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?

Reading all of these replies makes me glad I decided not to ever have my DC tested this way. If they need a LFT test I do it on myself as if they have it, and it's as transmissible as we've been told I would have it too. So barbaric to have to hold your child down and force something up their nose and down their throat.

We had to take our feeling very poorly 6 year old. No amount of bribery worked. He was wriggling and shouting (although not sustained) a person from the test centre asked us to leave to do a home test. This was whilst my DH actually had the thing up his nose. This distracted my DH and he took it out to soon. The man then came back and asked is DS has autism!!! We then got moved to a private room where we had to do the test again. I was absolutely livid. Yes he made a fuss and we had to hold him but nothing outrageous! They said they were not allowed to see any children being restrained and if they did they were to send them home. This was due to safeguarding! Bloody bonkers! Don't hold you child in front of me go home and do whatever the hell you like! They also tried to say we would get the results in the same time as if we did a home test which is simply not true. We were all made to feel totally shit including my DS ☹️

@mrsarchchanellorridcully and when the nursery ask for proof of a negative PCR what exactly are you providing.... 🤣🤔

@Borland There’s absolutely no guarantee that your DC would’ve passed it to you if they had it, so that’s a ridiculous approach. DD had it and didn’t give it to anyone else in the house.

My 5yo couldn’t care less about having them done. My 7yo hated the first one but is now completely fine with them.

The first few were awful and I cried the first time, but we have done so so many now… my 7 yo is good now doing it bit by bit, ie 2 seconds, another 2 seconds, a treat at the end. My 2yo I have always done it with him strapped into the buggy or car seat - I just wouldn’t be able to hold him well enough with one arm and would risk hurting him more if I had something up his nose.. at least that way his head is still and I’m not going to push it too far up! He cries during it but it’s literally 20 seconds then he calms down as soon as it stops. It’s just a necessity… they’re at school / nursery so obviously don’t want to send them in to those environments if there’s a chance they could pass it on. The attitude of the test centre staff helps too, some of them have been absolutely lovely, given out stickers etc, one centre had a “family” bay with cartoon pictures on the walls.. others.. not so much! But yes op it is blooming difficult and horrible.

@Borland Definitely not a guarantee that you’d have had it too. I know plenty of household where some have tested positive and some haven’t. My DS had Hand, Foot & Mouth and picked up an awful chest infection on top of that. Temperature was through the roof. He needed an antibiotic but the doctor wouldn’t prescribe anything without seeing him and wouldn’t see him without a negative PCR. Had to take him to a walk-in centre and get him tested at 10months old. It was horrific - but what was the alternative?

@ChuckGarabedian Completely agree with you OP! Had to have my DS PCR tested at 10 months and it’s not something I’ll be in a hurry to do again if we don’t need to 😓

Poor kids 🥺 The brainwashing is unreal.

The parents who had put their child in a headlock, or pinned them down, should be deeply ashamed.

@StardewMelons

Poor kids 🥺 The brainwashing is unreal.

I mean, tickling the brain is one thing, full on washing it DEFINITELY means you're going in too far

My 3yo has had a few and she is very calm before. Says she’ll stay still etc and then absolutely loses her shit when the swab goes anywhere near her nose. I’ve had to pin her down and do it by force which is just awful. But what is the alternative? That we assume she has covid and isolate her for 10 days every time she has a cough?

@MindyStClaire What ever pun works, my nephew was made to get a pcr (negative) after a very mild snuffle, and after a negative he was still not allowed back into reception (he has also been held back a year, he has huge delays and sensory issues) until he presents as they see fit. This is the 2nd time now. Thankfully I don't know any parents to pin their child down against their will.

Parents ‘pinning down’ and restraining children to do this is absolutely dreadful. What are you teaching your children about consent and bodily autonomy. Schools and nurseries have no legal right to demand proof of a negative test.

inews.co.uk/news/covid-nursery-pcr-test-children-1232465

@SaveWaterDrinkGin 100% , But you are on mumsnet, you may aswell scream this message into a brick wall.

@PRsecrets I have never known a child to flinch and be in fear of a nappy change. Your comparison to life saving treatment is insane .... Unfortunatly its that time of year where every young child will get a normal sniffle from school/nursery, to force them to have a test done that terrifys and hurts them for it (for me) is inexcusable.

To your last question use some common sense I know many who have,... You did mention nappy changing. Not here to argue. If your child has shat and is rolling around refusing, yes you need to use a small amount of force. I don't ever intend to come on here and cause upset and argue, I do hate the idea of kids been hurt in a process so unneeded.

I see the usual "you're abusing your kids WAKE UP" crew have landed, whining about how we ought to be ashamed. Pathetic bunch.

We told our DD we were going to tickle her nose with the swap and she loves getting them done now

We had to do it 3 times with my kids (age 3 and 5). 3 times in 13 days. It wasn't fun but it wasn't bad to be honest. We just told them it needed to be done. (Throat and nose) and gave them rewards afterwards (sweets or screen time)

Get a home test and do it while they are asleep

Re doing it while they’re asleep, if they wake might that give them a fear of going to sleep every night in case it happens again? Just musing - my DS is 37 (years) so I’m long past that stage!