Nebulizers - Yes or No

[Baby Beluga]

I do not administer any medication except live saving meds. Insulin, epi pen, inhaler, etc.

What if a child needs a nebulizer treatment throughout the day? Is that considered life saving? Technically it is the same medication as many inhalers (albuterol) but nebs are often prescribed for illnesses, right?

WWYD?

[amberrose3dg]

I do not administer any medication except live saving meds. Insulin, epi pen, inhaler, etc.

What if a child needs a nebulizer treatment throughout the day? Is that considered life saving? Technically it is the same medication as many inhalers (albuterol) but nebs are often prescribed for illnesses, right?

WWYD?

Me personally I wouln't do it. It is most likely an illness and they should probably be at home.

[MomBoss]

I recently had an infant with RSV who needed a neb. Told them that because shes needing breathing treatments, she needs to stay home.

[Baby Beluga]

Okay, that's good to know.

I haven't come across this situation with a DCK yet...but with all the stuff going around I need to have a plan before it happens.

[BrynleeJean]

I've never thought of this. good point.
I administer whatever usually, well not fever reducers but if a doc prescribes an antibiotic to be given like 3 times a day but child isn't contagious after the first day or what they were home with mom and that middle dose is while they are in my care i do that for them.

I would do a nebulizer but yes it could be for pneumonia or RSV or bronchitis or lots of lung things that could be contagious. its up to you maybe as the doctor to email something to you about what its for and them you can make a better decision.

[LittleExplorers]

I will administer them. My son has asthma and has used them from a very young age. However, for an infant, I would not. It can quickly turn bad with such little ones. For my son, using his neb at the first sign of a cold actually helps prevent it from turning into worse things like pneumonia, bronchilitis etc. I would want a physician's note to determine the diagnosis and go from there. It also would depend if the child fights them or is ok taking them.

[lovemykidstoo]

I will administer them. My son has asthma and has used them from a very young age. However, for an infant, I would not. It can quickly turn bad with such little ones. For my son, using his neb at the first sign of a cold actually helps prevent it from turning into worse things like pneumonia, bronchilitis etc. I would want a physician's note to determine the diagnosis and go from there. It also would depend if the child fights them or is ok taking them.

I have a dcb that is 3 and he has asthma and they have brought his nebulizer here for me to do a treatment. Same thing, if he doesn't get it, he could be in much bigger trouble. It's the easiest thing to give it to him and it can help him from getting sicker. I just have them sign the medical form. Really no big deal. I also give antibiotics if they're past the contagious period.

[DaveA]

I will give nebs for a child after they've turned 1.

[nannyde]

I do not administer any medication except live saving meds. Insulin, epi pen, inhaler, etc.

What if a child needs a nebulizer treatment throughout the day? Is that considered life saving? Technically it is the same medication as many inhalers (albuterol) but nebs are often prescribed for illnesses, right?

WWYD?

Is it an acute illness or chronic?

[mamamanda]

I will give nebs for asthma with a Drs order. I will not give nebs for illness. I am in a unique position b/c most of the children in my care are related to me. That makes me feel a little better about giving meds b/c my family is very close & as long as I have a Drs note I will follow mom's wishes. However, last fall my nephew had pneumonia & they prescribed one. His mom did his first dose here & he seemed kind of off but I just thought it was b/c he didn't feel good. After a second dose at home he ended up in the emergency room b/c of a reaction to the Albuterol. It caused me to really rethink things. If they're sock enough to need one for an illness I feel they should be at home. I do have asthma & often had to take mine to school with me so I understand that side of it too.

[nannyde]

https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26221&highlight=nebulizer

[hwichlaz]

Most young kids here are given nebulizers because they are too young to effectively use an inhaler.

Breathing is important to life. So yes, I administer nebulizer treatments.

If it’s for illness though, it depends on the situation. If a child is recovering from a lung infection, the infection itself is gone, but they need the treatments for the lungs to heal, then yes I’ll do it. But if they are still sick they need to be at home.

FTR, nebulizer treatments can go on for a month or more after some lung infections.

[Miss A]

While it is far from my favorite task, I will administer Nebulizer treatments.

When I worked in a center I did so daily for two little guys with asthma. My own DS had RSV at 4 months old, and needed nebulizer treatments long after the virus had gone bevause of the damage it did to his lungs. He then got bronchitis at 8 months and again needed the treatments long after the sickness was gone.

IMO, breathing is pretty important, so while I don't enjoy doing nebulizer treatments (imagine trying to put a onsie on an alligator, that is how most infant/toddler neb treatments go down), I will do them.

[Blackcat31]

If a child requires a nebulizer due to an illness I will not administer and would more than likely require the child to remain home but if a child was medically diagnosed with asthma, I would absolutely administer a nebulizer.

I've only had 2 or 3 kids in all my years that required a nebulizer and all of them were able to mostly do it themselves. I would get everything ready and they would sit in a chair and hold the mask or mouth piece themselves. They were used to it as it was part of their regular daily lives.

I wouldn't feel comfortable if the child was an infant but the couple times I have had experiences with nebulizers, I had no issues. So I guess for me it would be a case by case thing.

[HappyEverAfter]

I would administer a neb if needed for allergies or asthma. For an illness I’d likely have to make a case by case decision depending on if it’s contagious and what other issues/symptoms go along with it. I typically will administer any medication as needed at the parent and physician’s directive and I keep a detailed log of anything that I administer.