Helpful Language Guide

Words matter. The language we as parents, caregivers, and medical providers shapes the experience of kids going through medical procedures. This quick guide helps you make little changes that can make a big difference.

Babies & Toddlers (0-2) Kids (3-11) Tweens & Teens (12+) Healthcare Providers Needle Pokes Talking about pain Telling your child what will happen Vaccinations Procedural Pain Needle pokes Pain Management Talking about pain Telling your child what will happen Vaccinations

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About This Resource

Words matter…a lot. The language we use when talking about pain and medical procedures can completely change the way kids and families and adults think about the process. Whether or not we intend it, everything we say frames a patient’s experience, so adding a little intention and paying attention to our words can make a world of difference.

How To Use This Resource

Download and print this guides for medical providers and parents. Experiment with switching out words and phrases, and show yourself just how much of a difference it can make.

Who Is This For

Parents, caregivers, and medical providers.

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AAP On Call Podcast: Managing Fear of Needles

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World Health Organization: Reducing pain at time of vaccination position paper

This position paper, released in September 2015 reviews the research, and outlines the recommendations for managing vaccination pain.

Blog Post

Doctors Can Have Needle Fear Too! Helpful Strategies From a Needle Phobic Doctor

Dr. Kevin M. Windisch is a pediatrician at Girls to Women/Young Men’s Health in Dallas, Texas. He’s spent over 25 treating patients and is well-loved by both patients and colleagues.

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A Note About Keeping This Free

Good pain care should be a right, not a privilege.

We’ve spent our careers treating pain and medical anxiety, and we know that comfort and control come from putting the power where it belongs: in your hands. Everything here is free and open source by design. No parent should have to pay to learn how to get their child through a vaccine or a bad headache. No provider should have to hunt for what they need to do their job well. Hundreds of thousands of people have used Meg tools, and not one of them has ever been asked to pay.

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