Some tips on lessening the pain and anxiety of children's shots:

• Try age-appropriate distraction, which studies show can lower the amount of pain the child perceives. Just before the shot, have the child begin blowing bubbles or playing with Mom's cell phone. Pull out a portable video game or finger puppets.

• Get the child to talk or sing. Nurses frequently ask children about their day or how school's going as they're swabbing the injection site. Just as the youngster answers, the needle goes in — before he has a chance to tense up.

• Stay calm. Children sense and echo parents' emotions.

• Allow your child to cry. Don't belittle them or say, "Big boys don't cry."

• If a child asks if the upcoming doctor trip means a shot, don't lie but reassure the child that it will be over fast and you'll be there to hold and hug.

• Practice with a toy doctor kit, or coping statements such as "I can do it."

• Don't be afraid to enlist the doctor or nurse in coping strategies. Say, "Molly would really like it if you'd give her teddy bear a shot first." Ask if the child can choose whether the shot or blood test is done on the right or left side.

SOURCE: American Academy of Pediatrics; Dr. Howard J. Bennett.