Giving a toddler puffer/inhalers... any tips?

Mrs.C042807

DS was prescribed 2 different puffers/inhalers with an aerochamber and mask because of his wheezy cough that won't go away.

sigh.

So, who's got tips on how to actually get him to keep the mask on for 10 seconds to get the medication properly?  I tried putting the mask on myself for the first time and pretended to make it a musical instrument.  He seemed mildly amused, and wasn't too bad for the first puff.  Then for the others, he didn't want it on his face.  I also put on his favourite tv show so he'd sit still (which worked).

Tips please.  TIA.

jc&cat

DS is a bit older but we make sure he is in his booster seat to control some of the wiggle factor. That doesn't mean he can't turn his head but now he has gotten used to it. He says "puff" now so i guess he knows. We also have tried having him "help" by pretending to push the chamber down.

The respiratory therapist that taught us to use the inhaler with the spacer told us for older kids they suggest getting some sweet smelling lip balm and putting a dab under the nose prior to using. That way they get to choose which smell they want for each dose. Good for an older kid but I thought that was pretty clever. GL!

taralovesanton

I only used it last summer when required. I would time it during his nap so he would get the full dose and breath easily. The down side to that is one of DS's puffers required me to wash his mouth after giving it to him which was tough to do when he was sleeping.

xmasbabymama

We use a nebulizer and use the TV for that. Turning it up loud seemed to help get her attention and just putting it back on her head over and over made her realize that it wasn't going to end just because she wanted it to.

Now that it's been a few months, we can look at a book and read instead of watching TV for every session. But DD is now on asthma meds, so we only have to use the nebulizer in rescue situations and I think she's pretty glad to have it then so she settles down.