Baby with RSV! Just Looking for Support After Using Nebulizer...

My son has had to use the nebulizer before and was NOT happy about it either at first. We just held it in front of his face instead of strapping it around his head and that seemed help. Also, we showed him that we would do it too. After a little while, it wasn't a big deal to do it at all. I think it just takes getting used to. Hope she feels better soon.

Hi. It's going to be fine.
My daughter had that when she was about that age also. She fought it too and it was torture for ME. But you know what? After about the 2nd treatment at home, she would relax after the first minute or two and then go to sleep. I think because I used it while sitting in the rocking chair in her nursery and because the white noise, but also because she was so exhausted from being sick and it helped so much with her breathing that she didn't have to work so hard to breathe!

I promise you, she won't be fighting it the entire time you have to use it. You'll get through it.

My doctor told me that it wasn't necessary to strap the mask on her. Just hold it in front of her face close enough that the vapors go to her mouth/nose. It won't hurt you if you breathe some of it in also...

I asked if I should wake her during the night to give the treatments (every 4 hours, right?)... and our doctor said that I could just stand there and hold the mask in front of her face if I wanted. And also that if she sounded like she was breathing a lot better, I could skip that one on subsequent nights. Within just a matter of 2 days or so my daughter was astoundingly better.
Just hang in there. If you can get her to relax sitting with you, snuggle up with her and a blanket and a soft lovey and maybe a book. Those things are noisy, so you can't really read over it, but you can snuggle and if you can get her to relax she may even fall asleep like mine would.

Having worked for a pediatric pulmonologist, using a nebulizer should not be a stressful event. What we always did was just had the babies sit on
Moms lap. Then you just put the hose up to their little faces. It never
really bothered any of them. Give them a toy while you are doing it and
they are none the worse for the wear. That is how I handled my daughter
also.

You think your baby got it from Gymboree. Don't be so quick to judge. This
child possibly had something that needed antibiotics. I think we all know
a lot of the time the cough and snotty nose lasts forever. Which case you
can't lock them up. In reality, your baby could have gotten it anywhere-just
being at the grocery store. Try not to blame. Hope she feels better soon and if you are using a mask for the nebulizer, ask doc if you can do it they
way we have always done it at the hospital.

Hey K., RSV is certainly very dangerous for some babies and not at all for others. My oldest son was hospitalized for 4 days when he was about 8 months, was on the nebulizer every 2 hours round the clock for 2 days. Luckily the nurses were very helpful and tried to give it to him while he was sleeping the second day so I could try and still rest/sleep during the night. We had been to the doc a few days earlier who siad it was just a cold, when we went to the ER, he had his first neb treatment, when it was done, he threw up all over himself and me, not a pretty sight! Just contiue giving the treatments per doc orders, it will get easier for her and you relatively soon, although some kids fight it longer than others. We always tried to sing songs, watch tv, and when he stopped fighting so much, we would read stories. After a few days, he would be calm and even fall asleep if he had a treatment just before nap or bedtime.Hold her whatever way she seems to prefer and keep the mask as close to her face as you can. Good luck, it will get better and easier.
S.
www.LiveYourDreamsAtHome.com

Hi K.,

My son also had RSV around 10 months and shortly after, we had to start the nebulizer treatments with him. Most babies resist the treatments at first, but you can help your child get used to it by developing a routine. We had a special place where we would sit with our son, and we sang songs to him over and over during the treatment. He became used to it, and eventually enjoyed this extra time with us. Waltzing Matilda became our theme song for nebulizer treatment time!!! Whenever I hear this song, I can picture my husband and I with our baby in those early days!

Somewhere around 2, he was able to keep the strap on and just play or watch a favorite show while he did his treatments. It will be okay, and your daughter will eventually get used to the routine. As others have said, you don't need the strap for now, but don't throw it away, as once she gets older, it comes in very handy!

Best of luck to you.

J. F.

I feel your pain. My son got RSV at 5 months from the clinic we took him to to get shots. I was not happy. We did the breathing treatments and caught it early too, which was great, but I drove myself nuts trying to get him better. Nothing, I mean nothing worse than a sick kid.

You can try a humidifier in her room, to help open her airway and ease breathing. I did those Vicks plug-ins and Vicks baby rub on his chest (although he has eczema and it irritated his skin, so watch for that). Get out that bulb syringe and suction, but not too much because it can further stimulate it. Lots of fluids!!!!!! Anytime my sons have a runny nose, I cut out the milk and force water and juice. Lots of rest!!

Good luck, and it will seem like an eternity, but it can get better. Oh, and sanitize the heck out of your house. Literally, if she uses a pacifier, buy new ones. Clean your house!!! Get the germs out!

