My 2 year old daughter has recently been diagnosed with cough asthma and we have to use an inhaler. Trouble is she hates having the face mask put on her face, struggles and cries every time. We've tried waiting until she's asleep, but she just wakes up.
So, does anybody have any tips or advice??
Could you try using a reward chart, or making up stories and (pretending) to use it on a favourite dolly of hers too? Are you using a spacer? Hopefully so, as then she shouldnt notice the actual spray, just the new sensation of a mask on her face. Try just desensitising her to the mask without the inhaler - let her play with it, touch it, put it on her own face, put it on your face etc, take the scarey newness away from it, turn it into fun! It will take some time and perseverance, but hopefully it will pay off. If she becomes used to handling it, seeing and feeling it, it should take the fear away.
I would be cautious about trying to do it when she is asleep, it might increase the scariness of it when she wakes and finds it on her face - plus she may get anxious about falling asleep if she connects it to the mask appearing.
Lynda 
I second everything nursefurby says - with the addition suggestion of letting her decorate it - it makes them a nightmare to clean as stickers and things will come off - but probs worth a bit of extra effort in that respect to get her to take the meds - obviously if she's struggling away from it she wont be taking nice slow deep breaths. I use one with a mask sometimes (helps my breathe the meds better when im really struggling) and they do feel a bit claustrophibic, but (and i think this is ok - they do say to wash with a mild detergent) i use the 'baby bath' stuff we have for my nieces, and it does make it smell nice inside (ok as long as she's not triggered by smells!) and if it smells comforting and familiar it might be easier. Plus - it makes your voice sound funny when you talk/sing into it - that could be a way to make it less freaky
Many thanks for those replies, yes we are using a spacer with a mask. She doesn't mind the mask on her face, she'll even put it on herself (but only so that she can pull it away when we do the spray).
I think the smell idea is well worth a go, she makes more of a fuss with the brown inhaler than she does the blue, so I think that it could be related to the smell of the spray.
Hi
I wish I had a solution for you, I have the same problem.
My son has quite a few different medications and strangely he is happier having his nasal spray done that one of his inhalers! He is fine with the blue one and his purple one but he has a yellow nedocromil one and every morning and evening we have the same fight, again I think his problem with it is the menthol type smell. We use the aerochamber now (as its the only one that fits the yellow inhaler) but we used to use the volumatic for the purple and blue and it used to come apart were he was fighting against having it. It is traumatic and Thomas used to scream all the way through giving his but as hes got used to them its got much easier with the blue and purple, shame the yellow one still has same problems.
Sorry my post hasn't been very useful.
Jenny x
I have very easy and good way for you. You just need to make reward chart, and making up stories and a favorite dolly for her.
she will be fell some relax then you can make it your inhaler for her it will be very helpful for you.
Do you have one of those yellow spacers with teddies on it? That would probably make her smile Other than that i'd just go with what soph says, I remember when I used to take brown inhalers the smell and taste was revolting, so perhaps try giving her something sweet straight afterwards to take the taste away? And it might be a good idea to pretend to use it yourself as much as she uses it, so that she thinks that she's not alone. I don't know though, I have a two-year old niece and if she had asthma (thank god she doesn't) she'd MURDER anyone trying to put a spacer mask on her.
Best of luck!
~Annie
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