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Original poster

Covid test for baby

17 replies

Thefaceofboe · 28/03/2022 13:21

My 6 month old is on day 4 of a really high temp and have spoke to a GP this morning who said they won’t see her unless she has a negative lateral flow test. I’m finding it impossible to do the test Sad

Anyone got any tips? I’m starting to worry as her temperature has hit 40 twice since yesterday but luckily calpol and ibruprofen is bringing it down

OP posts:
AliceW89 · 28/03/2022 13:32

Are you on your own? If so, I’d recommend strapping her into the buggy so she can’t move and so your hands are free to process the swab when you’ve done it. She won’t like it (2 year old DS has had loads and it only gets harder as they get older to be honest) but she’ll have forgotten within seconds of it being done. The tip of the swab will not have to go very high at all as their noses are tiny - barely past the entrance will do. Good luck.

pixienewbie · 28/03/2022 13:42

The swab doesn't haven't to go in far at all. We just did a little swipe of the nostril on our 6 month old this weekend and that was all it took to get a strong positive.

Mrsjayy · 28/03/2022 13:45

Wrap her in a blanket so she's cocooned then do it she will object but it's only for a few seconds.

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Original poster
Thefaceofboe · 28/03/2022 13:55

Yes I’m on my own and she’s wriggliest baby ever and won’t stop thrashing her head around and has made herself sick from screaming. She’s also quite snotty so not sure how accurate it’s going to be

@pixienewbie how is your little one feeling? Her temp has hit 40 over the weekend so it’s a bit worrying.

OP posts:
mynameiscalypso · 28/03/2022 13:57

I experimented on my DS when he had Covid. I could get a positive on an LFT from the snot on a tissue after I'd wiped his nose.

DownWhichOfLate · 28/03/2022 14:03

You really don’t need to dig deep! Just dap inside nostrils. Maybe have her sat next to you facing forward, then pin her head to your side and do the test? Not easy for her to escape that way. But really don’t go that far up her nostril. Good luck.

pixienewbie · 28/03/2022 14:03

@Thefaceofboe she's doing ok. No real temperature and just very snotty and clingy. Sounds like you're little girl is having a much harder time of it. I hope it improves soon and the doctors help

frenchfancy81 · 28/03/2022 14:04

When she's asleep? Or in the carseat/buggy. Good luck!

Perfect28 · 28/03/2022 14:06

To be honest, unless there's signs of dehydration it's unlikely doctor will do anything anyway.

HorribleHerstory · 28/03/2022 14:22

I hope she is OK but sometimes when they are little especially you just have to do stuff - you can explain to them when they are older. It doesn’t feel nice I know but I’ve had to hold mine down for twice daily toothbrushing, hold their noses and force medicine into their mouths and clamp it shut till they swallow, hold them down for blood tests and a lumbar puncture, hold them down for x rays, hold them down to have a limb plastered. We had a lovely phase where I had to clamp one down with my legs in order to change a nappy several times a day. Holding down a two year old to change wound dressings. Restraining a six year old in meltdown to stop them running into a dangerous situation. And yes, taking terrified and poorly kids for PCRs in the height of the pandemic when the people doing them looked like something out of ET and the swabs seemingly touched the brain.

Lie the child on the floor and kneel behind them with one knee either side of the head. Sing a song and pull a funny face. Don’t squeeze with the knees but give them no wiggle room to turn the head. Hold the chin with one hand, waggle the swab with the other. Put it straight into the solution and do the necessary for a few seconds, return to baby and comfort with feed, toy, distraction as needed. Read the test. They will forgive you.

Original poster
Thefaceofboe · 28/03/2022 14:30

To be honest, unless there's signs of dehydration it's unlikely doctor will do anything anyway

No they won’t do anything for covid but they want to see her to rule out ear infection etc as her temp is very high and keeps having outbursts of crying which is so unlike her

OP posts:
hauntedvagina · 28/03/2022 14:36

Agree with others, you really don't know need to swab hard. My DS has been swabbed several times by nurses and I swear sometimes it barely even went up his nose. Can verify this with how much I swabbed when I had covid, you really don't need much.

SmallElephants · 28/03/2022 14:53

Can you do it during a feed? Just get everything ready, then get her settled into the feed and then just swab the entrance to the nostrils

Also do yourself.

Original poster
Thefaceofboe · 28/03/2022 15:37

I’ve done her and it’s negative but not sure how accurate it is as she’s been hysterically all afternoon and is screaming whenever I try and touch her. Anyway doctor is seeing us at 4 Smile

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 28/03/2022 15:44

Aww bless her hope it's just a cold.

AskingforaBaskin · 28/03/2022 16:08

Doesn't matter about the accuracy. You did it and fulfilled their demands.
Now they need to see her and tear her accordingly

AskingforaBaskin · 28/03/2022 16:09

Forgot to put I hope she's feeling better.

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