Asthma in young child

[Jessheron84]

Hi, today I took my 3 year old daughter to our gp. Shes had a severe cough for 4 weeks, wheezing and shortness of breath on exertion. The gp suspects asthma and has given her ventolin inhaler with spacer & mask. I'm struggling to get my daughter to take it properly. She panics with the mask and gets upset. Can anyone give any advice please?

[Chip_y2kuk]

Our 1 and a half year old was like that at first it takes persistance and some creative thinking..... we pretend to take it ourselves and give it to teddies and let our daughter preend to give it to us and her teddies.... and lots of praise when she has done it ( she loves being told shes good anyway)

[Minushabens]

Exactly as Chip says above - just like eating broccoli or walking to school, she needs to develop a sense that it's annoying but good for you.

I would definitely model taking it yourself & giving it to toys.

Also, a reward for taking it sometimes helps - maybe something like a star system where doing it enough times gets her a prize?

Very importantly, don't get angry with her for refusing. It's really important not to develop any negative associations with it. Keep trying to gently explain that it is going to make the horrible cough go away & so on.

Good luck.

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Minushabens]

Yes we explain to our little one that without it she will be poorly (she understands poorly) and we have to take it so we don't get poorly... I take mine at the same time as her morning and night (she has clenil)

And if she won't take it we leave her for a few minutes and go again trying to get her to have it

[Jessheron84]

Thank you all for your suggestions! Tonight we finally had some success! I created a chart for her in which she can put a sticker on it if she takes the inhaler like a big brave girl. She only took 3 breaths and they were through her nose but its a start! Will reinforce the correct breathing technique once shes settled a bit more 🙂

[Minushabens in reply to Jessheron84]

Well done & I hope she is soon up & about.

[Chip_y2kuk]

That's great news and through the mouth or nose it doesn't matter it still ends up in the lungs

[Jessheron84 in reply to Chip_y2kuk]

Oh really? That's great then, I'm happy. Thank you

[Chip_y2kuk in reply to Jessheron84]

Yes that's why they give the little ones those masks

[Hay1234]

A small spacer would be better and show her you doing it first so she doesnt get scared xx