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Removing splinters from uncooperative child

121 replies

FortunataTagnips · 20/08/2024 18:05

Help! DD(10), who is autistic and has a learning disability, has two ruddy great splinters in her foot from some decking. We’ve tried all the obvious coaxing and pleading but she won’t let us anywhere near them.
They’re very close to the surface and it would probably only be a minute’s work to tweak them out, if only she’d let me.
Does anyone know of a non-invasive way of dealing with splinters? I’m so worried about infection.

OP posts:
AxolotlEars · 20/08/2024 22:43

I'd say wait for her to be asleep and then try. I think the best thing to use, to remove splinters, is nail clippers. I used to clip my ASD daughters nails at night and once managed to remove a wart!

Jifmicroliquid · 20/08/2024 22:53

My mum waited until I was asleep to remove a big splinter that I wouldn’t let her get out.

You really do need to get those out. Wait til she’s very deeply asleep though.

Tinymrscollings · 20/08/2024 23:10

This is really hard with an autistic child. I’d proceed with extreme caution on a sleep ambush. If that goes wrong it could have a whole pile of unintended consequences. I try not to erode trust unless I absolutely have to!

If she has the language can you find out what exactly she’s scared of? With my son it’s often not what you think.

My guess would be that she will need to be in control of this to get it done, and you need to dial back your worry and any pressure or this will escalate.

I’d lay out the natural consequence of this so she understands, but keep it light. Eg. The splinters aren’t a big deal but they do need to come out to keep your body healthy. I think we can probably do it ourselves but if we can’t then at 8.30 tomorrow morning we’ll go and see a nurse who does it for a job and will do it for us if we can’t manage it. Not a threat or a negotiation, just a neutral statement of what will happen and don’t get drawn into a big conversation about how they’ll do it etc.

Show her how to get it out using a cocktail stick or something in some blu tack and tweezers and then leave them available for her. She might well get curious and give it a go herself.

If she mentions pain, pop to the chemist and get a pack of numbing bandages for needles. Use one on another part of her body to show her how it will help.

All this to say, keep it light and relaxed and tell her what the options are and when you’ll need to take her to deal with it. These things are so frustrating and it’s scary when a child can’t or won’t see what has to be done to keep them safe, but those splinters will be coming out one way or another so try to relax, and she will relax.

I got my son through draining an infected toenail by watching a load of hideous TikTok videos with him about people popping spots and draining cysts, but that might be just him and not an experience I’d care to repeat!

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TokyoSushi · 20/08/2024 23:29

Oh OP, no further advice, but what a rubbish situation, hope you can get sorted very soon.

SleeplessInFife · 20/08/2024 23:41

They look so sore, poor thing.

I do splinters whilst they are asleep. Easiest way to do it is gradually nick the skin over the top of the splinter with a sterilised pin, the splinters should come out easily. Don’t go digging with tweezers, that’s a sure fire way to wake them up quickly. Only work on the dry top layers of the skin. Good luck. They look so sore, poor thing

est1980 · 21/08/2024 04:17

FortunataTagnips · 20/08/2024 18:05

Help! DD(10), who is autistic and has a learning disability, has two ruddy great splinters in her foot from some decking. We’ve tried all the obvious coaxing and pleading but she won’t let us anywhere near them.
They’re very close to the surface and it would probably only be a minute’s work to tweak them out, if only she’d let me.
Does anyone know of a non-invasive way of dealing with splinters? I’m so worried about infection.

Will they sit in a bath? Hot water will often coax them out by themselves, especially if they are very surface level. Failing all else, the body will generally expell foreign objects by itself with no major consequences. Just maybe get some disinfectant on there just as a precaution. Another option, is she able to do it herself? Maybe make a game of it, you try, I try and whoever gets it out wins type of thing? Without knowing how her autism affects her, it's hard to give tailored suggestions...

est1980 · 21/08/2024 04:21

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 20/08/2024 18:13

It'll be more traumatic for her to get sepsis.

