Teaching Your Child To Use An Inhaler Without A Spacer

Helping your child use their inhaler correctly  is an important part of caring for your child.

A metered-dose inhaler can help you get the right  amount of medicine right into your child's lungs.

Metered dose means that the inhaler gives a measured amount of medicine  each time your child uses it.

This type of inhaler delivers  medicine in the form of a liquid mist.

Doctors recommend using a spacer  with most metered-dose inhalers.

A spacer is a chamber that  attaches to the inhaler.

The spacer holds the dose of  medicine while your child inhales it.

The spacer makes it easier for your  child to get medicine into their lungs.

But if you don't have a spacer, you can still use the inhaler without it.  You can also ask your doctor for a spacer.

Before you get started, here  are a few things to remember.

Inhalers come in different  shapes, sizes, and doses.

Each kind is used differently. Read the  instructions that come with the inhaler.

Make sure you use the right  inhaler at the right time.

Label each inhaler if you have more than one.

Check the instructions to see if you  need to prime the inhaler before use.

Prime means to get it ready.  If your inhaler needs priming, follow the inhaler's instructions.

Before you begin, be sure  you've worked with a nurse, doctor, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist to make sure you're using your inhaler correctly.

But here's how someone would generally use  a metered-dose inhaler without a spacer.

Begin by shaking the inhaler  for 5 seconds. Remove the cap.

Next, hold the inhaler upright  with the mouthpiece at the bottom.

Now, have your child stand or sit up straight.

With the inhaler a short  distance from their mouth, they should breathe out slowly and completely.

Next, have your child put the  inhaler's mouthpiece in their mouth and close their lips tightly around it.

They should keep their  tongue away from the opening.

Now have your child take a slow, deep breath while pressing the canister  1 time to release a puff of medicine.

They should hold their breath for 5 to 10 seconds.

If your child needs another puff of  medicine, wait 1 minute between puffs.

Replace the cap on the inhaler.

Have your child rinse their  mouth with water if the inhaler has corticosteroids, such as fluticasone.

Controller inhalers usually have corticosteroids.  Do not let your child swallow the water.

So that's how to use a metered-dose  inhaler without a spacer.

Now here are a few other reminders.

Use the inhaler's dose counter  to see how many doses are left, and get inhaler refills before you run out.

Follow the instructions for cleaning the inhaler.

This will help you do it the  right way for each inhaler.

At first, learning how to use  an inhaler can be stressful.

But with practice, using a metered-dose inhaler can help your child feel  better and breathe easier.

And if you have questions, you can  always call your child's doctor.