Testing a 6month old

[WingingIt101]

Hi

DH has been in close contact with a confirmed Covid case and low and behold we and DD have now developed mild Covid symptoms.

We have managed to book a test and obviously won’t be going anywhere til we get the results.

The issue I have is whilst it won’t be pleasant shoving a cotton bud half way down my own throat and up my nose I can imagine it is going to be nigh on impossible to do it to my 6 month old daughter. She won’t even accept the calpol dispenser without being wrestled and even then we have varying success so getting a swab all the way back there without touching any other part of her mouth....i stand a better chance of winning the euro millions!

Does anyone have any tips - either a health care professional who has had to do this/similar or a parent who has had to do it to such a small child?!

We go at 1030 tomorrow and I’m already working out whether we can fashion a home made speculum style device (clearly I’m joking....but maybe only half joking!)

On a younger child you can do both nostrils rather than tonsils and nostrils, I did that for my 4 year old

I had to do the test on my 13 month old and was told to just do her nostrils, not her throat. She cried so much but at least it wasn't in the throat too!

Great thank you @Eccle80 that’s somewhat easier (although our experience of saline drops may not make it entirely positive 😂)

Eugh.

Why do you need to do it?
I was Told...
“Do yourself and expect the child to have the same result “

Or isolate her anyway?

What are you supposed to do?

I was happy to accept that!

We just had to test my 11 month old. I held him facing outwards with my arms wrapped around him (with his arms down by his sides, locked inside mine if that makes sense) so I basically bear hugged him so his arms were trapped.
We just spoke all cheerfully and got it over and done with.
He actually tolerated it really well and was happy as Larry after.
Good luck 👍🏼

Why test a baby? It's not like she's been out clubbimg?

(We also just did both nostrils, I wouldn't have stood a chance swabbing his throat whilst avoiding every other area of his mouth!)

@WingingIt101

Great thank you *@Eccle80* that’s somewhat easier (although our experience of saline drops may not make it entirely positive 😂)

Eugh.

Hope it goes ok. Although still not nice, the nostrils at least are a bit easier to negotiate without touching anything else!

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the advice and reassurance.

@thistimelastweek thanks for the super helpful comment. We are having her tested as it follows the guidance that anyone with symptoms should be tested, and when combined with the fact her father who has been living with, holding her etc has been in close contact with a confirmed case the odds don’t seem great. Additionally she is my child and I care about knowing whether she is ill or not and if so, what with so I can provide suitable care and protect others around us. It would be awful if by some circumstance she had it and we didn’t because she had picked it up elsewhere and we continued to let her see her granny who we are bubbled with.

My 14 month old was tested and they said just to check both nostrils. She was actually great, even though she’s a bugger with face cleaning, tooth brushing. Good luck! Xx

Out of interest, what are "mild" symptoms?

@cornonthecobbles we all have developed a cough but only a cough and whilst it’s not a one off cough here or there we aren’t hacking our guts up type coughing all day long. It’s enough that we can’t ignore it but we don’t have full blown flu type symptoms and everything on the list.

Hope that helps!

I did my little one's test, though he's almost 1 1/2. I wasn't allowed to leave the car so I climbed into the back seat and swabbed both nostrils in the car seat. I held his arm with one hand, put a big cuddly toy in his other hand, he screamed but can't move much in the car seat, and when it was over I then gave him a tasty snack to distract him.

Testing her is the right thing to do. It's only a minute's trauma, to keep her, and anyone else you see, safe. It's horrible but has to be done.

[quote WingingIt101]@cornonthecobbles we all have developed a cough but only a cough and whilst it’s not a one off cough here or there we aren’t hacking our guts up type coughing all day long. It’s enough that we can’t ignore it but we don’t have full blown flu type symptoms and everything on the list.

Hope that helps![/quote]
@WingingIt101

Thanks for explaining.

I do hope you're all negative and feeling better soon.