Children are a little bundle of nerves. Compared to an adult, children can feel pain twice as much and twice as long. This is because they haven’t learned how to tolerate pain and how to handle it. Children usually feel pain because sometimes they have an accident or are sick. As parents, you must ensure that you offer the best pain relief for children possible.
Are you in pain?
This question needs to be asked by parents to their child over and over again. If a verbal answer is not possible, parents need to learn how to read facial expressions and body signs that indicate pain. Babies who are in pain are usually inconsolable and will tend to cry and scream. They will probably move and kick heir legs, and form tight fists with their hands. For toddlers, you’ll know they are in pain if they gesture to a body part while crying.
Measuring child’s pain
No matter how slight the pain is, a pinched faced-baby in pain is enough to send any parent in a tizzy. To avoid over-reacting and further alarming the child, it is best to rate the pain being felt by your child. Similar to those that are used in the hospital, a smiley face chart can be used by children to let parents know how much pain they are in.
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With a big smiley face representing no pain and a crying sad face indicating extreme pain, all children need to do is point to the appropriate face corresponding to the pain they are feeling. This type of chart is applicable for children 3 years and older. Rating a young baby’s pain is often impossible so a quick visit to the doctor is always advised.
Pain relief for children
Pain relief for children actually comes in two ways: drug pain relief or non-drug pain relief. Drug pain relief for children obviously involves the use of prescribed pain medication. This pain relief can be administered by mouth, injection or via IV. The use of drugs as pain relief for children is usually done if the child will undergo or has had major surgery.
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Another form of pain relief for children is the non-drug type. In this type of relief, parents are encouraged to maintain positive physical contact as long as possible. This could be done by giving comforting hugs, kisses, strokes and massages whenever the child is in pain. Talking, playing with the child, and other distracting activities are other ways to provide relief. If your children are in pain, don’t hesitate to offer comfort.
The physical contact does not only dull the pain but it comforts the child. Pain relief for children without prescribed drugs offers a type of heart-piercing comfort that is necessary. It reassures the child that everything will be alright and at that moment of severe pain, they need to feel that comfort.
Providing pain relief to your child is indeed tough, but how did you manage? Please tell us your story by leaving a comment below. For more information on pain relief for children, watch this video: