Baby on a nebulizer?

[Erin1700]

Have any of you had their baby on a nebulizer? My DS9months is on one b/c he was sick. (fever, cough, wheezing...responded well to antibiotics but we have to keep using the nebulizer till we go back on Monday)
We leave in 21 days and I dont know if we will have to bring this with us to Disney? The nurse said the machine is ours, and anytime he gets a cough and I bring him to the office I need to bring it. To me that sounds like this isnt a once and done thing.

Do I bring it as a carryon? He has never flown before, does flying cause breathing problems ever? I guess I mean the change in altitude? Forgive me, this is all new to me.

Please share your nebulizer experience!

 

[BayouMouseketeer]

My son has multiple respiratory problems and has been on nebs and inhalers since birth and both of my kids use nebulizers for asthma flare-ups. We have travelled with it but I just put it in my checked luggage. Flying has not caused any problems in my son (DD has not flown.) If he is showing any symptoms, you may want to give a treatment just before leaving.

As for owning the machine, its probably because your insurance company prefers to buy it than rent it. If your child needs a nebulizer more than one time, for a week or more, it actually costs less to buy it than rent it!

I would definitely talk to your ped at your re-check and ask for a written plan of what to do while away from home if something happens. It may be just a one-time thing but you don't want the second time to be while you're away from home!

 

[kitsch4]

My son developed asthma after having RSV twice in his first two years. We have used a nebulizer with him occasionally since he was a baby. (It's pathetic seeing your little one sitting there holding the mask over his face, being so brave.) He is now four, and his asthma flares up when he gets a cold, and we have to get out the nebulizer. Flying has not affected his breathing, but I did take the machine with us on our recent trip. We did not need it, but I was glad to have it just in case. It wasn't a big deal to take it- I just put it in the suitcase and kept it in the closet while we were there. Better safe than sorry. I agree with the previous poster- check with your doctor. Good luck, and have a great, healthy trip!

 

[r4blessings]

My older ds (now 9) needed a nebulizer for the same thing, wheezing, coughing, fever when he was right about your sons age. I was in a panic! And yes, he still to this day, tends to wheeze whenever he gets sick. Second ds (now 6) did too. Older ds does not have asthma, second ds was just diagnosed with it this year and now also takes singular and uses an inhaler. So using one now with your baby, does not mean they will have asthma. HTH! We used to have to hold our little one down and hold the mask on his face. Talk about torture for him and for us. Now of course when one of them uses it, the other two little ones (dd3 and ds2) fight and cry because they can't use the "firemans mask"! Go figure!

Anyway, we always bring it with us, and we've never had to use it. But I know the one time I didn't bring it, ds would get sick and need it. So better to be safe than sorry! Probably too, the change in air temp will help him breathe easier once he's down there.

Good luck and hugs!

 

[Princess Roo]

Same here...DS has mild asthma, but it always flares up when he gets sick. For that reason, we do always bring the neb with us if we take any trip in the winter or a long trip other seasons. We generally fly with it as checked luggage, but you can carry it on if you want, too. Just keep the meds in the package that has the prescription info on it and declare them as a liquid.

I would ask the doctor, though... We have been told to put him on his meds as soon as he starts wheezing. If they don't give you meds to have with you, then there is less benefit to taking it.

Our DS loved his neb at that age...until he was 2 we never let him watch TV unless he was getting a treatment, so he used to try to convince us he was sick so he could watch a show!

 

[Erin1700]

Thanks guys! Oh, I am not sure how "new" this is, but the nebulizer now comes with a pacifier attatchment to use for babies! My little guy loves his nuk, so this has made it easier. I do use the mask though if he is already crying b/c I think it may work better!

 

[StephMK]

DS5 used one frequently but has thankfully seemed to outgrow most of his issues. We carried it with us frequently when he was young. I agree, it's better to have & not need than not have it available. Plus I always worried if we were somewhere & he got bad fast, I'd rather him have it quicker than wait for the ins/doc to get one for us.

Wow, cool to have a paci attachment! We never had trouble in our carryons but don't know how the airports deal w/the meds now that liquids are an issue. One time he was still on preventative meds & used it in the airport & some other places while traveling. Everyone was very accomodating.

 

[mikamah]

My son had rsv when he was 2 months old, and started the nebulizer then, and got wheezy with every cold for about 3 years. He was on pulmicort prophylactically for his first 2 winters, and with any signs of a cold I'd add the albuterol. I'm thrilled to say he has outgrown it and the last time he's had an issue was just before he turned four. He's 5 now. I always brought the neb with me whenever we went away, and only once needed it, but it's reassuring to have. I did carry it on when we went to mexico, for fear it broke in the checked luggage, but I checked it on the way home. I know many babies who have the wheezing as infants do out grow it once they are bigger and their airways are big enough that they can handle the mucus from the colds. Good luck.

 

[Whosemom]

Thanks guys! Oh, I am not sure how "new" this is, but the nebulizer now comes with a pacifier attatchment to use for babies! My little guy loves his nuk, so this has made it easier. I do use the mask though if he is already crying b/c I think it may work better!

Dude!!! That is COOL. It is newer than 6 years, anyway. We refered to them as "screaming treatments" and had to wrestle our little guy like crazy. A pacifier attatchment may have made all the difference in the world!

 

[flyingw/tink]

My DD3 also uses a nebulizer on a pretty regular basis. When she was 6 weeks old she was diagnosed with RSV and then a year later they determined she has Trachea Malacia. We went to Disney in June and I took our nebulizer in my carry on bag with a doctor's note and had no problems getting it on the plane. I was concerned that she may need it before Magical Express would get my luggage to our room so for me taking it on was a better option. Everyday I carried it with me in the bottom of our stroller and I was glad that I did. We actually had to use it in one of the counter service restaurants in Magic Kingdom, can't remember which restaurant but it's the only on in MK that serves sweet tea. The CM there was very helpful in finding me an outlet and helping bring over a table to where we needed to be.


My doctor recommended that I take it with me b/c when traveling the climate and allergens are different from your child's normal breathing enviroment. I hope you don't have to use it but if you do know that you are not the first and we are going back in May, so you definately won't be the last.

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

Dude!!! That is COOL. It is newer than 6 years, anyway. We refered to them as "screaming treatments" and had to wrestle our little guy like crazy. A pacifier attatchment may have made all the difference in the world!

That is so true! At least when they were screaming, they were taking big breaths! That would have made it so much easier with both of my daughters. Each has only been on it once. My oldest (now 5) when she was a little under a year old had bronchitis and she had to have the nebulizer. My littlest had a terrible flu when she was about 3 months old (scariest time in my entire life...in fact any time I get the baby bug, I remember those trips to the hospital and am quite content to be done with the little helpless baby phase) and it was just a fit of tears and screaming. A paci idea would have done the trick!