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Original poster

How to Covid test swab 3 year old ?

12 replies

RacLou82 · 26/01/2021 13:01

Hi. My 10 year old son tested positive for Covid 9 days ago (he had no symptoms until today only tested him because he had direct contact with positive cases in school). Myself and my husband ordered home kits- both our tests came back negative. But when I try to introduce the test to my 3 year old he runs off keeps his mouth clamped shut and wont even let us near his nose. I dont want to put him through it but I am due back at work end of this week and the nursery have said they cant take him back without a negative covid test. What should I do? I have a home test kit for him but am I better getting him to a test site to get it done properly? I am worried about hurting him, however most people I know that have visited the test site the parents have still been made to do it themselves? Any advice and tips much appreciated

OP posts:

FoxyTheFox · 26/01/2021 13:16

Bribery worked well with my three year old. Argos app and toys open with the filters set to show items for £5 and below, "this is going to be a little bit yucky but you can choose anything you want from this page". DH pinned her, I swabbed, she screamed (made it easier to get the back of her mouth at least), and she picked out some new Playdoh. It was unpleasant for a few moments but then was done and dusted.

Poppins2016 · 26/01/2021 13:24

We used a drive in test centre for my 2 year old, I think being restrained in the car seat helped! DH turned around and held (pinned) his hands, I put a hand on his forehead to prevent movement and swabbed with the other hand. You could try doing it in the car (seat) if nothing else works!

I also recommend explaining everything to them and making it as amusing as possible... "I'm going to put this little stick up your nose, it might feel a bit funny but it won't take long"... and then I made sound effects for each nostril. Second time around (he's been tested twice) there weren't even any tears!

Poppins2016 · 26/01/2021 13:29

P.s. with very little children you don't need to swab the tonsils - if you don't have a leaflet explaining that then you could phone up to clarify. (I can't remember what the cut off age is, but my DS is just over 2... and we only had to swab nostrils).

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ArosGartref · 26/01/2021 13:36

They don't need a negative test as they've completed the self isolation period. Is it worth sending the relevant advice to to the nursery?

Do you know your 10 year old has to carry on isolating?

SoCrimeaRiver · 26/01/2021 13:41

We have a 2 year old we've just had to test. Two adults, child sat on the mend of one, nostrils swabbed by the other adult. Bribery and favourite toy helped, as did stickers from test centre staff afterwards if you can conjure some up.

StandardLampski · 26/01/2021 13:45

I had to take my three yr old to a centre. I explained it and said there would be a treat . He stood in front of me, between my legs ( im on a chair) looking forward - swab up nose. Its the same way we brush teeth so familiar to him. Did up nose. Centre lady said we didn't need to do throat too. He did wriggle a bit but not as much as I feared . Big well done and a celebration milky way as soon as we got out....

WintryShowers · 26/01/2021 13:56

It if he has symptoms today, then don't you have to isolate as of today? How can you be going to back to work at the end of the week?

Updatemate · 26/01/2021 14:08

Wait until he is asleep.

tisonlymeagain · 26/01/2021 14:13

As others have said, double-check as I just swabbed a 1 year old (swabbing a feral cat would have been easier) and only had to do the nostrils. (This is because it's too hard with young children to stop them touching it with their tongue, and that contaminates the test)

Original poster

RacLou82 · 26/01/2021 14:57

Foxy the Fox that's a great idea. I have no treats in the house to bribe him with as we cant go out. So I will give the online toy bribe a go. Thanks!

OP posts:

Original poster

RacLou82 · 26/01/2021 15:00

Poppins 2016. Great advice thankyou. Yes it says can swab just the nose but not as accurate. Plus my little one wont like his nose being messed with either, he gets bad nose bleeds x

OP posts:

Original poster

RacLou82 · 26/01/2021 15:11

Aros Gartref my understanding is that anyone in the household could still catch covid by day 10 without showing symptoms. So without my little one being tested how do I know he isnt going to return to nursery and spread it? As I have seen from my eldest son any symptoms take at least another week to appear from contracting the virus. So if son number 2 caught it tomorrow
he would need another 10 days isolation. Many kids never show symptoms. So I can totally understand why the nursery need evidence of a negative test.

OP posts:

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