Testing children - pls advise on technique!

[Puffthemagicdragongoestobed]

We are taking part in the ONS COVID survey, involving regular coronavirus tests for the entire family. We were advised to swab everyone including children in both throat and nose.
I have found it impossible so far to swab DS's throat, I could not even get anywhere near it with the swab. Has anyone got a technique? I might just swab his nose instead next time because I don't want to invalidate the swab if it gets into contact with the tongue.
I actually had the same difficulty with DH too, his tongue was always in the way!

Any advice?

Thank you

We got told to only do both nostrils on 2yo ds. There's no way you can get very young children to hold their mouth open for long enough. I just pinned his arms down with one of mine and did it as best I could for 15 seconds each side. Then shoved a small chocolate bar in his hand to stop the screaming 🤷🏻‍♀️

No tips on your husband other than he should be going his own test as he's not a toddler!

Thank you! Might just do the kids via the nose then today. Yeah, husband was a bit pathetic but hopefully he will be better today having done it once before.

How old is ds?
Our 12 year old needed testing and we spent ages in the car with him looking at a slightly different angle, saying different sounds etc to get his tongue as low as possible!
Might be trickier if they’re younger.

No tips on your husband other than he should be going his own test as he's not a toddler!

I’m not a toddler and DH did my test, as he can see my tonsils better than I can 🤷🏻‍♀️.

For my 5 year old we actually struggled more with the nose bit than the throat... I told her to stick her tongue out and say ‘ahh’ and I managed to get her tonsils like that. She squirmed around trying to do the nose which made it more difficult.

There's a YouTube video to help.

mines 11. It was easier with her sitting and me standing over her, and I used a spoon to hold her tounge down

@kimlo

mines 11. It was easier with her sitting and me standing over her, and I used a spoon to hold her tounge down

I wouldn't do this, I'd save or buy some lolly sticks. You risk broken teeth using a spoon like that.

@MJMG2015 probably but we were in self isolation at the time, and I didn't have much notice to get some. That would have been my prefrence, and I might buy some for next time.

[quote kimlo]@MJMG2015 probably but we were in self isolation at the time, and I didn't have much notice to get some. That would have been my prefrence, and I might buy some for next time.[/quote]
Box of magnums!!! Sorted 😊

We’ve had success with the head right back and person swabbing higher too. It seems a lot easier to hit the right spot.

Get them to look up, say 'ah' and the soft palate will elevate and you swab the arches that have elevated in to view.

@treefallingdown

Get them to look up, say 'ah' and the soft palate will elevate and you swab the arches that have elevated in to view.

I tried the ah but his tongue seemed to go up even higher! In the end an uhhhh sound seems to give the best access!

We were in a car so it was difficult to move about much and I hadn’t thought about taking any kind of tongue depressor. If there’s a next time I’ll be more prepared!

Yes my son is a nightmare for this! He had a test last weekend that I had to do and his tongue was waggling all over the place. I had to hold it down with my finger as we were at a walk in testing place. We are doing the ONS survey too and I am buying some lolly sticks!

Thanks all. Lolly sticks are a good idea. Both kids seem to have decided that they just want it done in the nostrils, but I might tell them next week that we got some 'feedback' that we definitely need to do the throat, and I will get ice lollies!
DH complained that I didn't have a good bedside manner last week, I mean come on! He was easier though this time.
Both kids were a bit distracted by their screens, I suppose if we were in the car at a test centre they would be more focused on the task at hand!