Which pain assessment scale is most appropriate for a 3-year-old toddler?

The FACES scale is the most appropriate pain assessment for a 3-year-old toddler because it utilizes facial expressions to help children communicate their pain levels. Toddlers may have difficulty with numeric scales, as they often cannot comprehend the concept of numbers or quantify their feelings in that manner.

The FACES scale is visually engaging and allows toddlers to point to a face that best represents their pain from a simple array of expressions ranging from happy to sad. This makes it easier for young children to express their discomfort without needing to articulate their feelings verbally, which is particularly useful at this developmental stage.

Other assessment tools, like the Numeric scale, the CRIES scale, and the Visual analog scale, may not be suitable for toddlers. The Numeric scale is intended for older children or adults who can understand and use numbers to describe their pain. The CRIES scale is specifically designed for assessing pain in infants, taking into account physiological responses such as crying and requires interpretation of symptoms that a toddler may not be able to express effectively. Similarly, the Visual analog scale requires a level of understanding and ability to interpret a continuous line of pain intensity, which is not feasible for a 3-year-old. Thus, the FACES scale is ideal for this age group, making