Since infants and toddlers can’t take asthma medication on their own, the task of delivering medication usually falls to you, the parent. And in most cases, this requires learning how to use a nebulizer, a device that breaks down medicine particles into the best size for absorption into the airways. A nebulizer delivers the custom-mixed aerosol through a mouthpiece or face mask.

You may have seen a nebulizer used in hospital settings. Before using one at home, ask your child’s doctor (or other health care professional) to demonstrate the technique. Then, try it yourself with someone from the doctor’s staff looking on to offer feedback.

When compared to older models, some of the newer nebulizers can reduce the time needed to complete treatment, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology — a big plus for infants and toddlers. Treatment time varies from 20 to as little as 5 minutes, depending on the model.

Tips for nebulizer treatments

How do you convince an active baby to sit still for 5 to 20 minutes? Try these suggestions from the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (NHLBI).

• Nebulizers and compressors (even the newer models) can be noisy. If vacuuming bothers your child, he or she may not like the sound of the nebulizer either. Ask your doctor for longer tubing, so you can move the machinery farther away. Setting the device on a folded towel can help muffle the sound, too.
• Some babies don’t like the mask strap. Distraction can help draw attention away from the mask. Try offering a special toy for the baby to enjoy only during medication delivery. If he or she still pulls at the mask, ask a health care professional about trying a “hand mask” (using your cupped hand instead of the mask). Full instructions for this technique can be found in the 1995 NHLBI publication “Nurses: Partners in Asthma Care.”
• When the process is still new, maintain physical contact to help ease baby through treatments. If the doctor okays it, snuggle baby on your lap during delivery. If the doctor recommends a baby seat or stroller, maintain contact with a foot or arm rub.
• If an impatient toddler’s wiggling becomes a challenge, read a story from a special book reserved just for medication delivery. You might also offer a reward for good behavior — a sticker or a trip to the park.
• Relax and act as natural as possible, and baby will follow your lead. Remember that babies and toddlers relax more easily when a parent acts with confidence, because their trust in you tends to outweigh their normal fears of a new situation.

What if we’re having trouble with nebulizer treatment?

If using a nebulizer turns out to be a problem, talk to your child’s doctor. He or she may review your technique, offer suggestions to make delivery easier, or have you try an MDI (metered dose inhaler) if your child is old enough.

Ask other parents for their tips, too. With the doctor’s support, and the insight of more experienced parents, you’ll learn to handle the nebulizer Then you can start thinking about the next step: teaching your child to use inhaled medication on his or her own.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 30th, 2007 at 1:43 am and is filed under Kids. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.