Soothing After Vaccines
Parent uses gentle touch, voice, and movement to comfort baby after a vaccine, observing how baby responds to different soothing techniques. The agent coaches the parent to notice self-regulation attempts, comfort-seeking behaviors, and recovery from distress — building emotional co-regulation skills.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Baby in parent's arms, ideally skin-to-skin or close chest contact. Environment should be calm and quiet. Best done immediately after vaccine when baby is distressed.
How it works
- 1~30s
Start by holding your child close against your chest. Use a calm, steady voice — you might hum softly or say gentle, repetitive words like 'shhh, it's okay.' Feel their body against yours. Is your child starting to settle? You might notice the crying soften, their body relax slightly, or they nuzzle into you. Tell me what you're noticing.
Watch for: Baby shows early attempts to self-soothe or accept comfort from parent after distress.
- 2~35s
Now gently stroke your child's back or head with slow, rhythmic touches. Notice if they shows any comfort-seeking behaviors — does they turn their face toward your chest? Try to find your heartbeat? Make little sighing sounds? These are all ways babies seek connection when they're upset. What do you see?
Watch for: Baby actively seeks physical comfort from parent when distressed.
- 3~30s
Let's try some gentle movement now. Slowly rock side to side or make small bouncing motions. As you move, notice your child's response to the motion. Does the rhythmic movement help them settle further? You might see their eyes grow heavy, their breathing slow, or they release a deep sigh. What calming signs do you notice?
Watch for: Baby shows positive response to calming touch and movement, indicating sensory regulation.