Tips for using inhaler/wheezy 1.5 yr old?

[spannablue]

Any tips on getting a 1.5 yr old to take a salbutamol inhaler with spacer? Dr said it needed to be held over nose and mouth for 3 minutes! Clearly not invented by a parent. He has bronchiolitis -he's really wheezy- and we all need more sleep! Any tips for this other than the inhaler too?

[Lake2]

Held over mouth for 3 minutes!? I've ever heard of that? My son suffers with a viral wheeze regularly. They taught us how to use spacer at the children's hospital. One puff in spacer and hold over mouth for 10 seconds while we count. Often needs 4 puffs so 10 seconds each puff. We do the same for his asthma preventor inhaler

[Lake2]

Sorry didn't see the last part. Steam really helps, as does the cold air outside, so lots of pram walks. Obviously no running around while wheeezy and elevate head of bed. Hope he feels better soon

[McBassyPants]

What Lake said Over face - press - hold for a ten count - take away and shake - repeat

[McBassyPants]

Shake the inhaler, not the child 😂

[spannablue]

That's a relief. Thought 3 mins was a bit ridic

[Booboostwo]

Same here only to the count of ten, repeat twice.

I taught my 1yo and a dog how to accept this the same way (not suggesting your child is a dog, but at that age some of the same ideas work). I used a reward (stickers or chocolate or something small and cheap that you can get a lot of), first I rewarded DS for looking at the inhaler then for touching it with his finger, then for letting me touch it to his face, then gradually build up to holding it on his face. It took a few short, positive sessions, over three days and it worked. He loves the inhaler now and I have to hide it when he does not need it as he asks for it all the time (the dog was the same, he had his inhaler for 5 years but always loved it!).