Tylenol Before Immunizations?

With my 9 and 6 year old, that was the common practice. Tylenol before shots. Now with my 9 month old, my doctor said no need as it does not really help before, but to give tylenol after to help with the soreness from the actual injection. He said I could give it to him for the rest of the day if needed to help with soreness.

I don't think the pain meds help.
Try to get their shots a few days apart so you don't have to deal with 2 crabby babies at one time.

We always give our son Tylenol before his shots... and that is what our pediatrician suggested we do. I can't really tell you whether or not it has made a difference since we have done it every time, but I think it's worth doing.

I always gave something to my kids before their shots. Tylenol works fine, but I feel motrin works better. Something I always did, was time it so they could also get another dose befor bed that night, for a pain free good night sleep.

Poor babies:(

GL:)

Before I reply, I just have to say please, please don't take medical advice from this site as a replacement for your pediatrician's. Some of these responses are just ridiculous! I trust you have ALREADY made your vaccination decisions and don't need opinions on that (good for you) and I also assume that you trust your pediatrician's advice on these issues (also good for you)! That said, I personally haven't seen any benefit from giving Tylenol beforehand. Sometimes the injections are the worst part of it and no symptoms develop afterwards. Also, just so you have correct information, Tylenol is safe to give IF you follow the docs directions. In high doses, it causes liver problems, which is why there are directions on the box...duh! Also, a fever IS the body's way of killing germs, but in no way is a fever a GOOD thing. Fevers, at high temps, can cause seizures and brain damage...I can't believe ppl would think otherwise and even worse, give wrong information to others! Ok...off of my soapbox now, trust your mommy instincts! You'll be able to comfort them both and in my experience, the crying stopped after just a few seconds. Have a bottle/paci/etc. ready for the actual injection and it will go better than you planned! I promise!
~L.

We always gave our son Tylenol before shots. I don't believe it really helps with the pain obviously during the shot but I believe it helped afterwards. We gave it an hour before his appt. It's worth a try, won't hurt them any.

Good luck!

Tylenol worked for my daughter, you want to take it about an hour before they are given the shot if you can so its already in their system.

Can I add something here that is slightly off topic but really important- when you go to have your kiddos immunized make sure they are only getting one or two shots at a time. Their little bodies can only handle so much and some of these immunizations pack quite the punch... I know the medical communiuty does not want to see the link between the increase in autism and the increase in immunizations but its pretty suspect. If they are schedualed for the MMR thats one you should do by itself and I would ask if it is a new one or one that has the mercury binding agent. If it is the latter pass on it or ask for one of the newer ones.
Sorry for the soap box. Good luck with your twins on shot day

i do give mine tylenol befor hand it help i think with the pain and never have a fever i did it with all mine and that alot of shots

I always gave my kids Tylenol (per doctors orders) about 30 minutes before the appointments for immunizations until they were about 18-months old. I think it did help with the pain.

I was just told by my dr. that tylenol will not work until the child actually has a fever of 100.5. He said you're just wasting your tylenol doing it before. So, I've listened and he's been right. I did it for my daughters a couple years ago... but not for my son when he has them now... and no difference. He's just as cranky as my daughters were!

Just wanted to add something. I think that Lacy came with some really great advice. One thing that I would like to say, coming from a nurse, that a fever isn't necessarily a bad thing. A fever is the body's way of fighting off infection but if that fever gets too high over 100.5 (thats what usually is said as a cut off point but can be different from child to child depending on their normal body temp) then it can be very dangerous. A fever shouldn't be hindered directly (allow it do what it's meant to do) but watched very closely so that it doesn't go over that point. Make sure the child drinks a lot when they have a fever because they more easily will get dehydrated. Keep them in cool loose clothing and take their temp often when it's rising and until it breaks. I know this has nothing to do with taking Tylenol before hand thats a personal decision. I have never done that and I have never had any problems so far (knock on wood). Good luck on your decision.

Again I agree with Lacy, I wouldn't take medical advice from here, talk to you doctor about what is best for your child. He/She knows them best, every child is different.

I just got my sons 2 month shots the other day. I asked the guy and he said it didnt matter...Aiden cried when he got his shot but 2 seconds later he was fine....later in the day he got cranky so I gave him some tylenol. Next time I will give it to him before just so he isnt cranky after!

Oh and when I went to get his 2 months shot on his 2 month date they didnt have them!! He will be 3 months next week and he just got his 2 month shots 2 days ago....so I would call before you give them the tylenol to make sure they have the shots there!!!

I personally wouldnt give the babies tylenol. Tylenol is BAD...it brakes down their immune system...which you want to be building it. Sure it helps with fever - but a fever is a GOOD thing...it means the body is fighting the infection. I would also look into the immunizations...some of them the kids dont really need. I would also make sure that you are not giving your children any type of immunization that has mercery in them...its horrible and has been linked to autism. Do some research there. If I had it to do over, knowing what I know now, I dont think I would of even given my children any of their "well" shots...but that is totally a personal choice.

As to help care and comfort your babies - since you are only one person and there are two babies - maybe your husband could stay home from work or grandma or someone could come over? I always scheduled my childs well shots late on Friday afternoon. Then dad would be home from work in just a little while...and be there for the weekend b/c sometime the issues that go along with the well shots last a couple days...and Nothing helps a child feel better than a littls cuddling !
GOOD LUCK!

Outside of the controversay that is being posted, I can say that I have always (7kids) given my kids tylenol/ibuprophen before every shot visit, it does work, I have a sister who is the same age as my oldest, when she got her fisrt set of shots she had the worst reaction, fever, pain, ect, my dr said to give my sone the pain med before and we had no issue, a few seconds of crying but that was it, so when it was time for my sister to get her second set I gave her the pain med and took her to get her shots, what a difference from the first time around. So yes it does help, one other thing I would like to add is don't let them lay the baby on the table, but have them allow you to hold them when the give the shots, any time one of mine had been laid on the table there legs would hurt so badly, but I never had the issue when I got to hold them in my lap, plus it makes it easier to help distract them, my keys always worked best, I actaully wash the keys before shot day. Good luck no matter what you choose!

I always did it for my girls and it seemed to help. If your nursing, it helps to huse while they are getting their shots.