Easing Your Child's Pain During Blood Work: Use a "Magic Patch"

young child receiving needle in arm by doctor

This is a tip I got from my fabulous allergist. In Canada, you can buy topical anesthetic cream, gel or patch to help reduce your child's pain during bloodwork or immunization. I use the patch and call it the "magic patch" that helps take a lot of the pain away.

Excerpt from CPS handout:

  • Available products: EMLA™ (lidocaine-prilocaine), Ametop™ (tetracaine), or Maxilene™ (lidocaine).

  • Prescription not needed.

  • Dulls pain where the needle enters.

  • Safe for babies, even newborns.

  • For babies under 1 year of age, apply to the upper outer part of the leg.

  • For children aged over 1 year, apply to the upper arm.

  • Confirm the location with your child’s healthcare provider.

  • If your child is getting more than one needle, apply to both legs or both arms.

  • You have to wait for topical anaesthetics to take effect.

  • Apply to injection site between 30 and 60 minutes before the needle, according to manufacturer instructions.

  • Remove the medicine after the waiting time. Your child's skin may appear whiter or redder than normal. This is OK and will go away.

  • Allergic skin reactions are rare. If there is a rash, talk to your child's health care provider about it. If your child experiences an allergic skin reaction, use another product the next time.

    However, my allergist also said NOT to use this for skin-prick test as it could affect the results.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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    You can read the complete Guide for Parents factsheet here.⠀⠀

Food AllergiesMun Chopediatric nutritionist, food allergy in babies, children and needles, positive parenting, skin prick test, allergy friendlyComment