My three year old, Megan, is terrified of my CPAP and mask. I just got it today and when we went to take a nap she didn't want to even be in the room with my machine when I started setting it up for our nap she ran out of the room crying and hid in the bathroom. I tried taking the mask, headgear and hose apart and letting her touch them but she refused. She keeps asking me to put the machine in the trash and begged my not to use it when I tried talking to her about it. Anyone else had this proble with there kids? What suggestions do you have?
Cindy
Terrified Toddler HELP!
10 posts
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Janelle
Paper Doll Strategy?
I don't know if this will work or not. But have someone take a photo of you dressed for bed, facing 3/4 or full, from the chest up. Then print it out on stiff paper enough to fill up a regular size piece of paper. Cut yourself out. Next, go on the internet and find your mask and machine. Usually, these will be clickable for larger photos and be about 1/2 life size, about the same as yourself on the 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Copy and print these out on stiff paper. Same with the hose and humidifier if necessary.
If you child is old enough to use scissor, she can cut these out herself. You might even draw tabs on them to make them stay on the cutout. What you have done, as you have probably guessed, is to make a paper doll of yourself and your equipment for your child to "play" with. They won't be as big as the normal equipment so maybe not as scary.
Tell her this is something mommy has to wear at night to be healthy. No detailed explanation really necessary. And that they are not anything to be frightened of.
Let her play or work with the paper doll before you have her look at the real thing again.
Maybe once she gets used to seeing "you" with the paper equipment on, she will be less afraid.
If you child is old enough to use scissor, she can cut these out herself. You might even draw tabs on them to make them stay on the cutout. What you have done, as you have probably guessed, is to make a paper doll of yourself and your equipment for your child to "play" with. They won't be as big as the normal equipment so maybe not as scary.
Tell her this is something mommy has to wear at night to be healthy. No detailed explanation really necessary. And that they are not anything to be frightened of.
Let her play or work with the paper doll before you have her look at the real thing again.
Maybe once she gets used to seeing "you" with the paper equipment on, she will be less afraid.
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cricket
Re: Terrified Toddler HELP!
We now have two c-paps in the house. (parent and another child in the house) In our house it became a game. The three year old was able to touch, try on and feel the air flow. The three year old puts it on and pretends that she is like Daddy. At first there was a great fear (sometimes the unknown is very upsetting to a child) now it is just like wearing pj's. We refer to it as the tranquillizer. When the kids go to bed, everyone knows that the one needs the "tranquillizer" on. The fear will go away over time.MegansMum wrote:My three year old, Megan, is terrified of my CPAP and mask. I just got it today and when we went to take a nap she didn't want to even be in the room with my machine when I started setting it up for our nap she ran out of the room crying and hid in the bathroom. I tried taking the mask, headgear and hose apart and letting her touch them but she refused. She keeps asking me to put the machine in the trash and begged my not to use it when I tried talking to her about it. Anyone else had this proble with there kids? What suggestions do you have?
Cindy
I really don't have first hand experience with this, however I was worried how my two 2 year old sons and my 4 year old daughter would adjust to my new equipment as well. Fortunately they took it very well. Some of the things I did before they so me all geared up was to explain to them that mommy need the machine to help breath better when sleeping. I showed them how it goes on my face and when my daughter asked to try it. I held the mask up to her face to show her how it would be worn. After that my boys wanted to give it a try as well. The machine was NOT hooked to the mask and was not on. I just held it up to their face. I wouldn't advise doing this if you child is afraid of the equipment though. After letting them touch the mask I followed up with the "This equipment is just for mommy - do not touch speech". They pretty much act as if it's nothing unusual now. I think if I were faced with my kids being afraid of the machine I would empathize heavily with them. Letting her know that you know the equipment looks very scary may go a long way to help her accept it. I hope this helps a little.
I really don't have first hand experience with this, however I was worried how my two 2 year old sons and my 4 year old daughter would adjust to my new equipment as well. Fortunately they took it very well. Some of the things I did before they so me all geared up was to explain to them that mommy need the machine to help breath better when sleeping. I showed them how it goes on my face and when my daughter asked to try it. I held the mask up to her face to show her how it would be worn. After that my boys wanted to give it a try as well. The machine was NOT hooked to the mask and was not on. I just held it up to their face. I wouldn't advise doing this if you child is afraid of the equipment though. After letting them touch the mask I followed up with the "This equipment is just for mommy - do not touch speech". They pretty much act as if it's nothing unusual now. I think if I were faced with my kids being afraid of the machine I would empathize heavily with them. Letting her know that you know the equipment looks very scary may go a long way to help her accept it. I hope this helps a little.
Kids and CPAP
Hi, I am a grandmother and I teach Sunday School, and I find kids are curious. So what I have done is have them see the machine off, then turn it on and let them feel the air flow, then put the ramp on and let them see how is is less air and quitier....make a game, but let them place the mask by their nose and see what it is all about...the unknown is scarry to us all.
You can show them too; we do this every camping trip, how the cpap will fill up the air mattress in seconds, that is a fun thing...keep it light, but let them know it is not a toy, but "parent" needs it to sleep better so they can be there to have more fun or etc.
It will work out, the "curiousity" will wear off after a while...you can also, do what I did when granddaughter was small, I had her sleep first, then I put on the mask, and I always awoke before she did; she asked about the machine, I told her I needed it to sleep, and so on.
Good Luck,
Apnatic for almost 7 years!
You can show them too; we do this every camping trip, how the cpap will fill up the air mattress in seconds, that is a fun thing...keep it light, but let them know it is not a toy, but "parent" needs it to sleep better so they can be there to have more fun or etc.
It will work out, the "curiousity" will wear off after a while...you can also, do what I did when granddaughter was small, I had her sleep first, then I put on the mask, and I always awoke before she did; she asked about the machine, I told her I needed it to sleep, and so on.
Good Luck,
Apnatic for almost 7 years!
Thank you all so much for your suggestions Megan did much better last night with me wearing my mask she still hates it but she does not get as upset, I let her play with the mask and feel the air comming out of the hose. She helped me clean it today so hopefully it wont be long and it will be just another bed time routine for her.
Cindy
Stay at home mommy to Megan Elizabeth July 27th 2001
Stay at home mommy to Megan Elizabeth July 27th 2001
Toddler vs Cpap
I am so happy to hear things are better, it won't be long and it will be old news to have the Cpap running...what a great idea to have her help clean the mask..kids are curious, we all are afraid of something we are not familiar with, hang in there, it will all come together.
Apnatic
Apnatic
Nothin' But Blue Skies From Now On!
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bozmon
Frightened 3-year old...Try a CRAZY 19-year old!!!!
Great story...but I've got a better one from my 19-year old stepdaughter... she comes home from college and sees the cpap machine in our room next to the bed. Since I statrted using it while she was away at college, and never thought to discuss it with her, it never crosses my mind that she's even aware that it's there. A few days later, her mom and I were talking about taking a trip with her out west when she's done with college. She responds favorably, but insists we have to get 2 rooms because she can't take my snoring. My wife then explains that with the cpap machine, the snoring is gone and it will be no problem. She then responds..."Oh, is that what that thing in your room was...I thought it was some kind of kinky sex toy!"
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