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Original poster

Is there some kind of magic technique...

26 replies

HeadFairy · 27/06/2008 08:50

for giving eye drops to a 9 month old? DS has a stinking cough and cold and has got conjuntivitis too as I think he's pretty run down. The pharmacist recommended Brolene eye drops last time so I'm trying them again (last time my marvellous cm got them in to him) but I cannot seem to get them in to his eyes. I did manage one drop in one eye, but now I get close to him with the dropper he closes his eyes tightly and cries. I can't hold his arms (which are flailing wildly) and prise open his eyes to get the drops in. This morning it took me ten minutes to prise his eyes open because they were so crusted, I had to use a damp flannel and it was so painful for him so I've got to get him to take these drops. Anyone devised a magic technique?

OP posts:

toadette · 27/06/2008 09:11

Do it during his naps, can't wriggle about. Hope he is better soon.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 27/06/2008 09:25

wouldn't that wake him up though?

OP posts:

toadette · 27/06/2008 09:34

You need to be speedy! I was able to get away with this technique on all 3 of my dcs when they were babies, they maybe stirred a little but rarely if ever woke up. I used to time the eye drop doses with their sleeps eg one before they woke up in morning then during naps.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 27/06/2008 10:11

I'll give it a try, thanks toadette. He's usually awake before I get up but he's due a nap this morning so I'll try then.

OP posts:

notnowbernard · 27/06/2008 10:14

I was unable to get eye-drops into dd2

It took me and dp pinning her down which was far too unpleasant to follow through for something as non-serious as conjunctivitis

So we abandoned the idea, and let it clear up on its own, which it did. Cooled, boiled milk is good. Breast milk even better, if that's an option

AllBuggiedOut · 27/06/2008 10:16

Lie baby on the floor in front of you. Sit with your legs pinning his legs and arms down, so you have both hands free to hold eye open and get drops in. Much easier with the ones that are that creamy consistency rather than liquid, although can't remember the name, sorry. Really quick and easy once you get the hang of it.

Sawyer64 · 27/06/2008 10:18

Lay them down,pull down bottom eyelid midway(ie not in the corner or the outer edge.),drop a drop in.Sometimes with 2 people it is easier,as you can be quicker.If they want to close their eyes (ie you are too slow),its still possible to do it by this method.HTH

Sawyer64 · 27/06/2008 10:19

Chloramphenicol Ointment AllBuggiedOut.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 27/06/2008 10:19

If the nap trick doesn't work I'll have to try that allbuggiedout, I've been trying to do it sitting on the sofa, but on the floor makes sense. It is traumatic though notnowbernard. I did hear about the bm one before, can I just squirt a bit of it in to his eye straight out of the boob? I'll have to practise my aim

OP posts:

Original poster

HeadFairy · 27/06/2008 10:22

sawyer - he screws his eyes up so tightly it impossible to even pull down the bottom lid, I was trying this way as I thought even if I couldn get one drop in it would be better than nothing, but he's wised up to that now too! I used the brolene ointment when I had conjunctivitis but I found it would slide out of my eye if I wasn't careful, doesn't the same happen when giving it to babies, or even more so if they're wriggly and crying?

OP posts:

Sawyer64 · 27/06/2008 10:25

Also try "Milking the Tearduct" which gets gunked up when they are little.

If you press your little finger down from the inside of the eye down the side of the nose thats help clear it without medication.

After DS had this as a newborn I was told to do this by GP and never needed drops again,even with DD1 and DD2.

notnowbernard · 27/06/2008 10:26

Headfairy - you can express some in a little pot and then use cotton wool to wipe (wipe from corner to outer eye, and use a new piece of cotton wool each time)

Sawyer64 · 27/06/2008 10:28

It makes their vision blurry,but even just a small amount would do the trick.

Or do it when they are asleep as someone else said,if you are worried it will wake him,time it for at the end of his usual time.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 27/06/2008 10:33

Oooh I'll try milking the duct, thanks sawyer. There's tons of greeny goo coming out so I imagine that'll really help. I'll also try with the cotton wool and bm too. If he's still not looking any better on Monday I'll give the cm his eye drops and she can do it

OP posts:

AllBuggiedOut · 27/06/2008 11:40

I can never get just the bottom lid down either - which is why you need both hands free to open the eye up.

If you need to clean the eyes with water, too, my hv had a good suggestion of microwaving a small bowl of water with the cotton wool in it for 3 mins. That way you get your boiled water and sterile cotton wool too.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 27/06/2008 17:50

I've tried pinning him down a couple of times today, the nap trick didn't work, he woke immediately and started screaming. Pinning him down is distressing but I have managed to get a couple of drops in. I've also tried wiping with some ebm, it was previously frozen, defrosted this morning I don't suppose that matters.

OP posts:

AllBuggiedOut · 27/06/2008 18:41

Hope it gets easier. Was he happy to lie on the floor in front of you? Maybe a couple of singing games first to get him relaxed would help?

PortAndLemon · 27/06/2008 18:54

Wrapping tightly in a toel can help with flailing arms if it comes to that.

Original poster

HeadFairy · 27/06/2008 19:03

I didn't think of songs, I was making silly noises and tickling him to try and relax him a bit. I did lie him on the floor with my thighs holding down his arms. It's horrible pinning him down but his eyes look so red and gooey I think it's got to be the right thing to do.

I think he'd escape from a towel, portandlemon, his wriggling and writhing is so strong, for a little fella he sure is strong!

OP posts:

AllBuggiedOut · 27/06/2008 20:09

Mine used to like "Open shut them" which has a walking fingers up the tummy bit. I do feel for you, it's grim isn't it?

Psychomum5 · 27/06/2008 20:11

I used to wrap mine up very very tightly in a blanket, then lie them on the floor and hold their head between my knees......with one hand lift lid of eye, t'other hand holds drops and drips them into eyes.

HTH

Original poster

HeadFairy · 27/06/2008 20:12

It is awful. He gives me such a reproachful look afterwards, thankfully he still cuddles me though, I think I'd cry if he refused a cuddle after I'd been so horrible to him.

OP posts:

PinkTulips · 27/06/2008 20:15

my doctor told me when i had to give them to ds at 8 months that as long as you get a couple of drops in the corner of the eye it doesn't matter if the eye is open or closed, some will get in.

he must have been right too as ds's unbelievably bad conjunctivitas(sp?) cleared up within 24 hours and we never felt like any got in at all tbh!

Original poster

HeadFairy · 27/06/2008 22:03

oh that gives me hope pinktulips! I must be more careful in future, one of my eyes is starting to go blurry which is a sure sign I've got it now too! Damn, I'll have to throw my lenses out now.

OP posts:

Sawyer64 · 28/06/2008 03:35

It is very infectious,you shouldn't use same towels etc. and obviously wash hands after doing drops.

Alot of playgroups and schools are now saying 48 hours from when their eyes are "clear" before they can return.

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