Pink Eye - Rochester,NY

Updated on December 01, 2009
A.S. asks from Rochester, NY
12 answers

Hi Mamas,

My 3 year old son will not let me get the eye drops in to cure his pink eye. I tried putting saline drops in my own eyes so he can see that it's not scary, but that didn't phase him. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get the drops in? Or, are there any oral meds that may be prescribed? I'm going to try the tea bag treatment that I read about. Obviously, I'll call the doctor when they open, but I thought I'd ask other moms that may havee gone through this battle. Any suggestions would help!

Thanks,
A.

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So What Happened?

Thank you all for your answers. Putting the drops in the corner while his eyes were closed worked. Luckily, the day care was willing to give him all three doses for the last few days of treatment, so I was off the hook. My mom on the other hand has pink eye in both eyes!! She won't be over anytime soon.

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A.S.

answers from New York on

Yes, as others have said, do it with his eyes closed. When I took my 2 yo daughter to the eye doctor, even he said this is the best way to do it with young kids. Maybe have some stickers on hand for a reward afterwards. ;)

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P.C.

answers from New York on

Hi A.,

My two children were the same way especially my daughter. She did not like to see the bottle getting close to her eye.

You can try waiting until he takes his nap or when he sleeps. Then place the eye drop on the inside corner (the side closer to his nose) of his eye and then gently pull his eye lid up a little from the eye brow side and the drop will go into his eye this way.

Hope this helps.

P.

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A.L.

answers from Albany on

try putting them in the corner of his closed eye. When he opens it the drops will go in. I know hopw hard it is when a child fights getting medicine. we used to have top restrain my son to give him tylenol for a fever. It does get better as they get older.

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A.P.

answers from New York on

Our kids always squint their eyes shut when drops are near. We put the drops in the inside corners and hold their hands. When they open their eyes and blink a few times, the drops fall right in.
Good luck. Pink eye's no fun!

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S.L.

answers from Binghamton on

This might sound totally strange but do you know anybody currently breastfeeding? Breast milk is a great cure for pink eye! I used it on myself when I had it (I was nursing and expressed some of my own) and it worked.

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E.S.

answers from New York on

Putting drops into an open eye can be scarey. Try this instead. Have your son lay on his back in bed with his eyes closed. Then put the drop into the corner of his closed eye. Then tell him to slowly open his eye, so the drop naturally/gently washes over his eye. Tell him to rotate his head from side to side so the drop gets 'swished around' and while he blinks. I have used this method on my children (who are adults now) and on myself, and aged father with good results. Hope it works for you too!

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R.S.

answers from New York on

My daughter was 7 months old when she got conjunctivitis. Obviously, that's different from treating a 3 year old. However, the pediatrician had recommended that one person hold the baby's arms down, while another hold the face straight in place so that you can open the eyes and put the drops in the bottom, outer corner of the eye very swiftly.

I know it sounds horrible, but it's for their own good. When it's done this way, it's over sooner than they realize that something went in there.

Get well soon wishes for your son.

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L.H.

answers from New York on

He probably gets the idea that it doesn't hurt. It's just down right uncomfortable. Even if you get a little of the drops in, that will help to take care of the pink eye. I think the hardest thing is to keep them from touching their eyes. My son got the pink eye at a young age too. We had the same problem as you. Our Ped. had us lie our son on his back on the bed/couch without any pillow. (Child must be lying down flat.) Hubby would lean over our son and hold and rub his tiny hands, while I put the drops in. Our Ped. said the eyes don't have to be open while giving the drops, just make sure to get him to open his eyes while he's still lying down. You put the drops in the inner corner of the eye, while the child has his eyes closed. Then tell him you're done, and he can open his eyes. The drops will automatically run into the eyes. Don't forget to bathe the eyes in warm water to remove the crusting.

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M.C.

answers from New York on

With my son, I had him close his eye (lying down). Then I put the drops near his nose, at the inner eye lid. When he opened his eye and blinked the drop would make its way in. My son was very squirmy and unwilling to open his eye for the drop but this method relaxed him and worked like a charm.

Good luck!

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L.G.

answers from New York on

When I went through this with my 6 year old son who was not very cooperative either, I ended up bribing him with a pokemon card for each dose. That helped and it got easier.

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L.T.

answers from Binghamton on

I did the same thing as Melissa C recently for my 5 yr old who needed eye drops for an infected stye. I had her close her eyes and I would put the drops in the corner of her eye and HALF of the time when she opened her eye they would go in. The other half of the time she would squirm up too quickly. SO - you might want to have your prescription refilled an extra time! Also, FYI, when my son had pink eye, I was still nursing. I took him to the doc who told me that using breastmilk as eyedrops is one of the most effective ways to combat pink eye! It worked very quickly! If you can get your hands on some.....
Good luck!

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D.R.

answers from New York on

Have him lie across your lap on his back, and close his eyes. Drip the drops into the inner corner of the eye and he'll blink ... enough will get in!! I've done this with both of my kids many times, and sorry to say, you'll likely have to fight this battle again!!!

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