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Handling Your
Toddler's Asthma
What's a Parent to Do When Their Child is Diagnosied with Asthma? By Carma Haley Shoemaker
"Toddlers are usually given breathing treatments while sleeping," says Dr. Aljadeff. "The breathing treatments combined with a daily dose of either a bronchodilator to prevent the airway from tightening up or a corticosteroid has proven to be a very good means of maintenance and control for asthma in toddlers."
Parents such as Cooper often wonder if there is a greater risk for complications of asthma in toddlers due to their age and size. Dr. Aljadeff says with proper treatment and following instructions given by a pediatrician, parents should have no cause for concern regarding the maintenance and control of their toddler's asthma.
"Younger children or toddlers will have no more complications then older children would," says Dr. Aljadeff. "Parents need to educate themselves on their child's condition, listen to their pediatrician's recommendations and instructions and ask questions if they arise."
Yvette De Luca's daughter suffers from asthma. "We've had an unofficial diagnosis since she was 6 months old. I have talked to my pediatrician about it and continue to communicate with him quite often," says De Luca, of Phoenix, Ariz. "We give her breathing treatments and keep track of how she does with them. [Toddlers] can still do the things they want and need to do. As long as parents are keeping track of their meds and monitoring their breathing, toddlers can be normal in every way."
Asthma is a treatable illness, even for toddlers. Toddlers with asthma continue to grow, learn and play just as those without it will.
"Toddlers are very curious," says Dr. Aljadeff. "Ask any parent of a toddler with or without asthma and they will tell you that there is nothing that slows them down. Parents should let their toddlers be toddlers. Just be prepared. The only restrictions there truly are for toddlers with asthma are the ones the parents have."