By Ross Grant
HealthScoutNews Reporter

THURSDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthScoutNews) -- While almost all parents say they understand the need for immunizations, a new survey shows childhood vaccines are an anxious mystery to many of them.

For instance, 80 percent of the 1,000 new parents surveyed didn't know which shots their children needed or what the vaccines protected against.

Moreover, most parents said they become anxious when their children received vaccine shots, and 55 percent said the shots hurt them more than their kids.

"I don't think we as health professionals realize how much anxiety parents have about seeing their kids poked," says Carolyn Montoya, coordinator of the Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration at the University of New Mexico.

"No one wants to hear a baby cry, and definitely no one wants to hear their own baby cry," she says.

With children getting 20 shots before their second birthday, the anxiety seems warranted. However, it doesn't have to be so nerve-racking.

The three nursing groups that conducted the summer survey -- the American Nurses Association, the American College of Nurse Practitioners and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners -- have since prepared tips to help parents cope. The program was also funded by GlaxoSmithKline, a major vaccine producer.

One way to make the immunization process more comfortable is for parents to hold their toddlers during the shots. This may sound natural, but most parents don't do it, according to the survey. While 91 percent of parents gave their children pain relievers for the shots, only 13 percent reported they physically comforted their children.

Parents may also want to breast-feed their children after the shot or give them a bottle. If the children are frightened before the shot, parents can try to distract them by making silly faces, showing them a toy or blowing bubbles.

Perhaps most importantly, though, parents should try to stay calm themselves when they catch sight of a needle aimed at their baby.

"Babies pick up on parents' cues. If parents can stay calm, their babies will pick up on this," says Montoya, former president of the American College of Nurse Practitioners.

The other important finding in the survey showed that parents were often confused or ignorant about the immunizations their kids need. Of those surveyed, 83 percent said they didn't know how many shots are given in the first two years, and more than half couldn't identify vaccine-preventable diseases.

Although doctors and nurses generally inform patients about the purpose of each shot, parents can take an active role by asking for combination vaccines or to have more shots given each visit. The 11 diseases targeted by the vaccines such as diphtheria, polio ( news - web sites), rubella and whooping cough are becoming less well-known because vaccines are so effective, but parents shouldn't forget the diseases still exist.

"They're big long names, so they're intimidating. But I still believe that we shouldn't give our child medicines unless we know what we're giving them," Montoya says. "Another reason is that sometimes there is an outbreak in your community, and you'll know if your baby has been immunized."

Dr. Deborah Wexler, executive director of the Immunization Action Coalition, adds this: "Every parent should have a little chart showing the vaccines and schedule of shots."

Since most of the shots are given in the first six months, before a child has a chance to start worrying about needles, parents should take care to stay on schedule.

"The older they are, the more children will worry about getting a shot," Wexler says.

What To Do

For the immunization tip sheet, visit the American Nurses Association. For a schedule of which shots a children and teens need and when they should have them, visit the Immunization Action Coalition.