To think it’s really bloody difficult to do a PCR test on a young child?

[ChuckGarabedian]

Took my two children (3 and 5) for a PCR test this afternoon after they were notified as close contacts. My husband and I had to take the test also.

Both the kids freaked out, we’re scared it was going to hurt, and would barely let us do the test (which for them was nostril only). I’m afraid each of them is going to be void. But I’ll need a negative result to send them back to school and nursery.

It just seems really difficult to do this test on children so young. What has anyone else’s experience been?

SweetBabyCheeses99
It’s a completely unjustified assault. If your child doesn’t consent to having something inserted into their body then I think that should be respected. I guess some parents will say it’s for “their own good” like inoculations but it’s not is it. It’s purely to placate your own irrational fears and to satisfy some nonsensical rule. I will only permit it if my child is ill with covid symptoms AND a Dr needs to know which respiratory virus/infection they have in order to prescribe the correct treatment. If there’s no treatment (other than the enforced “quarantine” of otherwise healthy children) then what’s the point anyway.“

I take it your work would be happy for you to take ten days off for every single cough or sniffle or fever your child has this winter - which you would have to do by the way, as your childcare would refuse to have your child back without a negative result. I know my employer wouldn’t be like that.

Yes it feels like assaulting my child, I would far rather not have to do it. Oh to have the luxury of being able to choose not to. I can’t stay at home 🙄

Did you prepare them with what would happen? Explain to them? Show them on a doll ect? I took my DD aged 6 today and she was reluctant but sat sill and was fine with it.

Thankfully our school and nursery don't require proof, and in Wales it's advised not to test under 5s unless absolutely unavoidable. Our two under 5s have only had two tests each, I'd rather isolate now than do the tests!

It’s horrible. We had to do one on our youngest(5) last week and we had to pin him down. It goes against everything I stand for regarding consent but it needed to be done on this occasion.

Top tip: order the home kits and do it whilst they’re asleep

Ds is older with sen but a magic star, 3 seconds swab up the nose, another magic star and repeat a few times works. It is not as bad as last time he had blood taken and we all got bitten.

We've managed pretty well. Dcs were 3 and 4 when this started. I didnt make a fuss about it, told them what was happening, did mine first with a big smile (there, that wasn't bad at all. Your turn!) And gave sweeties after.

Also, gave them something to hold in each hand to stop their hands flying up and grabbing when you're poking them in the nostril.

They don't enjoy it at all but have been really good about it

I've tested my 4yo while she has been asleep. I've had to do it a few times and she's never woken up.

With my 6yo I get her to do a LFT on me at the same time as I'm doing hers, which she thinks is hysterical.

How does doing it when they’re alseep help? I thought the home kits had to be posted within a certain timescale and I’m sure ours is last priority post of like 4pm.

It’s been hell doing both my 4 and 8 year olds. It really does feel like I’m assaulting and traumatising them and bribes do not work.

Both mine have been awful to do. I took my 7 year old for a test last week and she was just as bad if not worse than her 4 year old sister.
In the end after the bribes failed I had to basically resort to getting her into a headlock. Not pleasant at all.

My DD, 5, absolutely refuses to do them!
No amount of bribery works.

One time we both ended up crying.

It's so awful. Even doing them at home she refuses.

Last time she had a cough we just had to say she'll have to isolate and miss school.... thankfully the school then closed anyway! I'm dreading her getting another bad cough.

@TheGriffle

How does doing it when they’re alseep help? I thought the home kits had to be posted within a certain timescale and I’m sure ours is last priority post of like 4pm.

It’s been hell doing both my 4 and 8 year olds. It really does feel like I’m assaulting and traumatising them and bribes do not work.

I've done my dds at 6am then post on the way to nursery a couple of hours later.

Testing my now 4 year old has been the most horrendous and distressing thing I have ever done or experienced close hand. No amount of bribery has ever worked. It takes three people - one to strap down his arms, one to put his head in a vice like grip and one to do the test - otherwise you can't get a sample that works. While this is happening he screams and thrashes so hard with absolute terror in his eyes. I really really worry about what kind of medical phobia/anxiety I may be creating in him. It absolutely feels like I am attacking him, and often I have hurt him as it's gone too far up his nose as he's thrashed. That's another reason why I wouldn't do it now without three people. And I just wouldn't do it again now unless there was serious reason why I had to. Would rather isolate for 10 days without doing a test than put him through that again.

