Does a splinter have to come out?

AndiG

DS got a nasty spliter in his finger on Friday and he is not at all helpful in letting us try to get it out.  I hoped it would come out in the tub, but of course that couldn't just happen for me.  I am out of ideas on how to get it out or how to convince him he needs to let us get it out (I tried bribes, telling him the doctor will have to do it, having him hide his eyes, DH tried to have him lay under the covers and stick his hand out).  He freaks if we go near it...not sure what our next step should be.  He also won't let us put anything on his finger.  Any ideas?

 

Mc_Newlywed

Will a piece of tape get it out?  I like duct tape because it's super sticky.  Maybe do it on the other hand first so he knows what's happening then try it on the splinter.   

I dunno, if it's a nasty splinter like you say, you may just have to hold him down and do it - screaming and all.  It won't be pleasant but at least it'll be over quickly and he won't get an infection.   

4Speedy

We just had all the wood siding replaced on our house a few weeks ago--the trim is rough sawn cedar.  The workmen were getting tons of splinters each day.  All of them swore by putting a piece of potato over the sliver to draw it out.  They didn't say how long you have to keep the potato on it, though.  I just googled "potato sliver" to see if there's any validity to this method and wiki says it works.

Temp108743750006959

put on a band aid with a glob of Vaseline -- it will soften it up and draw it out.

AndiG

Thanks for the ideas!

Andrewsgal

Do nothing! If it looks like it is getting infected try some neosporen (sp?) and let it be. DD had over 30 splinters in her feet from my parents boat deck last summer, called the ped and he said to leave them alone the body will naturally get rid of splinters because it recognizes it is a forgien object. He was right it took a while but they all disapeared.

dpdw

Andrewsgal:

Do nothing! If it looks like it is getting infected try some neosporen (sp?) and let it be. DD had over 30 splinters in her feet from my parents boat deck last summer, called the ped and he said to leave them alone the body will naturally get rid of splinters because it recognizes it is a forgien object. He was right it took a while but they all disapeared.

Ditto this.  DS had a splinter and REFUSED to let me near it.  I also called our pedi & he said to let it be unless it gets infected.