Deep breathing is a well-studied way to lower a child's perceived pain during needle sticks and other brief procedures. Bubble blowing is a favorite tool for this because it naturally combines breathing with distraction, and a recent randomized trial found it works as well as screen-based distraction at easing pain and anxiety during IV starts.

Here's a tip to try at your next procedure:

• Bring out the bubbles: Hand your patient a bubble wand and ask them to blow slow, steady breaths before and during the procedure. If they can't blow bubbles themselves, blow them toward the child and invite them to pop or count the bubbles — it keeps their attention and breathing calm at the same time.

Try practicing the technique together before the procedure begins and offering prompts during it, or having older children blow on their fingers imagining the candles on a birthday cake. It seems simple, but it can be magic.