Is there a nice way to give a small child eye drops ?

[AryaofhouseSnark]

Just that really, Dts are 3 and both have an eye infection / conjunctivitis.
I managed the first eye drop fine, but neither of them liked it because it's cold and they want it in their mouth not their eye, the next eye was harder because they had them clamped shut.
I have got a feeling now they know what's coming the next lot will be a lot harder. Will try and bribe them with sweets obviously, but does anyone know of a "knack" to get the drops in easily? Or is that wishful thinking.

With my children I put the drop in the inside corner of their own eye, when their eyes are closed. The drop warms to skin temperature and they can control when they open their eye to allow the drop onto the surface of their eye.

I've had lots of eye problems over the years, and totally sypmathise with the cold feeling. It's much better putting drops in myself as I know when to expect it - and the method I've described works for children to young to actually administer their own drops.

Thanks Middle, that makes a lot of sense. I think I may have heard that before actually as it rings a bell.

It might be worth practicing with tepid boiled (so sterile) water so as not to waste to much of the eye drops!

Yes, I will do that's a brilliant idea. Thanks.

This sounds a bit harsher than Middle's suggestion but it worked for us with our uncooperative small child with a bad eye infection who kept running off...

Sit on the floor,
Lay the child on the floor on their back, with their head between your thighs.
Hold their head still with your thighs and gently pin their arms under your knees.
Leaves you two hands free to administer drops.

Might work alongside Middle's method actually, but could help if they squirm alot. Ours was quite happy to lie down voluntarily in the end for this, without protest, and it was done in a minute. Think he got a smartie too afterwards.

Dts are very wriggley so that will help hold them in to place, it's a nice way of holding them still without pinning them down isn't it.
Thanks, will give it a go when they wake up.

get child to lie on sofa with eyes closed. put drops in corner of each eye (still closed). Open eyes. Some of the drops will go in.

Thanks Eustacia, I hope they get used to it. We have had lots of tears this afternoon.

Ah yes, dts said it made their tongue and throat taste funny.

Yes, you can taste them. It runs down the back of your nose and throat.
You may be applying too much if you're struggling with getting them in at all. If you can get kids to be still you'll be able to apply a much smaller drop.

A big towel helps too with pinning them down. It's all horrible but it's necessary. We did wrap in a bath sheet, kneeling astride them on the floor to help hold the head still, drops into the corner of the eye. Then a chocolate afterwards - they might hopefully learn to accept the drops if there is a good reward at the end?

Yes I am hoping chocolate / sweet reward will work. I will have to pop out and buy some more at this rate.
I think they're coming down with something which doesn't help.