How to use your child’s inhaler
Getting your child to use their inhaler can be one of the hardest parts of asthma for parents. It’s also one of the most important. If the medicine doesn’t reach your child’s lungs, it can’t do its job.
The most common type of inhaler for kids is a puffer, which should always be used with a spacer. A spacer helps the medicine reach your child’s lungs where it is needed instead of getting stuck on the back of their throat or in their mouth.
Kids under four will need to use a face mask with their spacer. This is because they are too young to be able to seal their lips around the mouthpiece.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to watch and check how you use the inhaler, so you can be sure you and your child are doing it right.
Here are some tips to help your child learn to use their puffer and spacer:
- Show them how you use it first, to make it less scary.
- Pretend to give the puffer to their teddy bear or doll first.
- Let them cover it with stickers – we suggest foil type stickers that will survive getting wet when washed.
- Allow them to play with the spacer when you aren’t using it (wash it again before use).
- Make a game out of it – pretend it’s an astronaut’s space mask or sing a song while you use it.
- Have your child count the breaths out loud with you.
You don’t have to use all these tips. Pick what method will work best for your child and your family. Your child’s puffer and spacer are still lifesaving devices, and we don’t want it to get lost in your toybox!
Videos
Watch the one that matches your puffer with your child to learn what to do.
