[Lylac]

L's nebulizer came in today, and the first treatment did NOT go well at all. She cried a river of tears and was terrified. It didn't matter that her machine is made like a train w/ lights and stuff.

I just hate having to force her. But I have no choice. I just hope it gets easier on both of us. She's normally such a trooper about medical things, but for some reason, this set her off. BIGTIME

[waited2long]

Am I right that the Nebulizers go over your nose and mouth?

If so, I can see how it would be scary for her. Poor Mommy...

Would it help if you make that your "special" time? Like storybooks or games? Just the two of you?

[ajjhmf]

Lylac,

When we had to nebulize M last year, I started by removing the mouth/nose piece and just placing the stream of air under his nose. That way he was still breathing it, but he didn't feel trapped by the mouth piece. As he got more used to it, I was able to put it back on and gently hold it over his nose. I wonder if trying something similar might help.

Also, I would turn on the TV when we did it. He was still a tiny baby, but it helped. I wonder if you could pick L up a video that is only for when she nebulizes.

Good luck and blessings,
Jenny

[zebramom]

We always did "blow by" like Jenny describes. Our little one was only 5 months old and it made it much easier. Because of her age, I cradled her. Would L be open to that? Might make her feel safer.

Hugs, Lylac. You're a good Mommy!!

[teachbear]

I think that Astro-Zenaca makes a video about the nebulizer for children that you can order from their web site for Pulmacort.

Somtimes a video helped, somtimes letting our fs hold the mask or sitting in a special chair or ridding toy helped. Sometimes he liked to have it blow under his nose without the mask. Unfortently their were many times that he screamed, cried and fought us, on those days we often broken it into several shorter sessions to get most of the medicene in.

The most ammusing time was at Christhmas when our fs and our nephew who are about 2 weeks apart in age took their treatments at the same time, we did not have much trouble with either one of them as they were amazed to see the other doing a treatment with the noisy machine. Good luck, it did seem to get better with time.

[Kelly Rae]

My baby T uses a nebulizer every 4 hrs around the clock. He has major sensory issues and he could never tolerate anything over his face so we use the an older kids tube that supposed to go in his mouth and hold it under his mouth. His dr. has used it the same way with him in his office so I know it is okay. Baby T doesn't want to sit still so he is in his high chair where we have many toys ready. It will get easier once your child gets used to it.

[stevenstwin]

Awe...that's hard when what we have to do for their own sakes scares or hurts them! Hopefully one of the ideas above will help. hugs to you both!

[Original Mike]

What about turning it into a game? Go to the pharmacy and get yourself a face mask like an oxygen patient might wear and wear it when she does her treatment.

Then, when you have the masks on, you can play astronauts, elephants, or under the sea.

I have no experience with little ones, but this thought just came to mind.

[athikers]

Teeter also uses a nebulizer every four hours... and we do what others have mentioned, we just flow the air under his nose and near his mouth without touching him.

[Yvette]

With my daughter I started by placing the face mask on her dolls, teddy bear etc. and turned the machine on. I also let her decorate the machine with lots of stickers while she sat with the mask on. You can sit her on your lap and let her lean against you, or make sure she has a snuggly, blankie or other comfort item near by. I think for us the stickers worked best. Also try letting her wear the mask without the machine on while she plays with it or looks at it in the mirror so that she gets use to it.

[Lylac]

Thanks Guys!! I think it was mostly the sound. Her machine is already decorated..looks just like a choo choo with animals. I LOVE her doc!!

She doesn't have to do treatments every day, just when she has a cold/stuffy nose etc..

[Familynotcomplete]

Oh man! I have to chime in here. My BD had RSV last October and we were doing nebulizer treatments round the clock.

First, I felt horrible that she was screaming. Then, the respiratory therapist said that crying actually helps them because when they inhale deeply to cry the medicine is inhaled deeply. After that I didn't feel so bad.

Some things we did to make the treatments go by easier included: rocking in the chair, I'd snuggle under a blanket with her and rock her and rub her hair. Sometimes I sing (LOUDLY over the machine), we watched TV, played peek a boo, I tickled toes, told stories etc.

We still have to use the neb but now only when she has a cold, is stuffy or wheezy from allergies.

(((((((((HUGS)))))))))) It gets better!

[Barksum]

Why do those stupid machines have to be so cotton pickin' loud?! We made sure that ours was placed on a folded towel on a solid flat surface so the vibration didn't add to the noise. (Making sure to not block the air intake, blah blah blah.)

Sometimes the treatments were no big deal, other times it was a struggle and a pain. We had a couple of foster kids who used nebulizers, and our one son had reactive airway for a bit. When they don't feel so great anyway it was really a struggle at times. Like a previous poster, once I found out that crying actually had them inhaling more med into their lungs it wasn't SO traumatic, but it was not pleasant at times.

With time and familiarity it got better. Can you incorporate this into your routine (without the medicine) so that she gets used to it and it isn't a huge deal when she does need it? Say, once or twice a week or something, so that it is a familiar thing?

[teachbear]

Another thing that helped our fs was letting him assmble and unasmble the machine when he was not using it. I think he felt more comfortable with the machine as he could control it. Unfourtanetly he sometimes would try to take it apart during a treatment. We also had to keep the medicene out of reach as he could open them.