Giving Your Child a Shot: Step-by-Step

Gather your supplies. Wash your hands. Pick a spot. Use a different spot for each shot. Clean the skin, and let it dry. Pinch your child’s skin. Push the needle into their skin. Push the plunger down. Remove the needle. Stop any bleeding, if needed.

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  1. Capped syringe next to bandage and alcohol wipe.

    Gather your supplies.

  2. Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

    Wash your hands.

  3. Child with highlighted area on back of upper arm.

    Pick a spot.

  4. Different locations for shot, including back of upper arms and front of thighs.

    Use a different spot for each shot.

  5. Hand rubbing child’s skin with alcohol wipe.

    Clean the skin, and let it dry.

  6. Hand pinching child’s skin on back of upper arm.

    Pinch your child’s skin.

  7. Needle going into child’s pinched skin at a 45 degree angle.

    Push the needle into their skin.

  8. Thumb pushing syringe plunger down.

    Push the plunger down.

  9. Hand pulling needle out in same direction it went in.

    Remove the needle.

  10. Child with bandage on arm where shot was given.

    Stop any bleeding, if needed.

  11. Hand placing used needle and syringe into sharps container.

    Throw away the needle.

  12. Hands scrubbing with soap under faucet with running water.

    Wash your hands.

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