After your baby's vaccine
Vaccines protect your baby from serious illness. The hours that follow can bring small worries — this is a calm reference for what's normal, how to comfort your baby, and when to seek help.
If something feels seriously wrong, trust your instinct and go straight to the nearest hospital emergency department.
What's normal in the first 24–48 hours
Most babies are completely fine after a vaccine. Some show mild reactions that settle on their own. These are normal:
- Mild fever, under 38.5 °C
- Redness, warmth, or a small swelling at the injection site
- Fussiness, crying more than usual, or being sleepier than usual
- One missed feed, or slightly less appetite
- A small, firm lump under the skin at the site — this can take 2–3 weeks to disappear
These usually settle within 24–48 hours. Some reactions to specific vaccines come later — see the notes below.
How to comfort your baby
- Hold and feed normally. Breastfed babies often nurse more after a vaccine — let them.
- Keep the room cool. Dress your baby lightly if they feel warm.
- A clean, cool, damp cloth on the injection site eases redness and soreness.
- Do not massage the site, do not apply heat, and do not apply turmeric, oils, or home remedies.
- Extra cuddles and skin-to-skin time help more than you think.
Paracetamol — when and how much
Use paracetamol only if your baby is uncomfortable, or has a fever above 38 °C. It is not needed routinely after every vaccine. Standard syrup in India — Calpol, T-98, Sumo, or Crocin — is 120 mg in 5 ml.
| Baby's weight | Dose | Calpol 120 mg / 5 ml |
|---|---|---|
| 3 kg | 36 mg | 1.5 ml |
| 4 kg | 48 mg | 2.0 ml |
| 5 kg | 60 mg | 2.5 ml |
| 6 kg | 72 mg | 3.0 ml |
| 7 kg | 84 mg | 3.5 ml |
| 8 kg | 96 mg | 4.0 ml |
| 9 kg | 108 mg | 4.5 ml |
| 10 kg | 120 mg | 5.0 ml |
- Give every 6 hours if needed
- Never more than 4 doses in 24 hours
- Use the syringe or dropper that comes with the bottle — not a kitchen spoon
- If your baby is under 2 months, do not give paracetamol without speaking to us first
If the fever does not come down after two doses, or rises above 39 °C, message us on WhatsApp.
Notes on specific vaccines
BCG (at birth)
A small bump appears at the site around 2–3 weeks. It may scab, weep a little, and heal slowly over 6–8 weeks, leaving a small scar. This is the vaccine working. Do not squeeze it, cover it, or apply any cream.
Rotavirus (oral drops)
If your baby spits up within an hour of the drops, do not repeat the dose — the next one is given on schedule.
DTwP or Pentavalent (6, 10, 14 weeks)
This is the dose most likely to cause fever and fussiness in the first 24 hours. Plan for a quiet evening at home. Paracetamol if needed.
Pneumococcal (PCV)
Mild fever and slight soreness at the site are common, and settle within a day.
MMR or MR (9 and 15 months)
Reactions come later — usually 5 to 12 days after the dose. A mild rash and low fever for a day or two is normal, and is the vaccine working.
Chickenpox (Varicella)
A few small chickenpox-like spots may appear 1–3 weeks later. Mild and brief.
When to message us
For non-urgent concerns, message us on WhatsApp. We usually reply within an hour during clinic hours.
Message City Clinic on WhatsAppMessage us if:
- Fever stays above 38.5 °C beyond 24 hours
- Persistent crying for more than 2 hours that you cannot settle
- The injection site looks unusually swollen, very red, or is discharging
- Your baby is feeding less than half their usual amount
- You are worried and want a second opinion — that alone is reason enough
When to go to the emergency department
Do not wait. Do not call first. Go straight to the nearest hospital with emergency facilities.
- Difficulty breathing — fast breathing, wheezing, chest pulling in
- Blue lips, tongue, or fingertips
- Limp, unresponsive, or hard to wake
- Seizure or sudden shaking
- A widespread rash, especially with swelling of the face or lips
- Persistent vomiting with no urine output for 8 hours or more
- Any sudden change that feels deeply wrong to you
Go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
City Clinic does not have emergency facilities. Trust your instinct and go.
If you are reading this at 2 am with a fussy baby, you are doing exactly the right thing. Most reactions are small, settle on their own, and will not show up the next morning. You will get through this night.
When in doubt, message us.
— City Clinic, Madiwala