Conjunctivitis ointment - any tips for getting the stuff in a child's eye?

[MsMarple]

Feel like I've spent the last hour wrestling with an angry octopus, and not sure how much actually went in DS's eye in the end.

Its more ointmenty than liquidy so you have to actually get it inside the eye but he's not having any of it. Does anyone have any good ideas about how to do it? Tried bribery already!

Am hoping for some kind of vulcan reflex technique whereby one squeeze of his nose will open both eyes... or do I just resign myself to days and days of tearful battles?

Two adults and force, its the only way, very quick. Even better with 3 adults!

One to hold him still and hold eye open and one to apply ointment. Not possible on your own.

After a certain age for a compliant child (4??) bribery might work.

Thanks for advice - he is nearly 4 but non-compliant!

Will enlist DH's help tonight, and look into a straight jacket for tomorrow

Could you attempt it when he is in a deep sleep?

Definitely get a big blob in when he is asleep. At nearly 4 is sweet bribery an option?

Thanks for your advice guys, the poor little mite seems to have a 6th sense for ointment as he seems to wake up before I even get to his eyes.

My best solution so far has been to trap him in the duvet - kind of like an angry boy shaped sausage roll - so he can't move his arms and go from there... thankfully it seems clear today so only one more day of wrestling to go!