Giving children eye drops can be a struggle, particularly if you are attempting to place drops in a young child's eyes. If your doctor prescribes eye drops to treat an eye infection or another eye problem, it is important to get as much of the medication in your child's eyes as possible. Keeping your child still enough to place the drops is the key to successful use of drops. Using the same steps every time you give your child eye drops may make the process less scary for her.
Step 1
Wash your hands with soap and water before handling your child's eyes or the medication. Washing your hands helps ensure that you do not transfer any germs from your hands to the medication bottle or your child's eyes.
Step 2
Ask your child to lie on his back. If your child is very young or uncooperative, you may wish to ask a family member to hold him.
Step 3
Shake the medication bottle. Insert the eye dropper into the medicine bottle and depress the rubber bulb at the top of the dropper. Slowly release the bulb, allowing the medication to flow into the dropper.
Step 4
Tilt the child's head back to allow proper placement of eye drops. Gently pull down on the lower eyelid.
Step 5
Place the dropper above the eye and squeeze the prescribed number of drops into the inside of the lower eyelid.
Step 6
Ask your child to close her eyes or blink after placing the drops in the eye. Blinking will help the medication cover the entire eye. Wipe up tears or excess medication on the skin with a tissue.
Step 7
Repeat the process on the other eye if both eyes are being treated.
Step 8
Wash your hands after placing the eye drops. Close the medication bottle and put it in a secure place until it is time for the next dose of medication.
Tips and Warnings
- Drugs.com suggests bracing the hand you use to place the drops against your child's nose or cheek to prevent your hand from shaking. If your child is hesitant about receiving drops, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta suggests making a game of the procedure. Ask your child to count to three and then open his eyes. Place the drops as soon as his eyes open.
- Don't use expired eye drops, drops that look cloudy, drops that have changed color or drops that contain solid pieces in the medication. Keep eye drops away from extreme temperatures and store them in a cabinet away from direct light.
Things You'll Need
- Eye dropper
- Tissues
