5 Tips To Giving Your Kids Eye Drops

We all have experienced the wrath that comes with giving our child eye drops. First the ‘run away,’ then the ‘fetal position eye cover,’ following by the ‘head shaking, you can’t catch my eyes wiggle.’ But WHYYY, I mean seriously, why does it have to be this way? They are so easy when they are only a few months old and can’t get away from us yet, and not to mention – have no idea what’s coming their way.

Well, after three kids – I have tried EVERYTHING to get them to lay down and be still. Bribing, threatening to take away toys and computer time, having my husband hold them down while I administer the drops, etc. And it all sucks, to be honest. By the end – my husbands mad, I am breathing hard and sweating and the kids are screaming and crying out any eye drops I just happened to get in!!!!

Oh, and these tips will also work with medicated eye drops – but I always start with Pink Eye Relief drops from The Relief Products that I get over the counter at most major retailers and keep on stock in my medicine cabinet at all times. Odds are, these will help prevent the infection from getting worse and will often mute symptoms so much that the eye is able to heal on its own without a visit to the doctor.  I keep 5 boxes on hand at all times with each of them labeled with everyone’s initials, keeping them from cross contaminating and making sure I am always prepared.

1. Approach and keep calm. As I mentioned before – if you even get drops into their eyes, odds are they are going to wash right out with the tears. I try to get them after they have had a little time to wake up but are still laying on the couch watching cartoons and relaxing.
2. I find it goes more smoothly if I ask them if I can put a drop on their eyelashes. It seems much less intimidating to them than asking to drop fluids onto their eyeball.
3. Have them lay down and close their eyes, after all – you are “dropping these onto their eyelashes.”
4. Squeeze the drops into the inner corner of their eye. Some of the solution will already start to seep in slowly.
5. As I rub their hand or head I ask them to open their eyes, all done. The best part – they do not even realize because these drops do not burn at all.

Honestly, try my tips and let me know how it goes!!!