Asthma spacer device, my DS hate it!

[adamadamum]

Help! My DS is new to Asthma meds, don't know for sure if he has it but was prescribed yesterday due to wheezing with a cold, all went well yesterday with it, but now he is really fighting it. He is 32 months, very big and strong, I'm a single mum so no-one to help! I treated it as a "game" with him but now he hates it and I don't know what to do!

Supposed to keep it to his mouth and nose for 5 minutes, the most I have managed is about 2, and now it's hard to get it near him at all!

Please, any suggestions!

Which kind of spacer is it? If it's the cylinder with a little mask-shape thingy on the end then he really doesn't need to keep it on for 5 minutes. If you look at the end where the mask is there's a little indicator thing that moves as he breathes into it. The asthma nurse advises 8 breaths for each puff of the inhaler.

Or is it a nebuliser where the salbutamol comes out looking like steam?

Put stickers on the spacer, blow bubbles while he does it / let him blow bubbles when he has done it, let him give it to teddy / you. All these helped when DS1 was using one of these.

This is the one ds2 was given at 3yrs here . It's the yellow one on the right.

Coppertop it's the former!

Here's a good reference to how long to use it for. Spacers If you click on the picture of your ds' spacer it says in step 4 that you only need 6 breaths per puff.

Here's a good reference to how long to use it for. Spacers If you click on the picture of your ds' spacer it says in step 4 that you only need 6 breaths per puff.

Is your ds open to bribery? Maybe a sticker or something if he manages it. Once he realises that it will only take a couple of minutes he might be a little more keen. My 2 boys both used to hate it at first but now don't mind at all.

Hi both of you, thanks for advice. Too busy with my 2 to post again til now, they are both finally asleep. I looked on both the links, the "spacers" one had a similar type - the large volume spacer, but with a mask which you push onto it.
As I looked when DS was in the room, he came over to see, and I showed him the pictures and told him this is how good boys do it (with his "space rocket toot toot"!).
As he hasn't actually been diagnosed with asthma, and has been given this just as a precaution (he has mild-ish eczema)as his breathing has been laboured with his cold which seems to have gone to his chest, I decided to leave the next dose until he was asleep - he seemed fine this afternoon. I am hoping that the next dose will be easier after the pictures, and his apparent enthusiasm! I hope so, I have enough to deal with as my DD has pretty big time SN, and I am alone with them with no family nearby.

Well, please keep everything crossed for me, I'd appreciate it!
Despite the meds being as a precaution, I can't help but feel concerned, as I have never heard anyone breathing like that just because of a cold or chest infection before.

Any further advice or ideas would be most welcome!

bump

I've found some old mumsnet threads asking a similar question. Hang on and I'll try to link some for you.

one thread here

For a slightly older child but some of the ideas may be useful.

Hi, just wanted to say thanks for the advice. Sorry it' a bit late but we have had a really busy time.
Soppertop, your links were a godsend. Not just for info, Adam watched them and decided he wanted to be just like the boy in the animation" So now he is taking it perfectly!
Hopefully he doesn't have asthma anyway, a week on Salbutamol was after wheezing with a cold and chest infection, I guess time will tell.

Whatever happens, thanks! xxx

Who the hell is Soppertop? Sorry I obviously meant Coppertop! Who knows, maybe you become soppertop if you get really emotional...xx