My Son Needs Eyedrops and Is a Bucking Rhino!

Is it the drops or the gel? If it's the gel, let him put it on his finger and rub it over the bottom of his lashes, as if he were wiping something out of his eye. Enough goop will stick to work.

If it's drops, have him tilt his head back and put the drops on the bridge of his nose. They'll roll down into the tear duct, he'll instinctively reach up to rub it away and it will rub into the eye enough to work. This worked when my oldest used to fight allergy drops when he was younger.

Have him lie down on his bed, floor, or couch. Wherever he is comfortable. Tell him to close his eyes, but not squeeze them tight. Put the drop in the corner of his eye and then tell him to blink. The drop will run into his eye.

That is how my eye doctor puts drops in eyes, and I have to say it is much better than a drop landing in my eye!

Maybe promise a little treat if he does it nicely. Something small, like maybe a couple of m&ms, a hershey kiss, or a starburst candy. That always worked for my son.

Typically kids with pink eye are not allowed back at school until 24 hours after eye drops have been started. I would try to get them in when he is napping actually. The other thing you can do is have him close his eye and put a couple of drops in the corner and tell him to open his eye, it will get in there. Really he is throwing a fit about it because he thinks it will hurt, once he knows that it doesn't hurt he won't fight so hard. Having worked at and eye doctors office another thing that you can try is to have him wash his eyes with tear free shampoo. Essentially the Conjunctivitis is really just croup in his eye. Your tear duct actually drains down into your nose so if your sinuses and nose are a mess you are a prime candidate for pink eye. He could have also gotten it by blowing his nose and then rubbing his eye without washing his hands first.

Ask the pediatrician for an oral antibiotic. We couldn't get the eye drops in our daughter's eyes, either, and when I called the doctor's office, they said, "Oh, he can just write a prescription for an oral version instead." Who knew? Not sure why they put parents through the agony of dealing with eye drops. Needless to say, a million times easier with a prescription I could mix in juice and have her drink.

Hi Susan,

You got great advice about getting the drops in, via the center corners of his eyes instead directly on. (I think they also get a little chance to warm up before they hit the eyeball.)

In regard to the "notify preschool" part of the question: I'd play it safe and say yes to telling the teachers about both. The croup isn't a big deal, but if he's coughing, it will be good for them to know why. The conjunctivitis, however, is something that I am required to notify parents about, because it spreads so easily. Just a month ago I had to sanitize EVERY freaking piece of my preschool (soooo many blocks. I usually love them, but that day I really wasn't fond of them) due to Pink Eye. Believe it or not, the teachers at your son's preschool will likely want to do the same.

I got this info from a pediatrician. Use JOHNSONS baby shampoo in warm water and a clean wash cloth. Swish washcloth in shampoo and water and wring out--wash out eye. Clears up pink eye.
But it has to be Johnsons baby shampoo--other brands don't work.

I wish I knew this when my little one had pink eye getting the drops in is horrible.

these drops come in an ointment form, which MIGHT be easier. I would try wrapping him in a huge blanket, swaddle style, provided I couldnt somehow bribe him into cooperating.

Ok, when we needed to do this with my son, bucking bronco too! I sat down on the floor with my legs open, then I placed his head on my leg (what ever one make sense) wrapped my leg around and put it on his torso took the other leg and put it on his legs (thigh area), used one arm to keep his head steady and then I only had to battle his arms. Sometimes I would put him in a tight sweater w/his arms NOT in the sleeves (zip up kind). good luck you will have to dominate.

My son got pink eye with a cold his first winter in preschool too. Yes, tell the school.
I managed to get my son to lie down on his side and put the eye drop in the inside corner and let him blink. Maybe if you let him watch tv at the same time. I do bribe with a small treat like a piece of candy if I get cooperation on necessary medications. Once he knew the eye drops didn't hurt it went a lot better.

BTW, I used the baby shampoo trick on myself for a week so I didn't catch my son's pink eye!

do like our optometrist does for my 9 year old, he puts the drops (in our case, for dilating the eye) right along the lash line.. The doctor will have my son close his eyes, he then applies the drops and has my son open his eyes and blink.. in the case of pink eye, I am not sure if that would mean enough drops, but give it a try....

best of luck

If he is a heavy sleeper try when he is sleeping. If not you are just going
to have to be the boss!!!! You will have to be a contortionist. Maybe have
someone help you. This is non negotiable. I think if you are consistent,
he will eventually give in. He needs those drops. Good luck.

Im not laughing at the situation but I almost choked on my dr pepper when I read the title of your post! I say get tough! Tell him it has to be done and it can be done the hard way or the easy way. Explain to him what you going to do and if that doesn't calm him and doesn't work hold him down the best you can. If it requires hand cuffs so be it! Good luck mama!

Saints preserve us-hot compresses -several times a day-what about an eye cup? You do it first to demonstrate-and then maybe he will give it a try. You only need to get the drop in the corner of the eye-maybe when he's asleep?? He sounds cute!

You probably need to do some type of bribery. Put some drops in your eyes so he knows it doesnt hurt. My other suggestion would be to try to do it when he's asleep.

My 2 year old recently had pink eye. I wrapped her up in a towel (so her arms wouldn't be free) and straddled her (it kept her somewhat contained).
I put the drops in the corner, because I figured even when she blinked them open they would absorb in.
So yeah I guess I sort of did tie her down, lol.
I hope your son feels better soon!