4 y.o. With impetigo. Won't let me put the cream on her nose. At my wits end

[GrabbyGabby]

My 4 y.o. Was sent home from nursery last week with impetigo around one of her nostrils. I think this is due to her having hayfever and having a very drippy nose for the last few weeks.

We have been prescribed fucidin ointment. She put it on no issues on the first day, and it was clearing up, but now she will not let me put it on her. She says it is too tickly. It is getting worse again. She was off all last week due to impetigo and stomach bug. I don't think we can send her in tomorrow because her nose still looks bad.

Any tricks and tips? I have tried bribery, letting her do it herself, super positivity, natural consequences (she missed swimming). I am so frustrated.

How many times a day? Can you do it when she is asleep? Other than that I think you just have to pin her dow, slap it on and tell her well done afterwards.

I agree with PP, do it when she's asleep.

What did you bribe her with?

Definitely when she’s asleep

I know you’ve tried bribery but have you tried a lollipop? My four year olds will do practically anything if I offer them a chupa chup

I agree do it when sleeping?

Have been doing it in her sleep but needs to be 3/4 times a day.
Bribed her with mini marshmallows. But as she had a stomach bug she is off all food.

Pinning her down doesnt work either, she wipes it off and gets upset, cries which makes her snotty and aggravates her nose.

That's would be a non negotiable for me, she needs the cream so put it on her.

Get her to do it herself? Sometimes works

Yep, done the getting her to do it, but she wont put enough on and wont put it up the nostril which is where it needs to go.

Have just put it on her also. She wipes it off. Got any tips to help a 4 year old get with the programme?

I’m sorry but sometimes you have to harden your heart.
Have a good distraction ready, pin down, slap on as fast as possible, hold her hands if necessary afterwards, put on Peppa Pig.
Remember who’s in charge :)

Some possible ideas:

Make a game of it. Put her on the swing and do a silly dramatic beep of her nose every time she swings forward. Get her with the cream on some of them.

Blindfold game of tasting things. Make some of them messy. Splodge on some cream at the same time as a big dollop of yogurt hits her face. Wipe it off for her but avoid the cream. Swiftly move on to something else.

Put on something she wants to watch. Pause it. Only resume once cream has gone on.

Find a solution for the tickly feeling - maybe sitting with a twist of tissue in that nostril for a while afterwards?

If you get a success at any point, make a big excited call to dad/granny/someone raving about how proud you are and how brave she was.

When she's asleep at night and morning.
Daytime, put on tissue and wipe her nose so she doesn't realise
Failing that say Santa is watching 🤪

Some nice tips there Rodion. Thanks. Will try the food game tomorrow.

Forcing her does not work. She wipes it off and/or cries, which makes her snotty which makes her nose worse.

Part of a beauty and make up routine? You can go through the stages and then she can? My 5 year old loves having a go with lipstick and nail polish. Perfume makes her abnormally happy!

YouTube on the iPad next to her whilst she lays down on the bed watching it. We use nasal spray on my daughter every night and the only way we can do this is with the use of the iPad and her favourite videos. Works everytime

Impetigo can be treated with oral antibiotics if needed, are you any more likely to get those into her than get this cream on? It might be worth speaking to the GP in the morning if so.

When you get mine always responded well to counting (they are also all ND) - so I'll count how long it take you to run down and get some water, you count to 5 and see if I can put the cream on, you count to 100 while cleaning teeth, you count to 10 and I'll stop trying to get your spinger out etc.

Can you put it on too? And on her teddies? I have a child who at 6 1/2 still refuses any type of medication. Thankfully she's never been very poorly but she just will not take it, spits it out etc. I feel your pain! Hopefully they will use these determined personalities for good when they are older 😂

She is still point blank refusing, and now her sister has been sent home from school with vomiting bug. I am at my wits end.

It does tend to clear up without the antibiotic cream, it just takes a bit longer. So no need to totally panic. Just do whayt you can. If it starts growing bigger or spreading doctor can prescribe oral antibiotics if need be.

Her nursery is at the end of my street. I made her wave at her friends leaving today. Then she let me put the cream on.

Excellent :)

This!