We have not had RSV, but we have a little guy that has needed neb treatments often (every cold he gets goes to his chest, and makes it hard to breathe). I cannot remember the ages that we given to me for this description but it was something to the effect of:
from birth to about 12(?) months, they do not care about the nebs.
From 12(?) months - 18(?) months, they may fight you about getting the nebs.
Starting at 18(?) months they will go get the neb when they need it.

Keep doing the nebs - even if it hard on you and her. If she cries while you are doing it, at least you know that it is getting deep in her lungs. :)

I sound heartless with the above comment - but I have sometimes had to pin my little guy down to do them. It breaks my heart, but I also know that he NEEDS to breathe better, and that this will help him get there. It does not make it fun for either of you.
I agree with the other comments about not needing the strap around the head. We got rid of that a long time ago.
For us, if you can talk her into it, it has helped to let him hold it. (He sits on my lap, and I rock him while we do it, but it gives him a sense of control with it. He is older than your little person, so this may not work for you, but for us it helped.)
Good luck and I hope she is feeling better really soon!

Im sorry youre going through this, I dont have any real advice to give you, I just wanted to let you know that I also HATE it when parents bring their contagious children to places where they know there are going to be other small children there. There is this indoor playground around my house that my son just loves. They have a big sign right at the sign in table that says 'HEALTHY KIDS ONLY. IF YOUR CHILD IS IN ANY WAY SICK PLEASE LEAVE THEM AT HOME.' Because of this, I thought it would be okay to bring my child there 2 weeks ago. Well, we were the first ones there. However, as the day progressed, these kids (ages 1-5) would come in, and it was like every single last one of them was sick. I was disgusted. These kids were sneezing all over the place, coughing on each other, nose drippings, the works. AND, the management didnt say anything, all they cared about was the money these parents were paying to have their kdis play there. Honestly, I think my son was the only healthy child there. I know that the gymboree has a makeup policy so that if their child is sick, they bring them to another class so that they dont have to complain about them spending money and their child not being able to make the class that they already paid for. What the heck!! I would never bring my SICK child to something like that.

my sisters kids had rsv BAD like one of them had to be in the hospital for weeks because of it. their kids dr told her to just hold it in front of her face so she just breaths it in if she does not want to hold it on to her face okay just make sure its close enough that she will breath it in

So sorry you have to go thru this! My son started on the neb at 2 months old. He was on it for months (he kept getting back to back colds) Regardless....do you have the mouth piece? That seemed to work better than the mask once my son was able to fight me. I would put Mickey Mouse clubhouse on (i know, not suppose to watch TV but gotta do what you gotta do) and hold it in his vicinity. Sometimes he would put his mouth on it and other times I would just keep it close by.
Another option--give it to her once she is sleeping. This worked for my son but of course not for everyone since the machine is loud. He would wake for a second and go right back to sleep.
Good Luck! Oh, and I am SO with you on staying at home if your kids are sick!

I would try things like her favorite tv show, or pictures to look at, things you don't do all of the time to distract her. I know it is tough but she needs to have it. Is it possible to do while she is sleeping and napping so she will not even know you are there. It may be worth a try. If not try sitting her on your lap, put on a tv show she loves and then try it. Also, maybe when the medication is not on put it on your face and daddy's face, or even a baby dolls face. If you have an extra mask you can let her put it on her doll while she is doing her treatment. This may help her see that it won't hurt her. I am with you on the exposure to germs thing. I go through this all the time at my childcare center. This is such a pet peeve of mine. I have actually had arguments with parents about keeping their children home when they are sick. I had a mom just last week say after picking her child up with a fever. If I break the fever can he come back this afternoon. I know mom's have to work and I try to be understanding but it is difficult. Good luck and I hope your baby feels better soon!!

Give her something you usually don't let her play with--a cell phone or keys or ??? while she is having the treatment. Also, watch for strider in her breathing--that is where her ribs suck in while she breathes. Our son had rsv and was hospitalized for it. Any cold can get your child sick with rsv. Also, the albuterol can rev them up, so she might get cranky or wild from it. Hang in there, mom. ((Hugs))

Hi K.,
I understand your frustration, I also think that when your child is sick you should not bring him/her out to places where he/she can get some one else sick! I've seen that even at church!!! People just don't think. When my children are sick, I stay home from church with them, and keep them home!
But anyway, about the nebulizer, just sit your baby on your lap and put on a cartoon or something that she likes to watch on tv and take the hose without the mask close to her mouth and nose. My children used to hate the mask and fight it all the way. But it's just a matter of time, just be patient with her and try to make it relaxing with some music or tv.
Blessings