https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 05 Jun 2026 18:47:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1980163 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 10:53:10 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1980163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just did it for the first time but my LO is two so watching Frozen was enough to get him to sit still. </p> <p>For your Lo, I'd probably strap her in something. My nurse also said have the mask below the face if she struggling so she still gets most of the vapor. I would also play with it on your other LO or animals or when it's off. Or turn the machine on with no mask if the sound is scaring her. You could always do just saline with your other LO to demonstrate...</p> <p>Our mask is super flexible, so hopefully scraping isn't an issue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1980128 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 10:38:39 +0000 ShootingStar 1980128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had to use it at that age too for pneumonia and wheezing. DH usually did it because he was better at it. He would hold DS on his lap, reclined like if you were going to feed him a bottle. He kind of pinned DS' right hand with his body, and then wrapped his left around around him, pinning him with that, and used his right hand to hold the mask near his face. It doesn't have to go on with the strap, just need to be near enough for them to inhale. </p> <p>The first few times were rough, but then after that DS would just go to sleep. He always liked being held tightly, I think it felt like being swaddled to him. And the machine is pretty loud so it would add white noise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1980070 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 10:12:07 +0000 luckypenny 1980070@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We use one pretty frequently. It helps of we turn on a movie. We also demonstrated on her stuffed animals and ourselves a few times. It's mostly the noise that she doesn't like and putting the strap over her head so I just hold if up to her face. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1980063 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 10:09:39 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1980063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: Yes, the set up is designed so that you will be hands free except for the mask. I would wrap my non-dominant arm around the child's arms to restrain them and then use my dominant hand to hold the mask to their face with fingers extending past the mask to act as a bridge between face and mask so that you don't scrape her while she wiggles.</p> <p>A little Daniel Tiger never hurt anything either! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1980000 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:35:23 +0000 twodoghouse 1980000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for the tips! I am going to see if it would be possible to do the inhaler. I managed her first one by myself, but ended up strapping her into the car seat. I hate to give her a negative association of her seat, though. She already hates going into it. She actually did better than I thought once she was strapped in. She'd fight for a couple minutes, then relax for a couple minutes. Hopefully that means she'll adjust after a few days of this? The nebulizer did come with the nozzle, but the ped said she preferred the mask, if possible. But that will be something to try if we can't manage with te mask! </p> <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Sitting on my lap facing out is how we did it at the ped's office yesterday, but I had a hard time keeping her still. My husband can manage it, but I can't do it and hold the mask on. I'm going to try it again for the next treatment and let her look at the tv. Maybe that will be enough distraction? Also I think there's a way I can rig up the machine so I don't have to hold the medicine area upright myself. That would obviously simplify things! I just need to read the instructions to get it set up, I think. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979992 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:32:55 +0000 Pumuckl 1979992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't use albuterol in our nebulizer but he's prone to infections of the upper airways and thus we were prescribed our own nebulizer to use when needed. What helps for us is to use the pacifier within the mask. So basically the mask goes over nose and mouth incl. paci. That together with his lovey in his hands and the white noise the compressor makes usually sends my LO to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979976 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:27:29 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1979976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have to do it on a regular basis. I can only do it by myself if I strap the mask to his face and pin his arms down while he's sitting in my lap :/ my MIL apparently has better luck strapping him in the high chair and using the nozzle. </p> <p>His poop has always been weird so I can't comment on that. Sorry you have to go through all this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979970 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:25:24 +0000 Bubbles 1979970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had no idea about the hyperactivity, I always give it near bedtime so he is wheezing less at night! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979944 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:15:45 +0000 jetsa 1979944@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've used a nebulizer with albuterol since DS was 4 months old. We get the same reaction you do and it is one of my LEAST favorite parenting tasks, my ped acted like that reaction was normal and its great because they get so much of the meds in their lungs. Watch when you give it or it can really screw with sleep, obviously when she's really wheezing I'd give it no matter the time but when it calms down I always dropped the session nearest bedtime first. My daycare lady said to use the nozzle but my ped said it isn't as effective because they don't breathe as much in. It is way easier though.</p> <p>No idea on the poop, I can't remember his ever changing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979927 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:06:27 +0000 erwoo 1979927@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ours also comes with a nozzle that we point at his face. maybe that might be easier than to holding something over? That just seems much scarier? </p> <p>As for bowels, never affected my son's either.