If your baby has asthma or another respiratory condition, your pediatrician may prescribe a medication called Albuterol to be inhaled via a nebulizer. Because babies and toddlers are not old enough to use an inhaler, a nebulizer is used to turn the medicine into a cool mist that is inhaled to help ease breathing, according to MedlinePlus. Most nebulizers come equipped with a face mask, but they are also available with a mouthpiece. It may take a few breathing treatments to get the hang of using a nebulizer. Your biggest challenge may be in getting your infant to cooperate and sit still for the time it takes to administer the medicine.
Step 1
Fill the medicine cup with the Albuterol.
Step 2
Attach the plastic hose to the nebulizer, and then attach the other end of the cup to the face mask or mouthpiece.
Step 3
Sit with your baby in a comfortable location where she will be able to remain on your lap for the 10 to 15 minutes it takes to administer the Albuterol.
Step 4
Place the face mask around your child's face, or place the mouthpiece in his mouth.
Step 5
Turn the nebulizer on so it begins to produce the cool mist that is used to deliver the medication. Keep the face mask or mouthpiece in place until no more medicine remains in the cup.
Step 6
Remove the medicine cup and face mask or mouthpiece from the tubing.
Step 7
Rinse the cup and the face mask or mouthpiece in water and allow it to dry before your next use, MedlinePlus recommends.
Tips and Warnings
- Have your child's favorite toys handy to entertain him during the breathing treatment. If you find it difficult to entertain him or keep him sitting still, trying administering the breathing treatments while your baby is in the high chair, KidsHealth recommends. If your baby has a condition such as asthma that requires regular use of a nebulizer, KidsHealth advises including the breathing treatment as part of his regular schedule. When it is expected, it is less likely your child will resist. Young babies may sleep through a breathing treatment. If this is the case, you can simply hold the face mask in place while the nebulizer is on.
- It is important to keep the face mask over your child's mouth for the duration of the breathing treatment. The farther the mask is away from your child's face, the less of the medicine he is inhaling. For example, if the mask is a half-inch away from his mouth, half the medicine is not being inhaled, according to KidsHealth.com.
Things You'll Need
- Nebulizer
- Albuterol
