5 S's Strategy Eases Pain of Infant Vaccination

A physical distraction strategy outperformed sugar and basic parental comforting in easing the pain of infant vaccinations, a new trial found. 

Use of the 5 S’s — swaddling, side or stomach positioning, shushing, swinging, and sucking on a pacifier — resulted in significantly decreased pain scores and crying time among 2- and 4-month-old infants during vaccinations.

"The 5 S's appear to be a viable nonpharmacologic option for clinics to implement when providing analgesia during vaccinations," researchers wrote.

With this strategy, pediatricians are able to significantly decrease the discomfort and pain associated with immunization — the top reason parents wait to have their child vaccinated — and avoid giving the infant analgesics, which can lower levels of antibodies generated by several vaccines. 

"This simple physical intervention will require additional studies to see whether it is reproducible for other painful procedures and whether parents can be taught to perform the 5 S's reliably," the researchers concluded.

Recently, Dr John Harrington, the study's lead author, and Dr Harvey Karp — creator of the 5 S's method — described the technique and why it works in an interview with National Public Radio.  Visit NPR for the full interview and transcript.  

For more by Dr Harrington, read Tiny Tim and Big D, published in the April issue of Consultant For Pediatricians.  

-Michael Potts