Children are always unaware of little hazards that can hurt them during their play and a splinter wound is the most common result of those. There are many materials such as wood, glass, plastic and metal that can break into fine splinters and make it into your toddler’s skin as they play around. Here is what to do when you find yourself in such scenario.
Splinters aren’t harmful by themselves but they can make way for certain harmful bacteria to enter your child’s body and cause infections. If your child’s vaccinations are not up to date, there is always a risk of tetanus. It’s a potentially fatal infection to babies caused by a bacterium that enters the blood through a wound. The DTaP vaccine protects against tetanus is normally given around 2, 4, and 6 months. It is also given again between 15 to 18 months and again between 4 and 6 years and again between ages 11 to 13. Booster shots are recommended after that every 10 years for the rest of the life.
Removing splinters from children’s feet might not be as simple as you would assume. The child most likely won’t co-operate fully and there’s a chance you could end up pushing the splinter deeper. Therefore, to begin with, get some help and ask someone to hold the child as they will inevitably squirm when you try to pull out the splinter. Clean your hands and the wound before you begin and sterilize your instruments such as tweezers, needles, and clippers and so on. Stay calm and do not lose patience, it might add to your child’s fear. While seeing you calm, on the other hand, makes them feel secure and cooperate. Once the splinter is out, apply an antibacterial cream to the wound.
Here are some useful methods on how to get a splinter out of a toddler:
Most splinters can be pulled out by tweezers with some help from a needle. Here is how to do it:
You will need the Drawing salve or Ichthammol ointment for this procedure and a band-aid.
Prepare a paste using ¼ teaspoon of baking soda and water. Apply it over the wound and cover with a band aid overnight. Open the band-aid after a day and you may find the splinter sticking to the band-aid.
If you can’t find a pair of tweezers in time, use a cello tape and stick it to the wound over the splinter. Pull out the tape and you will find that the tape pulls out the splinter as it peels.
Although it seems like a bad idea to glue a lodged splinter to the skin, it works well with white wood or craft glue. Apply some white glue over the wound and splinter and allow it to dry. Peel off the glue and it pulls out the splinter along with it.
This is effective when large splinters are stuck in your child’s foot in places with some callus such as the heel or the ball of the foot.
The easiest way to stop a splinter from hurting is to numb the area with ice immediately. Along with numbing the pain, it also distracts your child from the pain as you work to remove the splinter from the skin. Once removed, wash the area clean, apply an antibacterial cream and cover it with a bandage.
If it’s a small splinter that isn’t causing too much pain, you can try leaving it there for a few days. Soaking their hands or feet in warm water for a while will help the splinter work itself out as the warm water loosens the skin around it. However, if the splinter is big and is embedded firmly in the flesh or if the object is curved and can’t be pulled out, it’s best to leave it for the doctor to take care of.
Here are some ways you can minimize your child’s injuries:
Most splinters can be extracted at home with simple methods mentioned above but sometimes baby splinter removal needs professional help. You should consult a doctor under these conditions:
Unless it is a serious wound, most splinters can be safely removed and treated at home.