How do you get young kids to take covid tests?

[qubitasaurus]

We have compulsory testing, if you come in contact with a case you can be issued a mandate to test every day for the next week. Unfortunately my daughter's kindergarten has cases (it is clearly spreading inside the kindegarten) so all the tinny tykes are on compulsory testing. Any really good ideas for getting head strong toddlers to do nasal swab tests?

 

[icy_jade]

My kids stick the nasal swab into the nose themselves. The first time my husband did with them ie he did as well/demo-ed how it should be done and thereafter they know to do it when needed.

I’ve also heard of a saliva version but that type of test kit doesn’t seem to be available in Singapore.

 

[wildcat03]

We call it a "boogie check" and I demonstrate on myself (including a mid-swab sneeze for effect) before I swab my toddler. She still screams, but less. I also don't surprise her with it - I warn her it's coming the night before and then a few minutes before.

 

[kenny]

If all else fails ...
(Just kidding)

 

[qubitasaurus]

My kids stick the nasal swab into the nose themselves. The first time my husband did with them ie he did as well/demo-ed how it should be done and thereafter they know to do it when needed.

I’ve also heard of a saliva version but that type of test kit doesn’t seem to be available in Singapore.

Thanks I'm guessing we will have to work towards this one. Eventually I'm pretty sure this will be the way to go. At the moment she is kind of OK holding on to it at the same time as us (but she recoils when it goes up her nose). No luck actually getting her to do it by herself, she just runs off with the swab if I give it to her.

We call it a "boogie check" and I demonstrate on myself (including a mid-swab sneeze for effect) before I swab my toddler. She still screams, but less. I also don't surprise her with it - I warn her it's coming the night before and then a few minutes before.

I'll try telling her we are spring cleaning . We tried doing it in front of her first, but I haven't tried showing her other children doing it. It's possible I can find a YouTube video or something and get her to do it with the video. (At least this is how we finally got her to brush her teeth. So it's possible normalising it in the context of others doing it may work.).


@kenny lol was going for versions where I don't put her in a headlock as we could be doing it frequently for the long haul. But I have heard form other parents that this is the most effectual approach. I'm just really keen to avoid it.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Have you tried bribery
$$$$$$$$$'s talk

 

[FL_runner]

I bribed my toddler with a lollipop and 10 mins of iPad time

 

[qubitasaurus]

Have you tried bribery
$$$$$$$$$'s talk

Haha yes, she was getting Easter eggs for swab tests. But she's still afraid of the swab (the easter egg worked well while it was novel and distracting and made her not focus on the test. But it's not working so well now she is expecting it.).

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I bribed my toddler with a lollipop and 10 mins of iPad time

10 min ?
That wont work for the next one
Kids are learning the value of things ever day you know ?

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

Haha yes, she was getting Easter eggs for swab tests. But she's still afraid of the swab (the easter egg worked well while it was novel and distracting and made her not focus on the test. But it's not working so well now she is expecting it.).

I feel sorry for them
The jab hurts a lot less

 

[AllAboardTheBlingTrain]

don’t have kids of my own, but do have young (<5yo) kids in my family and my friends. They all handle getting tested reasonably well. First time they had to be tested their moms walked them through it over the course of a few days, showed them videos of what is done etc. Then of course lots of praise for being a good child / big boy/girl after the swab. They don’t like it but they tolerate it without restraint. Also the parents and family never makes a big deal of the test (no “ugh I don’t want to get this / why do I need to do this” or reacting visibly with pain/discomfort as much as possible). Occasionally bribing if all else fails ( “we need to do the swab to enter the ice cream place! Let’s do the swab and we’ll get ice cream” etc)

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

My son is 6 and lets me swab him (nose and throat) with no issue. BUT he's also well used to being compliant with medical needs. I have always been honest with him and take time to explain things to him which can help a long way with medical needs.

 

[Daisys and Diamonds]

I was a sick baby/ small child through to the first few years of school
i would scream going to the doctors
Our family GP who was actually a lovelly man asked my parents if we wanted to swap to one of the other doc's at his practice i got so bad

I still hate going to the doctor and have to be basically be on death's door before ill go
I also hate going to the hospital (or the vet) with others - its the smell and also suffering

i feel sorry for the little kiddies who don't like neadles or the swabs
If you have to resort to bribery make it a really good deal for the kiddie

 

[qubitasaurus]

Thanks the videos actually helped, most of the content on kids taking covid tests is pretty dry but she stayed distracted long enough to get through it.

We usually explain things with her and reason with her, but she is not automatically acquiescent. She usually takes in all the info, asks a lot of questions and then makes up her own mind. Most things can still be negotiated. Right at the moment if she doesn't take the covid test then she is legally not allowed to leave the house. And she thinks this is a brilliant idea (spend all day at home with her toys, as apposed to being schlepped off to preschool). So I don't have the tactical advantage I usually rely on.

 

[Asscherhalo_lover]

Thanks the videos actually helped, most of the content on kids taking covid tests is pretty dry but she stayed distracted long enough to get through it.

