Getting Your Kids to Use Their Asthma Inhalers

 

 

 

Let's face it, many moms have to nag their kids to do things. 

I have to be watch my son when he's on a course of Prednisone, I have to make sure he is taking the correct dose morning and night. That's not a medication where you can afford to miss a dose - from what I know, it affects your adrenal gland. 

And that can cause some major problems if you stop taking it suddenly. It's important to take it EXACTLY as the doctor prescribes, including tapering off the medication.

As for my kid's daily, controller inhalers, I feel like I'm always watching to see that the kids take their inhalers. If their asthma disc or asthma spacer & inhaler are in the exact same position on the kitchen counter for a day or two, I know they're not taking their medicine. 

It's hard to get kids to do anything on a regular basis - and all kids want to cut corners. I tell them "nice try, but you can't skip brushing your teeth and chew gum instead". 😑

The shower? That includes using soap and shampoo - not just a quick rinse. Ugh.
 

My kids know the importance of taking their medication, and it's even more important now since Kitty and Son #2 are sick (still....). 

But they have to be motivated to do it, and I'm not sure how to get them to do it on their own. 

I tell them they have to do this on their own, because I'm not going to follow them to college and say "Oh yoo hooo! Honey! Are you being good and taking your asthma medication?!"

For now, I guess I'll keep nagging. Our pile of maintenance asthma inhalers are in a decorative container on the counter, so when I take my asthma controller disc, I look to see where theirs are. Then I know if they're taking their medication or not. 

Some people recommend putting asthma inhalers by a toothbrush in the bathroom, so when they brush their teeth, they'll see their asthma inhaler and take it. But, if they're not brushing their teeth- or being like most kids and seeming not to notice that its there, it won't work.

Just like the pile of clothing on their floor in their room that they literally walk on top of to get to the bathroom. Why is it that they can't stop and pick them up? And why can't they remember to use their asthma inhalers every day?

We also have a job chart, with asthma inhalers listed on each day. But it doesn't help if they don't look at the job chart.

So, in short. I feel like the kids aren't using their inhalers every day, and how to get them to do that is the question of the hour.

Until it is solved, I get to keep nagging. 

Part of my Life as an Asthma Mom....