Pain Control for Infants

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Do Infants Have Pain?

Yes, even though they are unable to talk, infants feel pain.

How can I tell if my infant is in pain?

When in pain, infants often:

have eating and sleeping problems.
show a change in their normal behavior.
pull back the area of their body in pain.
cry more often.
have increased dirty diapers.
hiccough.
rolls their eyes.
hold their breath.
throw up.
turn blue.
are fussy or sweaty.

Some babies are too sick to cry to let us know they are in pain.

What is the best way to treat pain in infants?

Medicines are available to control most of your baby's pain. Each infant has individual needs.

Other things besides medicines to help treat your baby's pain are:

pattting, rubbing, rocking.
bathing in warm water.
gentle massage - rub your baby's back in a circular motion or just hold his or her hands. A firm touch is more soothing than a light one.
removing clothing if hot or adding more clothes if cold.
allowing rest periods.
wrapping in blankets (bundling).
dimming the lights.
cutting down the noise.
combining the care activities at meal time so baby can rest at other times.
offering pacifier.
playing tapes or lullabies.
speaking softly.
rocking or swinging.
having the sound of a washing machine or vacuum cleaner nearby.

Ask your nurse which ones of these things you can use with your baby, due to his or her special needs.

How can I tell if the pain is going away?

If the infant seems comfortable, the medication or other pain care is probably working.

Can my baby become addicted to pain medication?

It is important for you to know the facts about addiction so that your concerns will not result in needless suffering for your baby. Drug addiction means that a person is taking a drug to get a mental "high" instead of relief from pain. When infants are in pain, they need relief from the pain. Once the pain is gone, the medicine is no longer needed and it is gradually stopped. The truth is that addiction is very rare when medicine is taken for pain control. Please contact your baby's nurse with any questions or concerns you have about his or her pain care.

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