We usually explain things with her and reason with her, but she is not automatically acquiescent. She usually takes in all the info, asks a lot of questions and then makes up her own mind. Most things can still be negotiated. Right at the moment if she doesn't take the covid test then she is legally not allowed to leave the house. And she thinks this is a brilliant idea (spend all day at home with her toys, as apposed to being schlepped off to preschool). So I don't have the tactical advantage I usually rely on.

If my son is ever resistant (he tried not taking his allergy medication at about 3YO) all fun things go away. If he was to refuse something to basically attempt to stay home from school it would be a VERY boring day. No TV, no tablets, no toys, etc.

 

[Mreader]

If all else fails ...
(Just kidding)

Actually not so much. We had to pin my kid down. :/ He’s ok with it now and does it himself but there were quite a few wrestling matches before (he’s been tested soooo many times now). Bribes never worked lol.

 

[MaisOuiMadame]

We have compulsory testing, if you come in contact with a case you can be issued a mandate to test every day for the next week. Unfortunately my daughter's kindergarten has cases (it is clearly spreading inside the kindegarten) so all the tinny tykes are on compulsory testing. Any really good ideas for getting head strong toddlers to do nasal swab tests?

I feel you! I've had to test mine almost every day for 6 weeks now...( Varying combos if my kids 2-13 y/old)...

My sister used to do the saliva tests on her 2.5 y/o until they actually had Covid and those didn't show , while the nasal swab tests even showed with just a bit of material from not very far inside ( not data, just anecdote, but I'm not using those anymore).

For me it's calm but firm "were going to this, we have to, I'm sorry", for my 8y/o and up.

2.5 y/o and 5 y/o: cartoon (they are usually not allowed to watch TV except on weekends ) and a bribe. It's easier when it isn't me. I'll hold their hands for comfort and tell them to concentrate on squeezing them hard. My DH or our au pair (trained paramedic) will do the sampling then. AND their favourite treat, visibly in front of them.

Atm it's lollipops and they never have them normally ( cavities...blech)
But I've got no choice.

Wrestling them down at 2 y/o would only make my kids RUN the next time. In my particular case it's essential that I'm calm &firm and they know it's going to be done anyway. It works for us now, but YMMV.... Best of luck!!



ETA: in my household it helps that there are lots of older siblings, I think. The smaller girls have seen it on the older siblings often. And they will be there to praise them as well.....maybe get a bestie/cousin on facetime?

 

[qubitasaurus]

Actually not so much. We had to pin my kid down. :/ He’s ok with it now and does it himself but there were quite a few wrestling matches before (he’s been tested soooo many times now). Bribes never worked lol.

I really feel for you, I had to pin mine down to take vaccinations a few times. By the time she was 2 she recognized the building (hospital wing), and then the specific nurses room where the vaccination was administered. Often there was a que, and getting her to sit outside the room and wait her turn used to leave me stressed and exhausted.

I feel you! I've had to test mine almost every day for 6 weeks now...( Varying combos if my kids 2-13 y/old)...

My sister used to do the saliva tests on her 2.5 y/o until they actually had Covid and those didn't show , while the nasal swab tests even showed with just a bit of material from not very far inside ( not data, just anecdote, but I'm not using those anymore).

For me it's calm but firm "were going to this, we have to, I'm sorry", for my 8y/o and up.

2.5 y/o and 5 y/o: cartoon (they are usually not allowed to watch TV except on weekends ) and a bribe. It's easier when it isn't me. I'll hold their hands for comfort and tell them to concentrate on squeezing them hard. My DH or our au pair (trained paramedic) will do the sampling then. AND their favourite treat, visibly in front of them.

Atm it's lollipops and they never have them normally ( cavities...blech)
But I've got no choice.

Wrestling them down at 2 y/o would only make my kids RUN the next time. In my particular case it's essential that I'm calm &firm and they know it's going to be done anyway. It works for us now, but YMMV.... Best of luck!!



ETA: in my household it helps that there are lots of older siblings, I think. The smaller girls have seen it on the older siblings often. And they will be there to praise them as well.....maybe get a bestie/cousin on facetime?

Thanks, this was really helpful, it makes me feel better about how we are handling it -- she's now getting screen time to distract her from the test, and a big chocolate Easter egg to hold on to (it's not ideal, but she looks forward to hiding the Easter egg and playing hotter, colder after the test is over).

We dont have any extended family in her generation, but she has a couple of friends who must also be testing regularly (but contacting them requires the other family's maid to pick up her phone, and mornings can be too busy for this to be realistic). You are right though that this is likely to be something super positive if we can get it to work. She's currently intimidated by the swab, and I need a way to change her perspective so she perceives it as something she can do.

If my son is ever resistant (he tried not taking his allergy medication at about 3YO) all fun things go away. If he was to refuse something to basically attempt to stay home from school it would be a VERY boring day. No TV, no tablets, no toys, etc.

I have to admit, I cant bring myself to punish her for it. She weighed up all the evidence and came to the logical conclusion -- something we always tell her to do. But yes I agree if she is endangering herself, or her baby brother, or generally behaving in a way which is destructive; then she gets put in the naughty corner with no toys.