How to get eye drops into a 1 year old? Losing the plot.

[UpsyDaaaisy]

Just that really. It's a 2 man job but it's only me here. I've tried distracting him with everything: TV, phone, remote, toys, food. I can't even sneak up on him now because as soon as he sees my hand he squints his eyes shut. Any advice pleaseee? He doesn't even cry just won't open his eyes.

That’s hard. I
Have no strategies but am bumping for you.

My gp prescribed a gel that you just rub into the eye if it's for an eye infection. They may be able to prescribe over the phone. Sorry can't remember what it's called.

Wrap him tightly in a towel newborn swaddling style and lay across your lap so his head is leaning back. You can sort of use your legs to squish him to you so he doesn’t wriggle away and leaves you with 2 hands free. One to peel eye open, other to squeeze eye drops in. Hold the drops right at the corner of his eye, not above trying to drip them in. Then open eye, squeeze and massage eye to spread the drops.

This is how I do it for dd who is an absolute NIGHTMARE to get drops in and seems to get an eye infection every other bloody week!

Is it time sensitive? Could you wait until he is asleep? I could open my son’s eyes and he wouldn’t wake up!

If you need to do it now, bribe?

if you can get some cooperation then you can drop them into the corner of a closed eye as small child lies flat when they open their eyes the drops will go in

if not then it's the wrap and trap as described above...similar to dosing cats with pills or eye drops!

Sit on floor with him lying on his back between your legs, put his head in your crotch, drape your legs over an arm and then curl them in to weigh down a leg each. Clench your thighs to imobilize his head. One hand to open the eye, one to squirt the drops. Then immediately put a big lollipop or sweetie in his hand or mouth. I used it with mine a couple of times intentionally, but then they realized it was going to happen anyway and they were getting a nice treat so would just lie down on the floor anyway. We still did the between the legs thing as you can aim really well and it gets around inadvertent flinching

During a nap?
I remember my dd having cream/gel which was slightly easier than drops and involved lots of bribery and sweets.

Thank you for your advice, I tried it in the corner of his eye and that seemed to work. He's only just turning one and he has no teeth yet so ubfortunatley the sweets or bribery won't work just yet . I will try during nap time tomorrow as once he's asleep he's gone. It's for conjunctivitis everytime it clears it appears in the opposite eye the next day!