Saliva tests are not necessarily the answer as you have to give a lot of saliva and it's pretty impossible to teach a very little one how to spit that much.

And I can't do it when he's asleep either as he wakes up/moves/bats my hand before I've managed to swizzle it

It's ok here. 3yo and 1yo, completely lost track of how many. We've gone through the screaming fights and now it tends to go ok. What works here:

1. Drive through centre so the car seat restrains them. We're allowed to get out of the car - tell them before you park up to do the test and they might direct you to a different area.

1. It doesn't need much - I doubt I've never managed more than 2 or 3 seconds at the tip of the nostril and always had a result. Unlike the first one I did on myself way back when!

1. Turns out you don't need to go that far up the nose at all - DD had one in hospital and the nurse focussed more on scraping it along the skin inside the nostril rather than going far up. She told DD she would be picking her nose and that's what she did, basically.

1. Last time 3yo DD actually did it herself which worked really well. Understandable that it's not nice to have someone else do it to you.

1. My phone with a video to hold, she doesn't actually watch it but it keeps the hands busy.

1. Obviously, big smiles, huge well dones after (even the times it's a disaster). Next day when the result is through tell her the doctor said she was brilliant at getting her nose tickled (that's what we call it). All that obvious parenting stuff.

1. Treat of choice when it's done.

Even the worst times it's been ok by the time we get out of the test centre. Well worth it to be able to resume work, childcare, shopping etc.

As for it being assault.

It does feel like assault. And it’s not really for their (medical) benefit - if they get a positive result they don’t get any treatment. Unlike a vaccination or whatever, which is unpleasant but does benefit them.

The bribes and explaining might work the first time I suppose. But my daughter now knows it’s bloody unpleasant (and it is!) and would rather forego the smarties than do it!! But like many others, my employer won’t let me have 10 days off every time she coughs and the childminder won’t have her back without a test.

We've had to do a few now and it does get easier once they know what to expect, the first time was bloody awful but now after the third or so time she (and we) know exactly what's happening so shes mostly fine about it. I totally bribe her as well. It's amazing what a biscuit or a sweet can get you. Something 'high value' that they really like. Second the gross factor too, going 'bogey hunting' is much more fun than a pcr test.

My 6 year old is v highly strung and nothing will persuade her short of the two of us on the floor wrestling. In the end we have gone for a bit of nostril swishing and that will have to be sufficient

Don't bloody test your children ffs.

@OhPleaseJustLast

Well, quite often they can’t go back to school, school won’t accept them, without negative result. My child would have missed weeks (more) of school if we’d had to isolate for the 10 days every time he got covid symptoms. So in that sense, yes, it is for his own good, as otherwise he’ll be missing out on an education, whether you like the rules or not.

If your child is not unwell then school Cannot refuse them. They have no right to insist on seeing their results. Nothing to do with them. The govt guidance (certainly in wales) is that under 5s should not be tested. Basically stay at home if you're ill otherwise crack on.

@MrsArchchancellorRidcully that’s not the guidance in England. Schools, nurseries and childminders can, and do, insist on negative PCR’s.

@MrsArchchancellorRidcully

Don't bloody test your children ffs.

I'd rather know if my kids have covid or not so they don't spread it around their friends and teachers, thanks. No need to 'ffs' about it, you make your choices and I'll make mine.

I thought my autistic 7 year-old would be a nightmare with it but he actually likes it. He is obsessed with numbers so his favourite part is when they ask him for his date of birth. I am usually trying to stop him shoving things up his nose so being allowed to put a stick up there and swizzle it around is a big treat for him . My 15 year-old will do anything to avoid it though.

@KeyWorker

Did you prepare them with what would happen? Explain to them? Show them on a doll ect? I took my DD aged 6 today and she was reluctant but sat sill and was fine with it.

Yes, did all that. But when DS had his first pcr test last year it resulted in him being sick and for obvious reasons he's been difficult about it since.

He was 7 then, 8 now and holding him down is not an option really. There's been an awful lot of bribery and persuasion. Mainly seems to be improving his negotiation skills.

I think its fair to say none of us do it for a laugh, or because we enjoy upsetting our children.

Both school, and my work, require test results. I cannot isolate for 10 days every time 1 of the DC has a cough or temp. I wouldn't have a job.