6 Ways to Make a Pediatric Blood Draw Easier for a Child

Often, a pediatric blood draw can be a stressful experience for children. However, there are a plethora of ways to make a pediatric blood draw easier for your child. Here, our expert phlebotomists in VA expand on some of them!

1. Go with the flow

Drinking plenty of water is vital for blood and urine tests. Unless especially ordered by your child’s doctor, encourage your child to drink water prior to the office visit. Drinking water hydrates veins, making a pediatric blood draw easier.

2. Offer a distraction

During a pediatric blood draw, help get your child’s eyes — and mind — off the procedure. Sometimes, watching the procedure is stressful for a child, requiring you to distract them from looking at the needle. At Phlebotomy On Wheels, our expert phlebotomists in VA can make blood draws more comfortable for patients of all ages.

3. Communicate beforehand

Nobody knows your child better than you do. Practicing calming techniques or talking about feelings before their appointment can help. For example, play a game of staying still. Teach your child to inhale for 2-3 seconds and then exhale. Breathing exercises don’t just make it easier to draw but can help your child feel in control of their body.

4. Schedule wisely

Scheduling is important. Try scheduling the test at a time when your child isn’t hungry or tired. Before going for a blood test, ensure your child has eaten something to decrease the likelihood of light-headedness.

However, if the test requires fasting, ensure they don’t eat anything before the blood draw — in this case, try scheduling the test first thing in the morning, and bring a snack home when everything is done.

5. Set realistic expectations

Don’t pretend the experience will be painless — this is the first step of not setting unrealistic expectations. Instead of promising that a blood draw will be a painless experience, reassure your child that the process won’t be long and that the pain won’t last.

6. Empower yourself

Before your child’s appointment, discuss your questions and concerns with their doctor. This can give you some peace of mind regarding the testing process.

Remember, guaranteeing a totally pain-free experience for your child isn’t possible. However, these tips will make a pediatric blood draw easier for your child.

Get affordable mobile laboratory services in Northern VA through Phlebotomy On Wheels

At Phlebotomy On Wheels, we pursue two main objectives — quality service and customer convenience. For us, ensuring health safety and saving your time are the two most important priorities — and we have a dedicated and hardworking team to offer just that.

Our home blood draw services in MD are very reliable — you don’t need to step out of your home. Just give us a call and we’ll be there.

Get in touch with us for more information on our commercial mobile lab services in MD!