About BuzzyBuddy
BuzzyBuddy is an interactive distraction companion that helps children and adults stay calm during medical procedures like needle sticks, blood draws, vaccinations, and IV placements.
What the app does
BuzzyBuddy pairs short, active brain games with the Buzzy® vibration device, a small buzzing helper placed near the injection site. Based on Dr. Amy Baxter's research on pain and distraction, the app gives the brain something demanding to do — counting, finding, and deciding — right while the poke happens. When the mind is busy solving a puzzle, it has less attention left for discomfort, and the gentle vibration of the Buzzy® device helps the nerves around the needle feel safe. Every game asks the player to make a real choice: count the stars in a busy scene, spot the letter with a hole, or find the one emoji that's different. Active participation, not passive watching, is what triggers the brain's natural comfort response.
Who it is for
The app adapts to the player. Little Kids ages 3–6 get simple find-and-count games; Big Kids ages 7–12 get silly word puzzles that make counting fun (yes, counting the holes in the word BOOGER counts as science); and Grown-Ups get harder brain teasers, because needle anxiety doesn't stop at 18. Parents can hand a phone to their child the moment the nurse walks in, follow along on the readiness screen that explains where to place the Buzzy® device, and celebrate together on the finish screen when the procedure is over.
Who builds it
BuzzyBuddy is built by Katie Taylor, CCLS — a Certified Child Life Specialist who wanted shots to stop being the hardest part of the week — using the science behind the Buzzy® device and vibration-based pain control. It's free to use, requires no account, and works on any phone, tablet, or computer — so it's ready in the waiting room, at the pharmacy, or at home before a finger prick.
A note from Katie
Curious about the science? Watch our episode on pain, Helping Kids Cope with Needles: The Science Behind Buzzy on Inside the Children's Hospital.