Any Tips?

**degslou** · 15-07-2006 15:12

Hi all. just wondering if any one out there had any tips or advice on how to get my 2 yr old son to use a puffer with a spacer, i have been trying for 4 days now with not much success, he has also had to learn to have the asthma machine as well. thanks

**veve** · 15-07-2006 15:23

I dont know if it will help but here are a few ideas that immediately sprung to my mind...

a star chart is always good (10 uses of the puffer.. no tears = 10 stars. (one per use) = reward of some kind??)

also I found that with the older kids .. if mum has a turn first (no puff.. just pretend) sometimes they find that funny??!!

the only other thing I can think of is to make up a song to sing while doing it (which also helps them to breath more naturally)

-- with the nebuliser... (I am assuming that is what you mean by asthma machine?? I always made sure that students who needed to use it had LOTS of fun stuff to play with/ draw with while they were using it - cause it can take quite awhile.. (something they aren't usually allowed to have access to )

hope that helps..

xx

**xkwzit** · 15-07-2006 19:26

I had a bit of success with two things for DD1

Get them to watch that little flapper valve in the spacer and encourage them to breathe deeply enough to make it move.

Let them press the button on the nebuliser (with your help if needed).

DD1 actually enjoyed taking her ventolin with the spacer.

Cheers

**FourAngelKisses** · 15-07-2006 19:43

No ideas for the spacer, my son willingly took his "medicine" when he was 2. But for the nebuliser, I bribed him with a movie. I told him that if he used the nebuliser, he could watch his favourite movie at the same time. This worked really well and he sat there for the 10mins or so that it took...then lost interest in the movie after that so he never did turn into a couch potato, lol.