3 year old won't let me get a splinter out

[Anonymous]

he fell while playing on the playground yesterday and he has a splinter. he won't let me get it out. what would you do?

[Anonymous]

Do an art project with Elmers glue as you are doing it let them cover their hands in glue -assuming it is in their hand, then when the glue is dry peel it off - he wil think it is fun, and it will pull the splinter out. If not just suck it up and it will grow out eventually.

[Anonymous]

If it is wood from treated lumber, you need to get it out. The stuff they use to treat the lumber causes major infections when you get splinters. One of the things I do to make it easier is to have my kids soak in the tub for awhile before I try to them them out. Sometimes the splinter even comes out on its own.

[Anonymous]

The stuff (arsenic) you are referring to in treated wood is not used anymore since 2003.

[Anonymous]

I wish I could find my thread on splinters from last year for you. Bottom line - we spent about $3K getting the splinter out. (OK insurance covered a bunch of this). My son would not let me get it out and it became and encapsulated foreign body. He needed surgery to remove it! (the pain of getting it out is a lot less than the thought of your child having to get general anesthesia).

It is my understanding that if you glob it with something like neosporin and bandaid it will pull it out. Do not let it sit!

[Anonymous]

We tried for a day to get a stubborn splinter out but with my son being uncooperative, we just couldn't get it out of his hand. We took him to the pediatrician and they were able to get it right out with some sort of instrument they have. If you can't get it out after trying for a bit and it's on the larger side, call his doctor.

[Anonymous]

Some ideas here:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/61076.page#439425

I would probably go with some combination of: Epsom salt soak plus antibacterial ointment overnight to see if it works its way out to the surface, then some more soaking, Motrin, a great DVD and some desireable treat as a reward for sitting still while you get it out.

[Anonymous]

We had an extra, extra long bath followed by a DVD before bed, which is a treat, while sucking on a lollipop, another unheard of treat, while I dug it out with a pin and tweezers. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

If he won't let you get it out, OP, you can take him to the doctor and the doctor will do it.

[Anonymous]

If you have a deep sleeper, wait until he or she is asleep.

[Anonymous]

I don't think a 3yo is stronger than his mother....
Just hold the child and get it out if all the bargaining doesn't work.
It had worked for us through 3 children.

[Anonymous]

we just did this. LONG bath. candy and movie. first try pushing it out by pushing your fingernail in an upward motion on the skin. I may take a while and few trys. If you don't succeed have the doctor do it. They are painful.

[Anonymous]

Try a piece of clear scotch tape, sometimes that helps it to come out. The soaks are an awesome idea! And yeah, just ask him if he wants Mommy to do it or the Dr.

[Anonymous]

Totally get it out now. Pretend you are "just looking at it" if you have to. Have DH or someone help you get/keep his attention. With one hand, hold DC's hand/finger. Try to hold (lightly "pinch", but don't really pinch, or it will hurt) the splinter area. With your dominant hand (the one until now secretly holding the tweezers), pluck from the "open side" (where it went in) of the splinter wound. It can be done "in one fell swoop". Try not to lose your opportunity window!

Be sure to get the whole thing.

Have a cotton ball of hydrogen peroxide (it bleaches, so don't put it on anything that you mind stained) ready to quickly dab clean the area afterward.

It CAN be done. Let us know.

[Anonymous]

I did this twice in the last 2 weeks. One parent holds the child down other gets it out. Then I let son use his doctor equipment to get a "splinter" out of mommy. Not all splinters are created equal. I have had to have 2 splinters removed with surgery for myself. Not general, but Novocaine. Soaking can help, but you may still have to go in there with tweezers alcohol and a needle. You tube videos to watch may help. They helped afterward.