's body temperature changes. If it does not decrease even after administering pain relief medication, you should take them to the nearest doctor for consultation.

Delayed treatment can have fatal consequences. You should see a doctor immediately if the baby shows symptoms of shortness of breath, seizures, high fever, paleness, itching all over the body, or loss of consciousness.

Compress the Painful Area

Some immunizations are done by injecting a needle into the baby's arm. This usually causes pain due to swelling and makes the baby fussy. You can prevent excessive swelling by compressing the painful area of the arm with a cloth soaked in warm water.

Compress for about 5-10 minutes until the cloth becomes slightly cool. You may notice that after compressing, the swelling usually decreases. Additionally, the baby often feels more relaxed during the compress.

Carry the Baby

Another way to prevent the baby from being fussy after immunization is by carrying them. This can be a bit cumbersome if done continuously. However, usually when the baby is carried for a long time, they will fall asleep. Once you see that they are sound asleep, you can place them back in their bed.

Carrying the baby will provide them with comfort. The baby will feel safe and secure when in their mother's arms. In this position, the baby will forget their pain.