Difference between revisions of "Easily Give Eyedrops to a Baby or Child"

#Gather all the necessary materials first. The faster you apply the drops, the easier it will be, especially if you have a distressed or squirming child. Make sure that you have within reach the medicine, tissues, and washcloths, as well as any pillows or towels you will be using to prop up the child’s head.<ref name="rf1">https://blog.chocchildrens.org/tips-make-eye-drops-easier-kids-parents/</ref>

#Reduce distractions. Children can be easily distracted. Since you will want them to keep their gaze steady while you apply medicine, make sure that there are no distractions in the room. This means that the television should not be on, nor should there be any nearby activity that will catch their gaze.<ref name="rf2">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873669/</ref>

#Explain to your child what the medicine does. If your child is old enough to talk, explain in simple terms that you will be putting medicine in their eye. Tell them that while it may sting or feel cold at first, it will help them feel better afterwards. Warn them that their vision will be blurry, and discourage them from touching their eye afterwards.<ref name="rf3"> http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2873669/</ref>

#Put a drop on the back of their hands. If you show them ahead of time that the medicine is safe and harmless, they will not fight as much while you apply the eye drops. You can reduce their anxiety by placing a drop on the back of their hand. While you do this, point to your eye, and tell them that you will be quickly dropping it there.<ref name="rf3" />

#Show them how the drops will go in. Using a harmless eye lubricant, you can show them what will happen by applying eye drops to yourself. Using the applicator, tip your head back and put one drop into your eye. Blink. The calmer you are while doing this, the calmer your child will be as you do it to them.<ref name="rf4">http://www.todaysparent.com/blogs/the-good-sport/5-steps-for-giving-your-child-eye-drops/</ref>

#Reward your child. Promise your child a treat if they are able to take the eye drops well. Inform them that they must sit still, and they cannot cry. You should give them a small reward, such as a piece of candy.<ref name="rf4" />

#Let the medicine warm to room temperature. If you have eye drops that are kept in the refrigerator, you should remove the bottle beforehand so that it can come to room temperature. To quicken this process, you can roll the bottle between your hands until it is warm.<ref name="rf5">https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/medication-safety/Pages/How-to-Give-Eye-Drops-and-Eye-Ointment.aspx</ref>

#Wash your hands. The best way to prevent the spread of disease is to wash your hands before and after you give your child medicine. This is especially important with eye diseases, which are very infectious. Wash your hands with warm water and soap before drying them completely on a clean towel.<ref name="rf6">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2377385/ </ref>

#Clean the outside of the eye. If your child has crusty or gooey buildup around the eye, you will first need to clean this area. Wet a cotton ball or clean washcloth. Gently wipe the eye from the nose outward. Use separate cloths for each eye to prevent reinfection. Wash your hands after finishing.<ref name="rf5" />

#Swaddle the baby in a blanket. This will restrain the baby’s arms. Otherwise, the baby might flail or rub away the medicine. By swaddling them, you will be ensuring that they remain still throughout the procedure.<ref name="rf3" />

#Lay the baby flat on their back. It is easiest to place the baby on your lap. Make sure that their head is closest to you with their body extended out along your legs.<ref name="rf1" />

#Pull down on their lower lid. With a finger, press down on the skin below their eye and gently pull it down. You only want to pull down enough to expose the lower whites of their eye. There should be a small gap for the medicine to go in. Be extremely gentle as you do this. You do not want to upset the baby, nor do you want to injure them.<ref name="rf7"><http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/ofloxacin-ophthalmic-route/proper-use/drg-20065155</ref>

#*If the baby is upset or wiggling, ask another adult to help. They can help hold the baby's head still while you quickly put the drops in. This will also free your hands to help with applying the drops.<ref name="rf8">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3wtEWX7HxU&feature=youtu.be&t=100</ref>

#Drop the prescribed medicine into their eye. Bring the dropper within one inch of their eye, but make sure that it is not touching any part of the eye, including their eye lashes.  Squeeze the medicine along their lower eyelid. As they blink, watch to make sure that the medicine touches their eye.<ref name="rf5" />

#Apply the medicine while their eyes are closed. If you are having difficulty putting the medicine into their eyes while they are open, you can try applying the medicine while their eyes are closed. This can be done while they are asleep. Drop the medicine into their closed eye along the corner closest to their nose. <ref name="rf9">http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/medical-information-0/medicines-information/how-give-your-child-eye-drops</ref>

#Wipe up the excess with a tissue. Once you are certain that the medicine has reached their eyeball, you may clean up any excess that has dripped around their eyes. Use a tissue to gently remove the liquid from the lower and upper lid, eye lashes, and cheek. Do not touch their eyeball.<ref name="rf9" />

#Place your child on their back, and tilt their head back. They should be facing up towards you. Place a pillow under their shoulders or a rolled-up towel under their neck, so that their head droops back.<ref name="rf5" />

#Pull down on their lower lid. You may rest your finger on their cheek, and with extreme care, gently pull down the lid to expose the lower white of their eye. You want to create a small space for the medicine to enter their eye.<ref name="rf10">http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/ofloxacin-ophthalmic-route/proper-use/drg-20065155</ref>

#Squeeze the prescribed amount of drops into their eye. Without the dropper touching their eye, drop the medicine along their lower eyelid and their eyeball. In this method, you want to make sure it does not pool in the tear ducts, along the inner corner of the eye. <ref name="rf5" />

#Lay the child with their head between your thighs and their arms under your legs. This will help restrict the child's movements while giving you free use of both hands. Do not sit on their arms, but apply gentle pressure with your thighs. This will also keep their head relatively still. The goal is to quickly drop in the medicine while they are restrained. <ref name="rf5" />

#Wait for the child to open their eyes. The medicine should roll into their eyes. If it does not, you can have the child tilt their head until it does. If the child is hesitant or won’t open their eyes, just wait — eventually the eyes ''will'' open. When the child opens their eye, the drops will partially roll in.<ref name="rf11">http://www.parents.com/health/allergies/prevention/how-to-give-eye-drops/ </ref>

*Eye drops can expire, and the applicator can become infected. Once the child has recovered, throw away the eye drops. Eye drops should not saved for more than four weeks, and you should not use the same applicator on different people.<ref name="rf12"> http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/medical-information-0/medicines-information/how-give-your-child-eye-drops</ref>