Need Help with 3 Year Old with Asthma

My son was given the spacer to use at age 3 also and it just didn't work. Some kids aren't cooperative and/or able to follow those kind of directions. I told the doctor and she replaced it with another device. I can't for the life of me think of what it is called but it is a cylinder shape, about 6 inches long, made of a thick, flexible plastic. All they have to do is breath in while you gently push the air out of the bag like thing. I am sure someone else will be able to come up with the name and if I do, I will repost. Anyways, it worked MUCH better and I was able to be sure he was getting the medicine in. It helped lots. Talk to your dr. there are always other ways when something isn't working. That is what you pay them for!! Best of luck. By the way, by son is now 4.5 and has outgrown it.

Hi P.,

I have a 2 year old that uses a spacer. It was hard at first, but she will get used to it. I put him on my lap and we both have fun taking deep breathes. He can feel my chest breathing and then he works really hard to breathe like that too. It may also help if you let her push down the inhaler(while your helping her). My son likes that too...Good luck!

P.,

My two girls have had to use a spacer, and what helped with them was to make a kind of game out of it. First, I would put it over my nose and mouth, play like I sprayed the chamber, and then I would breathe deeply.

Next, I would put it over the older one's mouth, pretend to spray, and count to six (a little slowly). Then, I would do the same to the one who needed it, actually spray, and leave it on her for a count (out loud) to six. She wouldn't actually breathe deeply, but her pedi said she'd get enough if the mask stayed on for more than a second!

Just "play around" with it for awhile, so she can see it isn't threatening, then start using it for real.

Good luck! Asthma is no fun...I have it, too, so I can tell you she feels puny when that's going on.

The good thing about the spacer is that the medicine will stay in there for a minute while your child inhales a few breaths. Make it fun for her. Sit in front of her and tell her ok go like this and show her how to inhale and hold her breath then to have fun learning to count at the same time see if she will hold her breath to the count of five. Make it a contest and have a third party count out to five. This works on my 3 year old who also has asthma. We have to get him to do nebulizer treatments twice a day. You just have to keep trying. Good luck!!

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A.
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My daughter has been using the spacer since she was 15 months old. She hated it in the beginning. We had to pin her down and hold her little head - it was terrible. Her Ped said that was common, and as she was screaming, we knew she was taking large breaths. She is almost 2 now, and takes it without a problem. We occassionally play and pass it around the whole family or give her dolls treatments. Since yours is so much older, she may adapt more easily, but don't worry if you have to force it for a while. I am guessing she'll get used to it eventually. Good luck!

I also had trouble but once they learn the benefits are worth it. Last resource is the use of a nebulizer but some pediatritians stay away from using it because it usually delivers more medications than the child needs to control their asthma.