Stop the Crying!

What do we actually know about how babies and even children deal with pain? The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that confirms the painful truth - not all that much. Part of the problem is that babies and toddlers can't verbalize the severity of the pain they feel.

But it seems like pediatricians are getting more creative. One in this article gives her pint-sized patients a pinwheel to blow on when they're getting shots. Not only does it distract them from the needle, but it also encourages them to take deep breaths. Pretty sneaky and pretty smart! And did you know a pacifier dipped in sugar water may actually change neurochemicals in the brain and lessen the effects of pain?

At Children's, a dedicated pain management team helps manage and minimize pain for patients of all ages and diagnoses. One of their tricks is "needle-free injections." Another is massage therapy. And because these doctors, nurses and massage therapists are specialized in pediatrics, they're trained to interpret kids' cues on pain. ...Whatever it takes to make life better for children.