You clearly know nothing about autism...

est1980 · 21/08/2024 04:24

NeedSomeAnswersPlease · 20/08/2024 18:25

@bergamotorange it's more extreme to cater to her and let her get an infection

It's not catering to her at all...

littleoldme3 · 21/08/2024 04:40

@FortunataTagnips I second the magnesium sulphate paste suggestion - but like gas already been said, it’s near impossible to get hold of at the moment!

I completely disagree with the “pin her down” suggestions. Do people do that with their children?! 😳

Would she go for a “funny” approach OP? My 3yo son had a horrendous splinter in his foot - it was just too deep to grab but he wouldn’t let me anywhere near it long enough to try and get the end. I ended up having to physically suck it out of his foot 😅 he found it so hilarious because it was tickly. I appreciate that an autistic 10 year old may react very different but could be worth a try 🤞🏼

isthismylifenow · 21/08/2024 06:03

Im an older parent and I'm quite shocked at the pinning the child down comments. I refer to age so gentle parenting isn't assumed.

I might be a bit late and I am hoping you have managed to get them out now. I just wanted to repeat the Epsom salt recommendation. If she can soak her foot for about 20 minutes in a good chunk of Epsom salts in warm water, it does help to shift them. Then she may be able to do it herself.

I just wanted to mention that I had quite a deep splinter in my own finger this week, and it was damn painful. I did the soak in the evening, wrapped it and went to remove the following morning. It was already filled with pus so I think if I left it too much longer it might have started to get infected.

So if you haven't managed to shift them yet, I really think a&e or equivalent coaxing might be necessary today.

Hennypen321 · 21/08/2024 07:00

Did you attempt it when she was sleeping?

FortunataTagnips · 21/08/2024 07:37

Morning! Thank you for all the suggestions. I did try the night-time stealth raid but every time I touched her foot even lightly, she moved it neatly out of the way.
She’s quite suggestible, so I’m going to have a look for a clear but non-scary video of splinter removal on YouTube.

OP posts:
CoffeandTiaMaria · 21/08/2024 07:43

FortunataTagnips · 20/08/2024 18:17

How long do you leave the plasters on, @CoffeandTiaMaria ?

Upto 3 days?

FortunataTagnips · 21/08/2024 09:23

We’re off to the urgent care centre. Pray for us (and them)!

OP posts:
Mistycactus · 21/08/2024 09:35

Oof they are massive! But like you say shouldn’t be too hard to get out in the right circumstances.
Good luck. If she’s anything like mine then if you can actually get her there she might cooperate more for professionals.

FortunataTagnips · 21/08/2024 09:45

Spoke too soon. She won’t get in the car. I’m on hold to 111 again to see if they can suggest another plan.

OP posts:
FortunataTagnips · 21/08/2024 15:41

Hilarious update: 111 put me through to a really lovely nurse — who’d seen this thread and the photo! So she knew exactly what the problem was without my having to go through the whole saga.
She didn’t think there was any imminent danger of infection, as the splinters are so shallow, and advised us to relax and enjoy our holiday, while keeping an eye on the foot in case it starts to look dodgy.
I feel SO much better after talking it through with her. Thank you, lovely Mumsnetter nurse!!

OP posts:
Mistycactus · 21/08/2024 17:10

Oh wow that’s quite a coincidence!
That’s good news. Hopefully you can all relax a bit and they’ll either work their own way out or she’ll come to you in her own time for another try.

FortunataTagnips · 21/08/2024 17:26

Fingers crossed. In the meantime, I’ve ordered these bad bois:

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OP posts:
UnhappyAndYouKnowIt · 14/09/2024 10:26

Did the splinter eventually come out?

FortunataTagnips · 14/09/2024 17:46

They did! Not until we’d been home from holiday for a few days, but DD managed to get one out herself, by picking away at the skin round it with tweezers. The other came out a few days after that - not sure how, but we looked and it was gone. Big relief!

OP posts:
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