Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

asthma inhaler for 5 month old - usage help

19 replies

aendr · 10/04/2009 09:59

Hi,

my 5 month old has a chest infection and has been prescribed a Ventolin inhaler with spacer and mask. The pharmacist showed me the leaflet on how to use it and then I thought she put everything in the bag, but now I can't find the leaflet. Of course, it's Easter weekend so I can't go back and ask. I've got it put together okay but I'm not totally sure on usage. I know the mask goes over the face and mouth, but when using it is the baby okay to be reclined in your arms or should he be sitting up and should the spacer be horizontal or is it fine to be a bit tipped up?
Thanks,

AEndr

OP posts:

Sam100 · 10/04/2009 10:04

You can hold the baby anyway that is comfy - does not matter if spacer and inhaler tipped up. Make sure mask is snug over nose and mouth - does not have to be jammed on but you want to make sure the medicine goes in mouth/nose not out the side!

LauraGas · 10/04/2009 11:06

From experience, don't make a big deal of it if LO gets distressed as this can make breathing worse. Our doctor recommended that if necessary, use the spacer when the child is asleep by gently holding over the mouth and giving the required dose. Apparently this can be more effective than if the child gets worked up. (We sometimes still do this with DS who is nearly 3).

Original poster

aendr · 10/04/2009 11:42

That's a useful tip, unfortunately he still sleeps in a moses basket and with his head to one side, so I don't think we'd be able to manage that one.
Thanks for the help!
AEndr

OP posts:

Sidge · 10/04/2009 12:34

It's ok for him to be slightly reclined, but the spacer needs to be fairly horizontal - is it a big plastic spacer, or a smaller yellow tube type? If it's the big plastic one it has a valve that should click slightly when he breathes in and out. If you tip it too far up or down the valve doesn't move and isn't working properly.

Original poster

aendr · 10/04/2009 13:13

Sidge: yes, it's the big plastic 2cones valve type. I'll listen for the clicks, thanks.

OP posts:

Phoenix4725 · 10/04/2009 15:49

Do not forget to shake inhaler between puffs and try to leave 30secs to 1 minute between ouffs so has been abosred into lungs and count to 10 slowly while baby breathes in

ummadam · 10/04/2009 16:33

www.asthma.org.uk/all_about_asthma/for_parents/medicines_for_your_child/using_a_spacer.html

For pictures: click on spacer/young children

HTH

Original poster

aendr · 10/04/2009 18:28

Well, holding him still enough is proving ... challenging. He's very good at avoiding it by moving his head. And the doctor wants us to do 1 puff and hold the mask over him for 2 minutes! Needs must, I'm going to have to be "tough mummy" and cuddle him for comfort afterwards.
Thank you for all your input.
ummadam - those links were really helpful.

OP posts:

TinkerBellesMumandFiFi2 · 10/04/2009 18:58

I found the best way to do it was to have her sitting with her back to my tummy (head between my boobs ) and me holding the spacer against her face. If I needed help (she used to fight a lot in the early days and still does when she's ill ) holding her I would have someone else hold her legs/arms whatever, but I always held the mask because I have more control when it's my body than someone pushing it into me.

Reclined is fine, we've had times when we have to do it every four hours so we do it to her in her sleep rather than wake her up.

cornsilk · 10/04/2009 19:00

He won't like it but he'll get used to it. You have to hold it on firmly. Good luck!

ummadam · 10/04/2009 19:23

Good luck! tough mummy is hard but we do it for their own good. x

Original poster

aendr · 10/04/2009 21:17

Reclined doesn't work, the valve doesn't move. We figured out how to do it between us - my husband holding his head, me with the mask. I'll try the head between boobs method too, as I'm going to have to be able to do this when the long weekend is over and the husband's back at work.
At least his crying doesn't trigger my own tears any more!

OP posts:

LaDiDaDi · 10/04/2009 21:23

Can I just add that salbutamol (aka ventolin) is of v. limited effectiveness in under ones so if it doesn't seem to be working then don't presume it's because of your poor technique, it may well not work however good you are at administering it.

AnyFuckerStealsHerKidsEggs · 10/04/2009 21:27

Atrovent is often more effective in babies

See your GP again if the salbutamol doesn't seem to be having an effect

Is your baby actually wheezy?

CKelpie · 10/04/2009 21:44

My ds had the same as a baby, he had asthma and was hopitalised on two occasions so was all very tense and stressful. He got very upset over having the mask on his face.

I spent time when I wasn't trying to give medication putting the mask over my own face and letting ds play with it. He got used to seeing it and it not being a big deal, he was older though. Worth a try I suppose.

One thing a nurse told me was that when ds was yelling, he was taking deep breaths in between so the medicine was going deep too. She said a couple of really deep puffs was pretty effective - so when he was really struggling for breath I used the cruel-to-be-kind theory and literally clamped the mask over his face while he screamed.

It wasn't nice but when his blood oxygen levels were dangerously low so I had no choice.

Original poster

aendr · 10/04/2009 21:50

He is wheezy and crackly and has a horrid cough, bit of a temperature but that seems a lot better today. He's on antibiotics too. The inhaler is to help him to fight the infection as I understood it, so is to be taken periodically rather than with an attack.

We think the one time so far we got it rightish and heard the valve click a few times he got a bit better, but we're not entirely sure. I made sure I got the snot out of his nose first too, which probably helped with getting the stuff into him. He did spend most of the time exhaling (screaming) though .

OP posts:

FattipuffsandThinnifers · 10/04/2009 21:58

DS had one of these for bronchiolitis. I had the same advice as ckelpie - the dr told us actually if he cried when we were trying to do it (inevitably he did), at least his mouth was open so some of it would go in! Poor mite, hope he gets better soon.

Jojay · 10/04/2009 22:00

I was told to recline my DS and lift the spacer so the puffer was higher than the mouthpiece, IYSWIM. This ensures the valve is open, so you don't need to hear it click.

The nurse said that young babies and toddlers don't necessarily breathe heavily enough to make it click, but tilting it ensures it is open.

DS was 2 when I was told this, so it probably applies even more to a 5 month old

HTH

Original poster

aendr · 21/04/2009 17:28

Well, we've been using the inhaler for a week and a half now. The tip TinkerBellesMumandFiFi2 gave has been very useful, I also have to have his arms under mine as otherwise he knocks the inhaler off his face. He's very good at wriggling to get away or shaking his head, but I'm now getting a lot better at getting into the best position for keeping it on. I also do it before food - makes it easier to calm him down afterwards, and easier for him to eat too. He's still wheezing, so a quick telephone consultation and I have to keep doing it for another week and take him back if he's still wheezing then.

Thank you everyone for your advice.

OP posts:

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread