Helping Your Child Who Is Afraid of Needles 

These instructions are for patients who are afraid of the needles used to give medicines.

Anxiety related to medical procedures such as injections, infusions, or blood draws is known as procedural anxiety. This is common in children with medical conditions. Anxiety can become a problem if it affects the ability of your child to have the procedure. Procedural anxiety can start to build before the procedure and can continue after the procedure is finished.

Symptoms include sweating, change in breathing, irritability, shaking, increased heart rate, loss of appetite, inability to think or speak clearly, fear of fainting, and fear of losing control.

Some injectable medicines can cause nausea. Over time, children may become nauseous before the medicine is given. This is called anticipatory nausea. People react to triggers, such as the sights, smells, or sounds related to the medicine or how it's given. For example, a child may become nauseous when they smell the alcohol swab before an injection. Anticipatory nausea can be worse in children who also have procedural anxiety.

Instructions to help your child:

Provide emotional support

  • Allow your child to ask questions about the process to gain a sense of control and to know what to expect.

  • Allow your child to make reasonable choices, such as where the injection will be given, who will give it, and what kinds of distractions they want to use during the injection. The Meg Foundation offers tools and resources for helping your child feel prepared and in control, including Meg’s Poke Plan.

  • Discuss what will happen before the injection or infusion. This will help your child to know what to expect. 

  • Ask your child’s healthcare team to suggest books and videos that may help prepare your child for the procedure. 

  • Involve a friend or family member for support. 

  • Use calming rituals, such as singing a favorite song or giving the same type of special hug or kiss each time. 

  • Remember that your goal is to help your child manage their fear. It may not go away completely.

  • Work with a child life specialist, therapist, or your child’s nurse to create a plan for the procedure. 

  • Knowing what will happen before, during, and after the procedure can help reduce fears. Explain that the injection might feel like a pinch or a poke, but it usually lasts only for a moment. 

What do I say to my child about getting a needle?

  • Be honest with your child. 

  • Assure them that their fears are normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

  • Choose your words carefully. Use words that will make your child more comfortable. For example, replace words such as injection, needle, and blood draw with “poke” or “pinch."

  • Explain why the medicine is helpful. “Everyone needs medicine or blood tests to stay healthy. Needles are never used as punishment for being bad.”

  • Don't scold your child for being scared or crying. Being scared is a perfectly normal and healthy response.

  • Explain to your child that it is okay to cry, but they must be still. Remind them that staying still helps the process go faster and easier.

  • Tell your child what to do instead of what not to do: “Keep your arm on the armrest” instead of “stop moving around.” 

Tips for giving an injection at home

  • Try to find a private, calm, and quiet area to give the injection.

  • Keep medicine, syringes, and supplies out of the reach of children. 

  • Prepare the medicine before approaching your child. 

  • Approach your child in a calm, but firm manner. 

  • If your child is old enough to understand, explain why they need the medicine. You may need to explain this every time. 

  • Use Comfort Holds 

    • Ask someone to hold your child while you insert the needle. 

    • Comfort holds are secure hugging holds that help your child feel safe and secure during medical procedures. When your child can remain calm and still, it helps prevent anyone from being injured during the procedure. 

    • You can find more information about comfort holds on our website.

Explore your options

Ask about different ways to give the medicine (syringe or auto-injector pen) to find a preference. Always check your insurance coverage to learn if both options are covered. Some patients prefer using an auto-injector pen, so they do not need to see the needle. Some prefer the syringe because they can control how fast they inject the medicine.

Create a Coping Toolkit

Creating a toolkit of coping strategies will help your child feel prepared for getting a needle. Here are some examples of coping strategies: 

Physical comfort: 

  • Buzzy Bee: This device distracts your child by applying cold and vibration to the injection site. This also helps to reduce discomfort. You can learn more on their website:

  • ShotBlocker: This device uses blunt contact points to distract from the injection site. You can learn more on their website:

  • Use lidocaine numbing cream, lidocaine freeze spray, or ice to numb the skin before the injection numbing creams need to be applied to the skin and kept covered before the injection. Use plastic wrap instead of adhesive bandages to cover the cream. It can be uncomfortable to remove a sticky bandage.

  • Use plastic wrap instead of adhesive bandages to cover the numbing cream. It can be uncomfortable to remove a sticky bandage.

    You can also use adhesive remover pads or spray.

  • Allow medicine to come to room temperature to reduce the stinging sensation. Be sure to read the medicine instructions to understand how long it is allowed to be at room temperature.

  • Let your child choose the injection site (some find the belly less painful).

Distract your child

  • Watch TV or listen to music during the injection.

  • Eat a popsicle.

  • Play with a fidget spinner or squeeze a stress ball.

  • Practice deep breathing exercises.

  • Do a fun dance before and after the procedure to help their body calm down.

Promote a sense of calm

  • Help your child imagine a happy place. Talk about what they see, smell, feel, hear, and taste while they are in this place.

  • Take deep breaths with your child.

  • Remind your child about their past successes to give them courage and boost their confidence.

Emotional support: 

  • Encourage your child to share their feelings and concerns.

  • Have a treat ready to give them afterwards.

  • Use fun band-aids. 

  • Have them hug a loved one or squeeze their hand for comfort during the procedure.

Helpful coping resources from CHOP's Integrative Health Team

Reviewed January 2026 by Kerry Hurlbut, DNP, CRNP; Melissa A. Lerman, MD, PhD, MSCE