20 month old prescribed inhaler for the first time - having trouble using the spacer. Help!!!

[YeahBut]

(I am having trouble - not ds)
He has a spacer that goes over his nose and his mouth and he goes beserk when I put it on him. Has anyone got any tips for using it more successfully?

Oh 's a nightmare isn't it I assume they gave you the big spacer with the circlular shaped rubber mouth/nose mask? You can get smaller ones which the mouth/nose piece is molded better and you only need to hold each puff for 2 breths unlike the ten for the big spacer. Chemists sell these but best to ask gp to prescribe one a sthey are around £12.99. Saying that we're in the same boat as you atm as all our local chemists seem to have run out so dp holds ds down whilst I puff it is heart breaking but necessary.

*breaths

Yes I'm holding him down to give him the meds at the minute and it is horrible.

try and get the smaller one tommorrow at least with those it's quicker plus they have pics of teddies on to distract them.

Try a drink and a treat after - sticker etc. Its horrible to do but necessary, ds2 still fights 1 year on but he's a stubborn so and so.

If it is a volumatic spacer, did they tell you to lay him on his back to hold the valve open?

They are poor for LOs as mouthpiece only comes in one size - ie too big!

We used to count, tickle etc now (age 3.3, 2 years of inhalers) he just counts along. He also likes to put the inhaler into the slot and be involved iyswim, I also let him do the first squirt into the air etc.

My DD used to go mad when she was first prescribed her inhalers but she did get used to it quite quickly. Try letting him play with the spacer, leave it laying around so it become a familiar object. Also teddy used to get his puffer first before DD - thats always brought on the giggles and made the experience at little happier.

I agree with cktwo - my 5-month old was recently prescribed one but soon got over the going beserk stage (although never really ok with it) by playing with it, getting used to it, having it around on his playmat etc.

Get an aerochamber - you can use it with one hand, and therefore hold your ds securely. He'll soon get the hang of it.

aerochamber plus in yellow..its fantastic. DD1 is 23m and been on inhalers from 3m and we used to fight her to use the volumatic spacer but we got aerospace about 3weeks ago and she loves it. Great as we use it as a trumpet on toys and make tooting noises then take deep breathes which means she is taking it properly.They are £12 to buy[I bought one first as was desperate] but now get them prescribed.

I agree you need the aero chamber.

However, as for getting him to take it, I had to start make a game of it. One puff for Teddy, one puff for mummy, one puff for baby, peekaboo! Here you go Teddy, here you go baby, oups, mummmus turn, tickle teddy, tickle baby, another puff for baby, peekaboo!

etc. you get the gist. He soon found it great fun, and would eventually learn that it was helping him. Now, at 29 months, he knows what to do, asks for it if he needs it, but it only took a few attempts to get the medicine in him this way.

ooh you poor thing, and poor him too!
DD did the same as your DS with the big volumatic thing, - we were told about the infant-size aerochamber (see your GP, can get one free on prescription) which as the others are saying, is much more baby friendly. she had it from 7mo, is now almost 2yrs and very cool with it.
I shake the inhaler, she shakes the aerochamber (ok i know ) and this sort can be used sitting up, so i sit her facing forwards on my knee, arms around hers (that right hand swipe - when she chooses to do it, could send inhaler and spacer into orbit) and she holds the spacer and we do singy counting, sometimes a mad side-to-side swaying thing -ok it all sounds insane but it works
At first she got to dismantle it, chew it (within reason), shake it etc, carry it round in her bag... thus truly 'owning' it.
As far as the actual inhaler goes, what have you got? blue?