Parent's Guide To Making Shots Less Scary

For Your Kids

  By Attipas Australia's founder and mum-of-three, Caroline Africh  

Parent's Guide To Making Shots Less Scary For Your Kids

Getting vaccinated can be daunting for some people, particularly children and young people. They may be anxious, scared or needle phobic.

But what can parents do to help prepare their child for the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccination or other injections?

This post provides some tips and techniques for supporting them whilst they are receiving their injection.

Does your child have a needle phobia or is afraid of needles? Helping overcome your child's fear of shots will help make doctor visits a much more positive experience for both of you.

Negative experiences that many kids may have early on can actually lead to long-term health issues. So more importantly, you may increase the odds that your child will seek appropriate medical care for years to come.

Injections may sting for a few seconds, but as we have seen lately with the Covid vaccine or flu shot they play an important role in preventing and managing a wide variety of serious health conditions.

As a parent, you can help your child to feel more comfortable getting a shot at the doctor’s or pediatrician's office. Try these tips to help your child overcome their fear of shots.

How to Help a Child Who’s Afraid of Shots

There are many things you can do if your child is anxious or scared. Research shows that these techniques can help reduce anxiety and make the injection less painful.

It also helps to explain to your doctor or healthcare provider know beforehand, so they can be prepared. Doctors and nurses will have their own strategies for dealing with patients who have needle phobias. They've spent a lifetime giving injections, so they will know every trick in the book.

Try these coping strategies:

1. Be honest. As parents you’ll lose credibility if you tell your child they won’t feel any needle pain. Let them know what to expect. Don't tell them it won't hurt if it does. Use comparisons they can understand, like being pinched or stubbing their toe.

    

2. Stay calm. Your child will be influenced by your attitude. Think positive and sound encouraging.

   
   

3. Use distractions. Shifting your child’s attention can be very effective. You might ask them to take deep breaths, focus on counting backwards or encourage them to sing a favourite song. You could also cough at the last second to distract them.

   
   

4. Provide comfort. Hold your child on your lap or hug them. For many children, physical contact and eye contact can be soothing.

   
   

5. Coordinate visits. Anticipation can sometimes be more intense than the experience itself. Ask your doctor if it’s possible to combine multiple vaccinations shots in one visit to shorten the process.

   
   

6. Numb the area. Your doctor may also be able to make analgesics available. A numbing cream or patches act like the Novocain your dentist and will help to numb their skin. If local anaesthetic creams are not available, ice or an ice pack applied to the site for 10-20 seconds will help to decrease sensation and help minimise pain.

   
   

7. Explore other options. Sometimes you can avoid an injection. Check to see if your child could receive an alternative such as a nasal spray.

   
   

8. Swaddle babies. What about children who are too young for conversation? Tightly wrap your baby in a blanket, leaving one leg out for the shot. A baby may tolerate a shot more easily if you wrap them up or give them a pacifier.

   
   

9. Follow recommendations. Your pediatrician or family doctor can advise you about what shots your child needs. They may also give you aftercare instructions that will minimise discomfort and pain after the procedure.

   
   

10. Pretend shot. Before a vaccination, you can reduce toddlers' and preschoolers' anxiety if you give them a toy medical kit so that they can give pretend shots to you or a favourite doll or another toy.

Other Tips for Making Doctor Visits More Comfortable for Your Child

Wellness checks and routine visits are essential because children develop and change rapidly. These tips may help if your child has other common fears related to stranger anxiety or unpleasant memories.

Keep these tips in mind:

1. Talk about it. Your child may feel more confident if they know what the doctor is going to do at each visit. Give them age-appropriate information. Younger kids may enjoy rehearsing with a toy doctor kit.

   
   

2. Bring entertainment. Your visit is more likely to go smoothly if you can keep your child happy in the waiting room. Come prepared with stuffed toys and other comfort objects, as well as toys, games, and books.

1. Offer rewards. Some doctors will give children stickers and toys to make visits more enjoyable. You might also want to plan a fun activity for later in the day, such as stopping for ice cream or buying a new book.

   
   

2. Develop relationships. If possible, try to build a long-term relationship with your child’s health care team. Follow the rules and respect their time. Come prepared with any relevant questions and share constructive feedback.

Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?

The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.

Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard. 

As Seen at the Oscars!

Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.

Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!

While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking.  And the evidence is clear.

Attipas baby shoes come in six sizes and can be worn from 6 months to 4 years. They start from $39.95 and are sold on the Attipas Australia website.

Attipas baby shoes come in over 50 colours in an identical design that slips on like a sock but supports like a shoe. Bestsellers include Attipas Sneaker: cute, sneaker-style shoes that look like traditional Converse; Attipas Rainbow: unisex, bright and bold stripes that match any outfit; Attipas Attibebe: soft pastel tones, a favourite for girls; and Attipas Marine: cute nautical themed pre-walkers, a favourite for boys.

Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”

“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.” 

Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.

Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.

At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.

In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.

Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.

“Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australia parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.”

What our customers are saying about us...

“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria

All Attipas Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.

We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA.  They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.

Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.