How to use your child's inhaler properly

Using an inhaler is important for controlling your child's asthma, but do you know how to administer it properly? Here's what to keep in mind.

How to use an inhaler for kids ages 0 to 5

• Young kids can’t keep their mouths sealed around a mouthpiece, so they need to use a mask attached to a spacer, which holds the medication in the tube while they inhale.
• To administer it, hold the mask up to your child’s face, press down on the inhaler and have them breathe in and out regularly for six breaths.
• Your child may fight the mask or cry. That’s OK, says Andrea White Markham, a certified respiratory educator, because “they’re still breathing.” After a while, your kid will get used to the mask. Try practising on a stuffed animal and singing a song during the procedure.

How to use an inhaler for kids ages 5 and up

• Once your kid can keep their lips sealed around the mouthpiece, they don’t need a mask, but still need a spacer, as it helps the medication get to the lungs and reduces the risk of oral thrush, a side effect of inhaled corticosteroids.
• Teach your child how to press down on the inhaler and breathe in six slow breaths. It takes some strength to press and may require practice.
• After, have your child rinse their mouth to reduce the risk of side effects like thrush.
• Your child should have a rescue inhaler at school. Talk to the school about where the inhaler will be kept or whether your child can carry it with them, and who will help administer it, if needed.

Read more: What you need to know about managing your child's asthmaHere’s one really easy way to lower your baby’s risk of developing childhood asthma