Tips/alternatives for a refusing 4 year old?!?!

[Lovefood1984]

We've been given a brown (Beclometasone) and blue inhaler for my 4 year old as she has a cough that just wont shift (been backwards and forwards for 2 years about her chest and don't get me started on how many Covid tests we had to do on her for nursery to prove it wasn't that). Anyway, she used the brown one last night but hated the taste and has now refused point blank to take it again this morning Sweet bribery and TV privilage removal did not sway things either. She's agreed to try again with a larger spacer (I've ordered a volumatic one vs the smaller aerochamber she was given but it wont be here until Saturday). I'm thinking chocolate buttons to coat her mouth beforehand too? Any other tips or is there a better tasting equivalent I can ask the GP for (not asthmatic myself so this is all new!). She's very stubborn and obviously holding her down wont work in this instance (mind you that didn't work with yacky antibiotics either).

Thank you!

[Mandevilla]

Have you tried calling the helpline? They might be able to advise you.

[Lovefood1984 in reply to Mandevilla]

Not yet but thankfully the reality of a tv ban kicked in on coming home so we negotiated chocolate buttons before and after for the taste and managed it 🥳 means she’ll only get one of her two doses today but better than nothing 😊

[Chip_y2kuk]

You get used to the taste after a while and can't taste it...that doesn't help you now mind

We explained to my daughter when she was little that she needed it to stop her cough/from getting sick and she knew it made her better

But at points bribery and something to wash the taste away worked wonders

[Lovefood1984 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Thank you 😊 I’m hoping if she takes it enough she’ll get used to it. Chocolate buttons and the realisation we really meant no TV seems to have done the trick. 🤞🏻 for the morning. Now to wait and see if it improves anything 😬

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Lovefood1984]

My little boy is two and really didn't like taking his inhaler.... he now sees me and his sister and wants to join in.

One of the things we did do with my little girl and my little boy is to pretend to take the inhaler with them and give it to a teddy/favourite toy ..... it made it easier giving it to them when everyone had pretended to have it.

[ReedB]

It's not easy! We had a real problem with my son. At first I had to wait until he was fast asleep then put the mask over his face. Not ideal but at least some medication was going in. Eventually we managed with the chocolate buttons or while he was munching on a biscuit. Last November (aged 6) he was so bad with his coughing that even he realised that ventolin helped and gave in. 🙌 He now uses his brown every day and blue as needed without a battle. His chest has been soooo much better since then. Good luck!!!

[Lovefood1984 in reply to ReedB]

Thank you She was left in the capable hands of the husband this morning so I'm not sure how it went but fingers crossed!

[Mutley50]

There are lots of cartoons/ videos of children using inhalers on YouTube. If she sees others using it she may be more willing to persevere. Like Chip said, the idea of learning through play, pretending to give it to her teddies/ you might help. Good luck

[Lovefood1984 in reply to Mutley50]

I'll give the teddies a go too. She's seen her friend using one at nursery and talks about it so thankfully it's not totally alien Now we just need to wait and see if it does anything or she's just a coughy kind of child.

[Gareth57]

Hi, it may not be appropriate for a 4 year old but I have a Fostair dry powder inhaler which is slightly sugary but no real flavour. I found the propellant has the unpleasant taste rather than the medication.

[Lovefood1984 in reply to Gareth57]

Unfortunately I think the powder is 12 upwards....chocolate buttons seem to be working right now 🤞

[Eastend555]

Ok firstly i agree with your daughter the brown inhaler made my cough much worse so good on her for letting everyone know they then gave me a green inhaler which was much better

it was changed to fostair 100 then they upt it to200 whicyh was too strong so back on he 100

Do take notice of your 4 year old shes the one with the problem

[Lovefood1984 in reply to Eastend555]

She only had one dose before she decided she didn't like the taste. Up to now she's been on no medication which is why we are trialing a brown inhaler to see if it is asthma that is causing her coughing. I'd certainly stop it if it made things worse.

[d2read]

I don't have any tips to use -- they didn't have inhalers when I was a child, and I didn't have children. But two points: 1) an inhaler won't do any good if the child cannot learn the proper way to inhale, hold and exhale. Can she verbalize why she won't do it? Is it only taste, or also does it hurt/burn/sting/make her choke? 2) I would try calling the manufacturer's phone line and talking to one of their pharmacists or medical team members. They will have the most information and probably the most experience with successful methods for children.

[ChrissieMons]

Don't worry about having a stubborn kid. You are not alone! I think you're doing well with the button bribe. It is most important that you are relaxed about it. My daughter had a cough for at least 2 years which the consultant said was asthma, but it just went away on its own and she's never had an attack. She had a blue inhaler, but refused to use it. She was fine by the time she was 7.