WWYD: CMs - a child of mine is allergic, and has breathing problems but mum does not give me inhaler unless i ask for it. (bit long)

yy ayla at my last St JA course we were told that if a blue inhaler is available then use it and sort out after because asthma can have such devastating consequences

it was indeed unoffical advice, though; the trainer said would you really watch a child DIE if you had your own blue puffer in your pocket

It was very sobering

I had a less serious issue of a similar nature. So I added into our contract that I cannot accept the child without their inhaler and no refunds or reductions can be made for any period of absence due to necessary items not being provided by the parent.

2 sets of parents have told me "but they never use it anyway" ... I said as long as its on their prescription they must have an inhaler here, and also at school or preschool. Its on their presription for a reason, and I'd rather have one here that doesn't get used than not have one when I need it.

In case of emergency I've been unofficially advised that it is better to use someone else's inhaler than none at all. The rules on prescriptions mean than no-one can officially advise this, they have to tell us to only use the child's own inhaler they have provided because that is the rule for all prescribed medicines. If anyone who has asthma has an opinion on this, would like to hear your view TIA

My above post was meant to imply that I agree with colditz.

"Tell her that unless she allows you to follow the prescribed advice for her child's medication, you don't feel able to offer a place as you feel he is at risk."

and the liability will fall upon the childminder for not following proper proceedures. God forbid, but should the worse happen, you can be sure the childminder will be hauled up on safeguarding issues - as in failure to follow safeguarding guidelines.

gosh No4, how frightening

the inhaler will not make him hyperactive; in fact I'll bet what she is seeing after inhaler use is a child behaving 'normally' because he is not feeling restricted due to shortness of breath

No.3 No.3 !!!!!!! I have promoted you Hope your DS dosnt mind

No.3you need to do a asthma policy ( I think there is one in my pack, there was cos had a child with it) and ask the Practice Nurse if she can go through it with you, most practice nurses will as a update on your first aid, and then get Mum to sign it, if she wont then I would give notice, I wouldn't be responsible for a child without medication, I have had to rush DS to hospital to many times.

Using an inhalor is not the same as taking steroids, not using an inhalor is more likely to lead to having to take steroids if the asthma is oncontrolled.

It is impossible to overdose on ventolin and taking it even when not needed will do no harm other than cause temporary light headedness. It is why even young children are allowed to carry their own inhalors, even if a classmate got hold of it and took numerous puffs it wouldn't matter.

It does not stay in your system.

Having uncontrolled asthma however can be very, very dangerous. I agree with whoever said that they have obviously never experienced a serious attack, I have, its not nice.

The Asthma society pre-school asthma policy sets an onus on parents as well as the childcarer. If the mum won;t comply then I would seriously consider whether I caould provide care. After all you can't never go to the park in case this child has an attack.

It is what friends have been told be there consultants but I would look up latest research on mild asthma treatment and see what it says?

Clearly if anyone has asthma brought on by allergic reactions then controlling the allergic reaction is key - surely better to take antihistamine than having to take steroids etc?

I've only ever had a couple of brething problems brought on by my allergies (I don't have asthma) and yes my moving away from the source of the allergen I was quickly fine (from feeling like I was suffocating, coughing, not being able to breath) - perhaps this child doesn't have true asthma just this type of allergic reaction.

However back to the op - I don't know where you go for here with the parent, I think you need to insist that you will follow her guidelines but you absolutely need to insist that you have that inhaler in case removing him from the area doesn't improve his breathing or you are confined somewhere and can't leave immediately etc

I think that both you and the mum arent used to the whole asthma thing tbh, perhaps call some kind of 'review' meeting to get the record set straight.

I think that you need to be left with an inhaler, every day not just when going to the park. (But do take it to the park, dont leave it at home again!)

You can have written instructions form parent about how to administer medication and follow them

If you feel that the child is in distress/danger administer the inhaler too

Some drs do seem to overprescribe inhalers (though this does seem to be changing) so i can see the mums concerns and she does know the child best but the incidents you describe makes it sound like child does need an inhaler

Has the child got an official diagnosis? Our drs wont diagnosis asthma that young

oh goodness, maybe I'm confused on my inhaler colours, then . Thankfully haven't had to use mine in a long time!

colditz are you in US or UK? In UK my son's reliver is blue. In US my reliever is yellow. How odd. And confusing if people travel...

Cargirl - this is exactly what I have been thinking... and why I thought this mother might not be so crazy after all... that the less you use it, the less likely they will grow to need it/become dependent on it and maybe could outgrow it. Is there truth in this do you know? Or was it just what you thought?

I think you need to speak to the mum again about the allergy side of it as controlling the allergy side of it - perhaps giving anti histamine shortly before going to a park that causes the problem would prevent the breathing issues.

If my child had mild asthma the approach of using the inhaler as little as possible would be the one that I would take however you are absolutely right to insist that you have his inhaler because asthma is a killer.

I have been told by mums of dc with mild (and I stress mild) that there consultants told them to use the inhaler as little as possible and get the child to exercise plenty etc because that would increase the probability of the dc growing out of asthma.