With children younger than 1 year of age, the capillary blood must be obtained from the heel. Obtaining blood must occur from the lateral areas of the sole.
The puncture must occur vertically to the sole. While obtaining blood, the child should be held with its foot vertically facing the floor. A site which has already been punctured must not be punctured a second time.
To improve blood flow at the heel before obtaining blood, you can carefully warm the heel, for example by wrapping it in a warm, moist cloth of a maximum 42 °C.
The heel must be disinfected and then dried completely.
To obtain capillary blood from the heel of children under 1 year, use only the low or medium penetration depth. If the high penetration depth is used, the calcaneus (heel bone) is at risk of being injured.