Advice on getting a 2 year old to use an inhaler please

[Cutesbabasmummy]

DS 2 has had a persistent cough since October and last night GP said it might be asthmatic. He's given us an inhaler with a spacer to try and I've read the instructions but how do I get him to breathe in at the right time? All advice welcome x

When I was young my dad made it a song and count to ten (I don't know if you still have to breathe that many times this is twenty years ago) but maybe try that? The medicine stays in the thing, I don't believe you have to breathe straight away.

Sorry if this is all completely wrong aha. At least I bumped for you aha !

What kind of spacer? If it's the kind for young children with a face mask, they can just breathe normally, don't need to 'time' it. You can even do it when they're asleep! The face mask needs to fit well though, no air leakage round the sides - there are different kinds if you have problems.

One puff into the spacer, count 6-10 normal breaths of the child, then do next puff if needed.

We used to count teddies/elephants/sweets etc to prevent wriggling away, e.g. 'Let's count to 10 elephants DD... 1 pink elephant (with first breath), 2 spotty elephants (with second breath) etc etc.

Hope they get better soon x

IT doesn't matter how he breathes as long as the mask part is over his nose and mouth for the 10 breaths

We used to sing songs when DS was toddler, wheels on bus or old macdonald so basically ones that are quite long

Then as he got older --- count some of time

So sit him on lap and hold him and spacer, shake puffer in between the puffs

We let him stick stickers on the outside of spacer so it looks friendly

My little one has one (he is two) we let him do "shakey shakey" first as well call it. We then at first pretended to do it ourselves... then let him have a go (whilst letting him press the end himself) with us helping!
Then when he does it we do the breaths at the same time as him.. and turn it into a bit of a game.
It works most the time, sometimes he's super defiant and doesn't do it but most time he does!
Good luck!

Thanks everyone! We have the spacer with the mask so hopefully this wont panic him!

We call it DS's elephant trunk. His grandma also has an inhaler so when she comes she does her inhaler in front of him. We leave it out when he's not using it (the spacer bit) so it's familiar so it's worth asking for a spare spacer so that you can keep the proper one clean. he is happier when he gets to hold it but it does mean we rarely get to 10. Lots and lots of praise. Good luck

I had a thread over the weekend - lots of good advice. Will try to link.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childrens_health/2957662-ventolin-refused?

Trooperslane thank you x

We use a favourite teddy or dolly with our DD and pretend to put it on them first. Can take a couple of attempts, but tends to work

We first had to do this with ds when he was nearly two and hospitalised with breathing difficulties. I'll never forget holding him down :( but he's a trooper now (nearly 6) and took to it after the first few times. We used to use it on a teddy first. Double check the directions from your gp as they seem to change best practice all the bloody time. We seem to be told something different every time we end up at a&e!

Well we've had a few goes and he is fine with me pressing the mask to his face and he understands its his medicine but he laughs and pulls away when he feels the puff! I might have to try sitting him on my lap with him facing away from me!

We pretend it is an elephant too.

Then sing a silly song 'one two three........ counting from one to ten, hey' to a tube we found on YouTube with a sinister singing bear. It will get easier, my DS has understood since about age 3 that it makes him feel better to take it

I've not read all previous posts so sorry if I repeat anything. My son is 2 and he's got an inhaler and spacer and it's pretty hard to get him to take it. Best results have been when we pretend to take it ourselves then get our son to give it to us like a game then it's 'his turn' and he gets it (well as much as he will tolerate)

Whenever I've given one, the child sits on my lap, back of head on my chest and spacer in front. Nowhere to move and they've always been fine.