11/10/2026
This is a great idea!⤵️
Got Asthma? Inhaler + Spacer, the Right Way
Parent-to-parent confession: my kids’ inhalers have Sharpie all over them, and I do that on purpose! 🖊️
When your child needs their inhaler, it might be Grandma, the babysitter, a coach or the school nurse holding it. So I write the directions right on the inhaler, like “2 puffs with spacer, every 4 hrs as needed for cough/wheeze.” That way every caregiver knows exactly what to do, even in a stressful moment. Does your child have more than 1 inhaler? It is even more important to write on them to keep track!
Using a spacer (the tube or chamber that attaches to the inhaler) gets more medicine into the lungs and less into the mouth and throat. Here’s how to use one:
1️⃣ Shake the inhaler well and take off the cap.
2️⃣ Attach it to the spacer. Littles use a mask, and big kids can use a mouthpiece.
3️⃣ Seal it. Make sure the mask fits snugly over the nose and mouth, or that lips are sealed around the mouthpiece.
4️⃣ Press once. It’s one puff at a time, never two at once!
5️⃣ Breathe. Little ones take 5 slow big breaths.
6️⃣ Press again (most directions state 2 puffs) the 5 big breaths. Tip-if you hear it whistle, breathe a little more gently.
7️⃣ Always brush your teeth after a controller (steroid) inhaler. No toothbrush handy? Rinse and spit after.
✨ Bonus tips:
Wash the spacer about once a week with warm, soapy water and let it air dry.
Keep an eye on the dose counter (typically back of the inhailer) so you’re never surprised by an empty inhaler!
💬 Your turn: What’s YOUR trick for keeping track of medicines with all the caregivers in your child’s life? Share it below so we can all learn from each other! 👇
Asthma can be tricky, but with the right medication and plan, your child can do anything they set their mind to! 💚
Picture of unglamourous - but real life - in the Mead household.
- Dr. Mead
