Steri Nebs

Inhalation
Easy and comfortable to practice with children

Babies and toddlers inhale best when they are asleep. In this way, they don’t perceive the mask as an irritating, foreign body in front of their face and as something which can’t be sensibly explained to them yet.
As babies and toddlers usually sleep a great deal, it is best you use the “naps” for inhaling. 5-10 minutes should therefore not be a problem and will quickly help clear their bronchia.

If your child is a light sleeper, just cuddle them a little bit more. Make the inhaling a nice ritual which is associated with more physical contact and warmth with their parents or older brothers/sisters.

A cosy sofa corner or cushion promotes calmness and a sense of security. Tell your child short stories or hum a song whilst you are putting on the breathing mask. Alternatively, you could also listen to a CD of children’s songs and take 2-3 songs as a unit of time for one “round” of inhalation.

An audio book with children’s stories is also a possibility as well as stories which can be read out loud. See what your child prefers, where he/she feels most comfortable, and together find a good way to practice inhaling.

With chronically ill children, in particular, this therapy should be integrated into everyday life as an attractive benefit and not as a time-consuming deficit. This will also make it easier for your child to deal with the illness and accept this later on.

It is, of course, also possible to show children’s cartoons on the tablet or television to create sufficient distraction. Restless or anxious children, in particular, can be accustomed to inhalation in this way and it also helps make them less afraid of it.

If your child has a favourite cuddly toy or companion, put this next to them and pretend that they are also inhaling. A little home-made mask (e.g. out of card) for the toy can be put on the “friend” and this shows that inhalation is not dangerous and helps create trust.

You can also involve family members (children) who are not ill in the inhalation process. Older children can, for example, read stories as a distraction or hold the sick child. The younger ones can also sit nearby and cuddle the child, watch or simply listen.

If your child is already able to hold the mask on their own, make this as comfortable as possible for them and support the arm with a little cushion. Important here is that the mask is always attached properly. You can also help increase your child’s confidence by letting them do such “tasks” on their own. This is, at the same time, also good practice for using such inhalation devices later on.

• Create an individual comfortable environment for your child.
• Babies inhale easier in their sleep. Make the most of this time.
• As a distraction: reading and looking at children’s books, audio books, children’s songs or relaxing music.
• A toy mask on your child’s favourite cuddly toy can create trust and helps them view inhaling as something harmless.
• Create a nice ritual together.
• Actively regularly involve other family members.
• If your child inhales on their own, make sure that you are present but promote independence and offer the necessary support for the arm (arm on cushion so your child doesn’t have to hold the mask on their own).
• Praise your child if he/she manages it and does this correctly.