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

General health

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

Flip

Original poster

Help - tips needed to get 14month old to use an inhalator

13 replies

leogaela · 08/05/2006 17:44

Ds has recurring bronchitis and the doctor has prescribed him ventilin and cortisone. She gave us a inhalator to give the medication to him.

First try in the doctors surgery had him screaming and struggling and terrified, at home I've tried getting him to play wiht it and make it a game but its not working, he won't let me put it over his face! I am not comfortable with pinning him down and forcing it onto him as we have to give him 3 doses of the medication 4 times a day. Does anyone have any good tips of how to get him to take it?

OP posts:

jalopy · 08/05/2006 17:48

Would he be distracted by the television. Teletubbies or something whilst you hold the mask over his face?

chapsmum · 08/05/2006 17:59

hello there!
how old is your ds?
You can get spacer chambers that wee ones can bite, but they are pretty age appropriate...
Defnitaley a bit of play therapy, set up a teddy hospital and let him play with it on his poor sick teddy. Teddy of course will get a reward and a certificate for being a good teddy

CarolinaMoonfish · 08/05/2006 18:02

is that a big plastic thing with "spacer device" written on it?

Ds (18mo) was given one last week because he was having difficulty taking enough breath (it was caused by a virus).

He loathed it the first few times and whenever he's tired, but otherwise he's got used to it.

Basically, I think you just need to persevere. It is really horrible, but he will start to get used to it and understand that it's ok.

Original poster

leogaela · 08/05/2006 18:56

Well, I have just got through the first dose!

Thanks for hte advice!

Very sweet idea chapsmum! DS is a bit young, but I did give the inhalator to his favourite toy (a dog) and ds fed it milk. He still resisted when I gave it to him though.

I am heartened CMFish to hear that it gets easier...! Yes, it has followed on from a virus. out of interest what did you doctors give your ds? Also cortisone and ventalin?

OP posts:

mummydear · 08/05/2006 19:45

My eldest had one when he was 8 months , hated having the spacer so I used to wait until he was asleep whether during the day or night and give him a few puffs over his face .

Often I used to drive him in the car wait until he was asleep , quickly pull into the side , jump out and give him a few puffs.

My youngest when he had one loved it !!

Hope all is better soon .

Original poster

leogaela · 08/05/2006 21:48

mummydear! what a nightmare!!! Makes me feel a little better knowing that its not only us....!

My poor little boy just woke up crying, dh said he could hardly breath at all so we have given him another dose :(, he was almost sleeping, so hopefully got a bit more this time, the last dose doesn't seem to have had any effect. at the moment we are both a little more than worried (could be first time parent panick though) wondering how bad it should get before we should seriously consider taking him to hospital. I am imagining hte worst as usual :(! Are we over reacting?

OP posts:

mummydear · 09/05/2006 07:48

leogaela - if you have any doubts about breathing difficulties call 999 straight away, especailly if he has been ill. I've done it and the ambulance was with us before I put the phone down, luckily we live 2 mins away from the ambulance station, but a child with breathing difficulties they will get to very much asap.

Its all very horrible and thoughts are with you.

Original poster

leogaela · 09/05/2006 08:29

Thanks mummydear, after the second dose he was breathing much better. He slept in bed with us so we could wathc him all night. This morning he is full of snot and coughing a lot but seems to be improving :)! Also we had lots of tears this morning with the inhalator, but no struggling... its getting easier :)!

OP posts:

Poshtart · 09/05/2006 08:34

When I worked on the childrens ward (long time ago) we used to get then children to put stickers on there spacer. Is your DS into anything like Thomas the Tank or the Tweenies? Maybe that would help it appear a little less clinical and a bit more fun????!!!

CarolinaMoonfish · 09/05/2006 08:53

glad to hear your ds is feeling better this morning.

Mine has salbutamol (sp?). I took him to a walk-in clinic on bank holiday Monday because his breathing had been really laboured the night before, and they sent us to paediatrics at the nearest hosp to be monitored - we were in for 6hrs! And I thought it was a chest infection and they'd just give us some antibiotics and send us home .

I was told to get medical advice if we'd given him two sets of doses half an hour apart and it wasn't helping, but I'd prob take him in sooner if he seemed to be struggling.

He needed the inhalor at least once a day for the rest of the week, but seems a lot better now. Hope your ds gets over it soon

trace2 · 09/05/2006 08:54

my ds has used one from about 10 months, his ahasma nurse showed us what to do..

put child on your knee,with his back to your chest,you lean back put your are round himput the inhaler in the space device or not if you not got one and press. as the child carnt move very good as you have your arm round him ,but you control his head too, and they feel better as your are cuddling him too.
hope you understood this! it does work

katiebl · 09/05/2006 09:17

To get my ds to use his, we pretended to by sniffing it. Took a few days, but now he loves it. He'll put his face in it easily and sniff till its all gone. My ds got really scared and angry when we tried to force it on his face. It took a while at the start for him to get it all but now its a lot quiker. HTH

Original poster

leogaela · 09/05/2006 12:39

Trace2, your poor ds to have asthma so young :(!

Thanks for the tips again you lovely people :)!

OP posts:

Flip