Do you give your child Tylenol before vaccinations?

[wencit]

DS goes in for well baby shots tomorrow (DTAP, HIB, and Prevnar). The pediatrician's office recommends giving him Infant Tylenol about an hour before his appointment to ward off any fever. I've done this the last two times he received his shots, and he hasn't developed a fever of any kind. However, I'm a little wary about putting extra medication in him that he doesn't need. I don't know if he didn't develop a fever because he took the Tylenol, or if he wouldn't have developed a fever anyway. Sort of a chicken/egg kind of deal, I guess.

So I'm wondering what the other moms here do.

[ilovetivo]

I do. I think it also helps with the pain of the shot - during and after

[punkrockmama]

I hear ya on not wanting to medicate your kid if it's not really necessary. But I give Tylenol to Peyton because I really do think he needs it. I think it helps with any soreness as well as fever.

Vaxes suck mom. Whatever way you choose do them, they're just no fun for them or us.

[pampamz]

I do.

I usually get a sore arm after any shots I get so wouldn't want to subject my DC to that if I could help them out w/some acetaminophen.

DD is especially a bear after she gets her shots so I always try to remember with her.

[elephantmeg]

I do, not for the fever but the soreness and as a nurse I give it before IM injections in the hospital. And I continue with tylenol every 4-6 hours for 24 hours as needed for soreness.

[o_mom]

I don't because I don't want to hide any reaction. I want to know if they react and how bad so I can make decisions on future doses. If they develop a fever I treat it.

[HannaAddict]

Our ped specifically says not to medicate our son at all before he gets shots. They want to be sure he doesn't have a fever or anything going on before he gets the shot. But the ped says it is fine to give after the shot to help with discomfort. They say that Tylenol doesn't do much if anything for the actual needle poke and immediate pain of the shot, it is more for the muscle soreness, etc. post shot. We've given him Tylenol post-shot and he usually came home and took a nap right away.

HTH,
Kimberly

[spanannie]

I see a Nutritional Oncologist (although I don't have cancer) and I think he's absolutely brilliant. He strongly advised me to give my children advil and benadryl prior to vaccines.

[Moneypenny]

That's what we do, too. Nothing before. She actually has never needed it after, either, but if she developed a fever or seemed uncomfortable we would certainly give it.

Susan
mama to my cutie pie, Avery
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[thomma]

We also gave Tylenol post-shot.

The only time I gave Tylenol before shots was when ds and dd were getting monthly synagis shots (2 IM shots each). Nurse had to mix the shots after weighing and temp check so in between that and the shot, I gave them Tylenol.

Kim
t&e 5/03

[maestramommy]

I did all the time until this last well check. DD only had 1 polio vax and the ped said it wasn't necessary, but I could give it to her later if she was extra fussy. She wasn't.

[cmdunn1972]

I do if I remember.

My thinking is that I'm probably not overmedicating if I give him one dose of Tylenol every few months or so, just when he gets a vaccine, especially if it helps him feel a little better.

Now, getting in the habit of giving Tylenol or Motrin every day and night for teething might get excessive.

[Katia]

I did for the first year or so, then I stopped. In retrospect I wish I hadn't bothered -- administering the Tylenol seemed as traumatic to DS (and to me!) as getting the shot. Sometimes I would nurse him for comfort right after the shot, but in any case, he'd usually fall asleep and wake up feeling OK. I don't recall any fever, but I suppose you could just treat it if and when you notice he has one. Now that my DS is older (2.5), I'm sure he'd let me know if he was uncomfortable, and he always seems OK. HTH!

Katia
DS 2003

[lerlerler]

Nope, I worry that the Tylenol will mask a fever.. and I don't want to give her vax's when she is ill. Occasionally I will give her a dose AFTER the nurse takes her temp but before the shot

[kellyotn]

My ped is in the "After, if necessary" camp.

I've never actually had to give them any, FWIW. (Kids are nearly 4 and nearly 2.) I would have no problem giving them some if they needed it, they just haven't.

[Marisa6826]

I give Motrin before well baby visits. I completely think it helps with pain and inflammation at the injection site.

You also can tell your Ped that you don't want so many vax at one time - especially since the DTAP and Prevar are combination vaccines.

-m

[noahsmommy]

I gave my DS Tylenol right after the shots for the first year. During his first vaccination, I didn't give him anything, and he did develop a fever so, after that I gave him Tylenol. It's such a small amount and just a once in a blue moon kinda thing that it's not going to harm your DS in any way.

Ann

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[heidiann]

I never give tylenol before shots just as the pp said we want to make sure there is no fever before she gets her shots. I usually give her tylenol after she gets her shots in the office.

Heidi
Mom to Jillian 10/20/05

[dhano923]

I do. But our ped tells us to check the child's temperature before giving the Tylenol to make sure he/she doesn't have a fever already. Then Tylenol 1 hour before the vaccines, and then for 24 hours afterwards.