The best way to prepare a child for a blood test is to work on two levels: the practical one (fasting or not, what time, what to bring) and the emotional one (how to tell your child what will happen and how to stay calm yourself). A calm parent is the clearest signal to a child that the situation is safe. Below are tips that make the test easier for everyone.
Does my child need to fast?
It depends on the type of test and the child’s age.
- Babies are usually not kept without food for many hours. In practice a gap since the last feed is often enough; its length is set individually, according to the referring doctor or the collection-point staff.
- Older children should fast for some tests (for example glucose or a lipid profile), just like adults. For many other tests, such as a full blood count, fasting is not needed.
- If your child takes regular medication, ask the doctor whether to give it before the test.
There is no single rule for all tests. Ask when booking whether and for how long your child should fast — give the child’s age and the names of the tests ordered.
Water, time of day and sleep
Fasting does not mean no drinking. Your child can drink water — still and unsweetened. Good hydration makes the draw easier because the veins are more visible. Avoid juice, milk and sweet drinks if the test requires fasting.
The morning is usually best: the child is rested and most of the fasting period falls during sleep. Make sure your child sleeps well the night before. A tired, hungry child copes worse with everything.
How to talk to your child about the test
A few rules that work at any age:
- Be honest. Do not say “it won’t hurt at all”. Say there will be a short prick that may sting like a pinch and will pass quickly.
- Keep it brief. A day or two ahead for a preschooler, just before for a toddler. Long explanations raise tension.
- No threats. A blood test is not a punishment or a “consequence”. Never use it as a threat.
- Give them a job. Offer a role: counting to ten, blowing as if at a candle, holding a toy in the other hand. A sense of control lowers fear.
- Keep your own fear in check. If you are afraid of needles, try not to show it. Children read their parents’ emotions.
A teenager needs factual information and respect for their privacy — they may prefer to go into the room alone.
What to bring
- the referral or a list of tests (if you have one),
- a favourite toy, book or a phone with a cartoon — something to distract,
- water to drink,
- something to eat afterwards, especially if the child has been fasting,
- a spare nappy and wipes for a baby,
- clothing with a loose sleeve that is easy to roll up.
How to hold a baby or a small child
The staff will show you how to position your child. Usually the parent sits on a chair and the child sits on their lap, with their back or side to the table. One arm wraps around the child’s torso and free hand, the other gently holds the legs. This “hug” gives the child a sense of safety and gives the person taking blood a steady arm.
In babies, blood is usually taken from a vein on the hand or arm, sometimes from the head or heel — the person taking the sample decides. Meanwhile the parent can talk, sing or show a toy. Breastfeeding right after the draw often calms a baby quickly.
Do not force your child onto their back or hold them rigidly without instruction — it is better to ask which position will be most comfortable.
Numbing cream or patch — an option to discuss
There are local anaesthetic preparations for the skin (creams, patches) that are applied some time before the needle. They are not essential, they have age restrictions and they need to be planned in advance. If you would like to use one, ask about it when booking or ask the doctor who ordered the test — the staff will advise whether it is possible in your case and how to arrange it. Do not assume such a preparation will be available on site.
After the test
- Press the dressing for a few minutes; with children it is better not to bend the arm.
- Praise your child for how they coped — whether or not they cried.
- Offer a drink and something to eat.
- A small bruise at the puncture site is common and fades on its own within a few days.
Contact a doctor if the puncture site is very swollen, hot or painful, or if your child develops a fever with no other explanation.
When to reschedule
If your child has a fever or an acute infection, call before the appointment. Some tests taken during an infection give results that are hard to interpret, and the staff will help you decide whether to reschedule. The exception is when the doctor ordered the test precisely because of the infection — then come as advised.
What it looks like at Sonar Clinic
At the Sonar Clinic sample collection point blood draws for children — including newborns — are booked for a specific day and time. This means your child does not wait in a waiting room with people who have symptoms of infection; appointments are organised so that children, older people and pregnant women are kept apart from patients who are unwell.
The fee for taking a sample is a single charge, regardless of the number of tests: 20 PLN for newborns and children up to 8 years of age, and 11 PLN for children from 11 years of age and adults. Details for other age groups and the prices of individual tests are given when booking; the current price list is on the pricing page.
You can read more about the range of laboratory tests for children on the blood tests for children page. If the results need discussing, your child can be seen by a paediatrician. Blood draws are booked by phone: +48 880 018 703. Sonar Clinic, ul. Gubińska 8A, 54-434 Wrocław.
This content is for information only and does not replace a medical consultation. If symptoms are sudden or getting worse, contact a doctor or call 112.