how to I remove splinter from foot?

[katierocket]

DS (nearly 3) had splinter in foot - I tried to kind of squeeze it out but he got really upset saying it was hurting. any tips? or do I have to take to GP

(it's not huge, maybe 1mm - the splinter, not the foot!)

Tweezers

the tweezers I have seem far to sharp edged to do that though

put icecube on it to numb it then use a sterile pin to get at it if it is right under the skin then tweezers to pull it out. then stick a bit of savlon/germolene/tcp on it. hth

thank you - will have to steel myself for it though - have feeling he's going to go mental

I've had to do this several times for my ds1. He hates it, but in a strangely fascinated way. Screams and cries during the procedure but quietens immediately once I produce the offending splinter. I then make a fuss with a germolene wipe and occasionally a plaster. He loves it really!! Wouldnt use a pin, difficult to get sterile, a needle is much better. Simply wiped with a bit of neat alcohol or surgical spirit.

I remember my mum sterilising a needle for this purpose by holding it over a lit match or hob. Does that really work?

Or try gentle pressure with your thumb nail at the base of the buried splinter, pushing in the direction of the open wound. A warm flannel applied first can help to open the area so the splinter comes out easier, but revert to the numbing ice if the complaining gets too loud!

My mum always had us blow on the splinter while she removed it, she said it would hurt less if we did that. It's true, dh and ds can confirm that blowing on an injury does ease the pain!

If your ds is co-operative, then get him to blow. If not, then lay him on his stomach and kneel astride his bum to get at the sole of his foot - it's much harder for him to get away or to kick you with his free foot.

If a splinter is straight down, it can be difficult to tease out with a needle. In that case heat a little bottle (eg the sort you get pills in) by filling it with very hot water for a couple of minutes, pour away the water and give the bottle a good shake to make sure none is left inside, then clap it over the splinter and hold tight to the skin for a few minutes. As the bottle cools the suction draws out the splinter. Also good for removing stings.

I am dreading it. This morning when i tried he was screaming and kicking me and DP is away so no one to help

Do you have to remove it? If it doesn't bother him, then why not just put Savlon on it and leave it alone? I've done that several times when ds had splinters, and there was no problem. Of course, if it hurts him then you have to take it out, or if you left it and it got infected then you would have to go to the doctor.

he says it's hurting him and he wasn't putting any pressure on his heel when he went to nursery this morning (bad mummy

will go and get him and try and tackle the problem. wish me luck

I spent my early childhood asking other people to dig glass out of my feet, had to do it for DD (also nearly 3) the other day. Just try to do it quick! Promise smarties for "Who's a Brave Boy?"

If you have any teething gel/Bonjela this can numb it slightly.

I'm forever removing splinters from DS (18 mo) hands, from our fencing, which never come out with tweezers or pressure. I don't bother with the tiny ones (

Good bribery advice, Soft Froggie!

Love the name, BTW - reminds me of some of my cuddlies .