Splinters

Any ideas on how to get a splinter out of a 4yo. It's not very deep
but he won't let us near it with a needle or tweezers. Any other
ideas.

Shelley...

dragonlady...

Thre are times when "won't let us near it" isn't an option. It may take
two people -- one to hold him down, one to do the medically necessary
thing -- but there are just times when one has to do what is needed,
whether or not the child is interested in cooperating.

Having said that, soaking it may help.

But it will be MUCH worse if it begins to fester.

Thanks for all the suggestions. When I picked up DS yesterday from
daycare it had gotten a little bit infected. I could tell there was
some pus around it. I made sure he had an extra long bath and then
waited until he went to sleep. True to form, my "log" slept right
through the splinter extraction procedure :). It was really easy to
get out and this morning it was fine.

This method might not have worked on my YS as he is a light sleeper so
I'll have to try some of these other methods on him if he gets a
splinter.

Thanks all,
Shelley

Welches...

Really, I tell my 5yo that if she soesn't let me then she'll have to get the
doctor to take it out.
It's worked since she was about 2.5yo, and she's now very good about it.
Debbie

just me...

soak soak soak in warm as he can stand it water with liberal amount of salt.
repeat repeat repeat until it is drawn out. btdtbtts. DS was/is just like
that. only repeated events where he found he liked sitting and soaking the
body part less than the quicker dig out with a sharp object. He now is not
thrilled with the later method, but he will sit still for it and only make a
few vauge noises of displeasure.

-Aula, mom to DS10.5

PattyMomVA...

Why not just leave it in? Seriously, I don't know the answer to this, but I
can't see the harm in waiting until it works itself out. I've done this
with both kids for small, shallow splinters. We skip the drama.

-Patty, mom of 1+2

-L....

Put a piece of scotch tape over it before he goes to bed. When he
wakes up, the splinter should come out with the tape. Starving it of
oxygen causes the wound to accumulate serum which will cause it to come
out.
-L.

Sandie Hudson...

Glue sometimes works. Put Elmers or similar on it and peel it off when it
dries. If there is enough splinter sticking out, it will come out.