Beyond guidance from healthcare providers, many parents and caregivers often find some of the best advice to come from others going through similar experiences. This section is based off of questions and responses from online support groups for caregivers of children with asthma. Please note these are not all evidence-based practices, so consider talking about them with your child’s healthcare provider.
Does anyone have advice about how to get my toddler to use her inhaler?
- Put a mask on the spacer and let them decorate it with stickers.
- Give their stuffed animals a treatment first to show your child how easy it can be.
- If the spray part scares your child, try spraying it in the air first so they will see what happens.
- Show your child videos of other kids taking their treatment.
- For younger children, try giving nebulizers and inhalers when your child is sleeping
My child has pneumonia and refuses to take their antibiotic even when it’s flavored by the pharmacy. What can I do to get her to take her medicine?
- Try giving her a spoon of Nutella followed by the medication mixed with something with strong flavors. Nutella is thick and oily and will make kind of a coat inside her mouth.
- Mix it into yogurt and do not tell your child it is in there.
- Make a strawberry banana (or other fruit) smoothie in the blender and freeze it into ice cubes. When it is time to take the medicine, toss one ice cube and a tablespoon of milk into blender to make it smooth again. It makes about a shot glass-sized smoothie. Then mix in the dose of medication and give it to your child.
How can I help my child with his nighttime coughing?
- Elevate pillows at night to prop them up.
- Give them some honey.
- Try steaming up the bathroom with a hot shower and putting your child in the bathroom to play.
- Use a humidifier.
My 4-year-old had allergy tests today, he’s allergic to dust mites. Anyone who’s experienced this please share tips for dust mite reduction to help his congestion.
- Replaced all our carpets with bamboo floors and this helped my daughters immensely.
- Install whole house air purifier/humidifier/dehumidifier.
- Dyson pet vacuum has the best dust filters—weekly to bi-weekly vacuuming.
- Allergy covers on all pillows and mattresses (or foam/latex mattresses only).
- Very limited stuffed animals, wet paper towel dusting twice a week, periodic air vent and dryer vent cleaning.
- Use the zippered pillow and mattress covers and wash curtains frequently.
- Buy a good air filter for the house and replace it every 45 days in the summer and every 60-75 days in the winter.
- Allow one or two loveys in bed and alternate them in the freezer.
- Avoid using a broom when cleaning the floor.
I’m feeling nervous about a planned trip to Mexico over Thanksgiving because my son has had some flare-ups with the cold season. What should I do to prepare?
- Bring all of his medications and, if appropriate, a nebulizer.
- Bring oral steroids just in case.
- Make sure you have cash to pay for private clinics or private hospitals.
- Make sure there are ambulances at your destination.
- Try to get a room where pets have not been allowed in an area of the hotel where smoking is not permitted.
I need help. I am struggling to keep up with dusting and making sure the environment is the best for my two-year-old.
- Air purifiers are really good. I’ve got one in my kid’s room. It’s not perfect but it does help a lot. You just want to make sure that you replace the filter regularly.
- Use baby wipes or wet wipes to clean around the house. To be honest, even though my son is allergic to dust it’s the dust being disturbed that makes him worse.
- Clean when my child is not in the house buy a HEPA vacuum.
- Empty your vacuum bag outside after each use.
- Use vinegar and hot water to dust and clean
