Can you believe it?! Two months old! I feel like Oakley went from one day old to 2 months old in the blink of an eye. And it is pretty standard for pediatricians to schedule a wellness visit at this age and give baby’s their first round of vaccines (if you choose to do so).
So maybe you are looking at the calendar and seeing the fast approaching 2-month wellness visit OR maybe you are prepping for a new baby and want to get ahead on all the tips, hacks, and need-to-know info. Let me share our experience with vaccines and what helped us get through them!
I knew vaccine day would not be an enjoyable experience for Oakley or myself. I assumed I would cry at the site of my kiddo in pain. I didn’t, but maybe that is because I expected it and knew it would quickly pass. However, the nurse at our pediatrician’s office reassured me prior to the shots that it is 100% normal and pretty common for parents, especially moms, to cry the second the needle hits baby’s skin. Let that be comfort to you that you aren’t alone, and it is OKAY if you cry too!
When we take our pup to the vet, we always follow with a pup cup from a local coffee shop. Yeah, I spoil my sweet Stella girl. And parents of toddlers often take their kids out for a sweet treat after doctor visits. Obviously, we couldn’t take Oakley out for ice-cream after her shots. Although I did tell her that we would when she gets older! So, what did we do to comfort our girl after this traumatic day?
Infant Tylenol
Oakley ran a fever continuously for about two days and was in obvious pain when she tried to move her legs. Our nurse told us in advance that infant Tylenol 2.5 ml every 6 hours was safe and recommended to keep baby as comfortable as possible. We noticed a big difference in her mood and willingness to move around once she had taken some. Prior to this I had never given Oakley any medication. We are trying to avoid using medicines very often, especially at such a young age. But, with this pain, she definitely was in need.
Pool Day
Oakley’s 2-month wellness visit was during the summer months so my parent’s had their pool open. THANK GOODNESS! I didn’t even realize how beneficial having a pool day right after the appointment would be. We had already planned to go visit my parents since my husband was working the rest of the day. By this point, our pediatrician had given us the okay for Oakley to get in pools that had well-balanced chemicals and the right water temperature. She also had to be wearing full coverage UPF 50+ swimwear and a UPF hat since baby sunscreen hasn’t been tested and approved for use on babies younger than six months of age. (We love THIS SWIMSUIT from Amazon! #ad) While Oakley was being held in the water, she was more willing to gently kick her legs. We also stretched and moved her around more in the pool. This seemed to distract her from the pain (she loves the water and outdoor atmosphere), release tension in her muscles which in turn decreased the pain. Definitely recommend having a pool day after your little one gets vaccines if you have access to one!
Warm Bath & Massage
Oakley had a few different vaccines during her wellness visit. A couple in her left thigh and one in her right thigh. That night we gave her a warm bath which relaxed her muscles enough for us to gently massage the area around where the shots were given. We use this Johnson’s Sleepy Time Bedtime Baby Gift Set (#ad) for her bath time routines, especially after a busy and eventful day. The NaturalCalm Aromas always seem to help her wind down and get a more restful sleep. She slept for 7 hours straight that night!
Cuddles, Cuddles, and More Cuddles
Lots and lots of snuggles, cuddles, and loving are absolutely necessary and the best! Who doesn’t love baby snuggles even on a good day?! Oakley slept more for the first few days after her shots. We did lots of contact napping and she absolutely loved it. She also slept a lot better through the night despite the pain after having a pool day, warm bath, and massage.
Loose-Fitting Clothing
During the first few days after her vaccines, we tried to only dress Oakley in things that were loose-fitting, stretchy, and didn’t have any bands pressing against her thighs. Nobody wants to be dressed uncomfortably when in pain.
All babies are different. Your little one may not have a negative reaction to vaccines at all. WOOHOO! But, if they do, you are not alone! And pretty much any abnormal symptom they have appear is linked to the shots. Oakley was in pain, sleepier, stiff in her legs, and fussier for about the first 3 days afterwards. Then, she started throwing up and had a loss of appetite about a week following the vaccines. Don’t panic if new symptoms appear later than others. From my research, it isn’t uncommon for some side effects to wait until about a week or two post-vaccine to show up. Just keep a close eye on your kiddo and call their pediatrician with any concerns or questions!
Moms and dads, good luck! I hope this post has helped in surviving those post-vaccine days. Don’t forget your own sanity! Treat yourself with a cup of coffee or two. It is guaranteed to help!
To the parents who have been through it, what tips or tricks did you find to work in helping during those tough days following a shot?
