Nebulizers - Yes or No

[Pandaluver21]

I have a 2yr old now that needs a nebulizer. I help him do it before nap, but he mostly does it on his own. If he recently had a cold or is having a rough patch (asthma or allergies) she sends it along. There's big chunks of time we don't have to do it, but when it is needed... it is NEEDED. He sleeps SO much better if we can do it ahead of time. Poor kid had a rough day today, had the nebulizer and still only slept an hour.
I have asthma and allergies, and I know how awful the day can be if either is effecting me. I have no problem making a kid feel a little more comfortable!

[Baby Beluga]

Is it an acute illness or chronic?

Neither yet, just planning ahead

[Baby Beluga]

The distinction between asthma/allergies and illness is an important one....and one I didn't think of. THIS is why I ask you all ::

Here is what got me thinking:

DCB had a barking cough, no other symptoms. Told mom he needed to see the doc and I would determine if/when he could return. Doc cleared DCB of everything, doc said cough was just lingering from a cold. Unfortunately here, it IS common to have coughs that last weeks after colds. This DCB's cough didn't last weeks (two days and was very infrequent but when he did cough it sounded barky. The barky sound is what had me concerned) but it got me thinking: what if doc prescribed a neb treatment? How would I handle it?

I suppose if it were for an illness I would require the child to stay home for a certain amount of time and would possibly administer the treatments if child no longer met exclusion policies but was at the tail end of the neb treatment.

For allergies/asthma it makes sense to do it with proper documentation from the doc. Especially if it can help ward off a much worse illness. After DS had a round of RSV and bronchiolitis his ped said if he gets a cough or cold to do neb treatments for two days to try and prevent DS from getting a worse illness so I can see how that could happen to a DCK.

[Blackcat31]

The distinction between asthma/allergies and illness is an important one....and one I didn't think of. THIS is why I ask you all ::

Here is what got me thinking:

DCB had a barking cough, no other symptoms. Told mom he needed to see the doc and I would determine if/when he could return. Doc cleared DCB of everything, doc said cough was just lingering from a cold. Unfortunately here, it IS common to have coughs that last weeks after colds. This DCB's cough didn't last weeks (two days and was very infrequent but when he did cough it sounded barky. The barky sound is what had me concerned) but it got me thinking: what if doc prescribed a neb treatment? How would I handle it?

I suppose if it were for an illness I would require the child to stay home for a certain amount of time and would possibly administer the treatments if child no longer met exclusion policies but was at the tail end of the neb treatment.

For allergies/asthma it makes sense to do it with proper documentation from the doc. Especially if it can help ward off a much worse illness. After DS had a round of RSV and bronchiolitis his ped said if he gets a cough or cold to do neb treatments for two days to try and prevent DS from getting a worse illness.

But the difference is you are the parent in that scenario and are the one assuming liability and managing treatment.

If this same scenario occurred with a DCK, I'd want the parent to have to do the "hard work" of managing their child vs putting it on the provider...kwim?

[hwichlaz]

Many illnesses cause lung damage that needs to be treated for weeks or months after the illness itself has run its course. neb treatments are needed every 4-6 hours depending on which meds are used. So.....I'd require parents to do the first one of the day so that I only had to do one treatment.

[Unregistered]

If a child needs a breathing treatment I have the parent stop by during lunch hour to administer it. And they can treat in the morning before they come and after they’re picked up at night. I do not want the liability.

[Baby Beluga]

But the difference is you are the parent in that scenario and are the one assuming liability and managing treatment.

If this same scenario occurred with a DCK, I'd want the parent to have to do the "hard work" of managing their child vs putting it on the provider...kwim?

Absolutely

[MomBoss]

If the child is needing breathing treatment to survive, i would not feel comfortable being responsible for that. Too much liability. If it can be done in the morning and at night, at home, Then great. If not, then they are too sick for daycare. If its an asthma issue, i like the idea of the parent coming at lunch break to administer.
An old co worker of mine had a 10 month old son with asthma. He died at daycare from an asthma attack. Although the daycare probably did what they were suppose to do, as a grieving parent I would want to blame the daycare provider and accuse her of not doing the treatment correctly.

[Leigh]

I have twins with lung issues who absolutely require nebs. At first (they were 10 months old then), it was every 2 hours for each of them-levalbuterol followed with saline. I burned out my nebulizer in a few months! I only use my own machine, because I don't want parents stuff around my house and don't like the back and forth of equipment.

A kid with pneumonia who required nebs? They'd stay home.

I base it on the child. A sick child needing nebs is a liability in some cases. A child who needs it as maintenance, I can do that.