</p> <p>@looch: It does make them a bit more hyper. One time my son had to be nebbed 3 times at his allergist's office and they also gave him a dose of Zyrtec. OMG, imagine the combo... He was literally bouncing off the chairs that day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979924 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:04:50 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 1979924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prefer MDIs (metered dose inhalers) with a spacer and mask. For kids who really fight and have to do men's, I have them sit in mom's lap with baby facing forward and mom holding the mask to baby's face. Mom basically acts as restraints for the little one.</p> <p>Wishing you best of luck and quick healing. There have been some nasty viruses out there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979918 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 09:00:35 +0000 Bubbles 1979918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had the same issues with my LO and using his inhaler with a mask - and our health system won't prescribe a nebuliser or even the drugs to go in one. We have had luck with switching from a mask to a nozzle as @looch: said - he is SO much more chill about having something inside his mouth than around it. I think the mask made him panic as both his airways were being covered. He has been on Albuterol since 6 months, and it has never affected his bowels. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979907 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:54:12 +0000 looch 1979907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have to use the mask? Our nebulizer comes with a nozzle that we point at his face.</p> <p>Albuterol never affected my son's bowel movements, but it does affect his behaviour. By his last treatment of the day, he is much more aggressive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979904 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:51:16 +0000 Jess1483 1979904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it about that age, maye a bit older. I used the TV. He didn't ever get to watch at that age, so it was enough of a distraction. There were still initial tears and then he'd calm down (well, relatively). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979902 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:50:26 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1979902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ellie had to start doing them when she was 12 weeks. She had RSV and she was so sick she really didn't fight at all. She used a small mask and I would just hold her. We actually have our own nebulizer and albuterol at home because she has mild asthma and sometimes during the fall when her allergies are aggravated she will need to use it regularly for a few days to alleviate her coughing and wheezing. Is there something she likes to do that you could hold her on your lap for? Look at a book? If it's clear that there is no alternative to just getting through it, I think strapping her in her carseat is probably a pretty reasonable idea-- it would help you make sure that she gets the full treatment. I never noticed any poop changes-- could it be related to the extra stress? I'd check with her doctor. So sorry-- I know it's miserable for both of you. :(<br /> ETA: Yes! Ask about the inhaler-- I didn't think to mention it because she's so small, but that would probably cut down on all sorts of trauma on both sides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979898 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:48:19 +0000 Adira 1979898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I couldn't manage the nebulizer on my own so I asked to be prescribed an inhaler instead. It delivers the same medicine, but I only have to hold Xander down for 20 seconds instead of minutes! I used to lay him on the ground and kneel over him to hold him down and then hold the mask to his face.</p> <p>Xander also uses albuterol and there hasn't been a change in his poops, so it probably the cold affecting your LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979888 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:42:08 +0000 JennyG 1979888@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was first prescribed it at about 5 months old. He also hated it for a long time. When I had to do it alone, I would hold him with one arm and and the mask with the other. I also strapped in his bouncy seat sometimes.. Last year I sang Christmas carols at the top of my lungs and he'd sometimes calm down. We'd also watch videos on my phone. The doctor had told us the same thing that it was even better if he was crying.</p> <p> Does your LO take a pacifier? She can keep it in her mouth since it's about getting it into her lungs and doesn't matter if it's through the mouth or nose. Also you could try doing it when she's asleep if she'd sleep through the noise of the machine.</p> <p>When all else fails, I try to remind myself that he will never remember these moments; I just have to get us both through them. We still have to use the nebulizer sometimes and it has gotten much better now. Good luck mama! You can do it!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/have-you-used-a-nebulizer-on-your-lo#post-1979873 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 08:29:55 +0000 twodoghouse 1979873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 7 month olds have been battling a cold for over a week and at the ped yesterday DD was prescribed a nebulizer for her wheezing. Any tips for using one, especially by myself? She screams bloody murder through the entire 10-15 min treatment, complete with thrashing about and pawing at the mask (we just hold it to her face, as strapping it lasted a whole ten seconds). The nurse said before her first treatment that crying is ok, as she'll take it deeper into her lungs, but then the treatment started and the nurse seemed pretty shocked by the level of screaming and panic. Alice has always been the ferocious one, so I wasn't surprised, but I'm not honestly sure how I will hold her and do the mask for treatments by myself while DH is at work. I'm tempted to try strapping her into her car seat. Is this a terrible idea?</p> <p>Also, she is on Albuterol in the nebulizer. Has anyone's LO been on this before (especially at such a young age)? If so, did you experience changes in poop? She pooped twice in the middle of the night last night (!) and once first thing this morning already and it's very yellow, runny and mucousy. It could just be from the cold itself, but she's had normal poop for the entire duration of her cold until she started te medicine. I will probably call the ped about it, but they aren't open yet. Any other tips or tricks to simplify this would be much appreciated! </p>