Mothers/Nurses HELP

[graceanne]

How do I keep my son from playing with his stitches! I'm about at my wits end. I have a rag tied around his foot, and that seems to be working for now. But last night, after he'd been in bed for a half an hour, he woke up. Instead of calling for us, like he normally does, he started playing with them. He almost tore one out, then hes tarted crying.

 

[alice_underneath]

How do I keep my son from playing with his stitches! I'm about at my wits end. I have a rag tied around his foot, and that seems to be working for now. But last night, after he'd been in bed for a half an hour, he woke up. Instead of calling for us, like he normally does, he started playing with them. He almost tore one out, then hes tarted crying.

Hi, Graceanne.

There are various anti-itch creams or sprays available that might reduce the urge to play with the stitches.

At night, I have heard of people putting mittens on their children's hands, tied around the wrist with a string. (Obviously, the string is tied tight enough to prevent pulling off the mitten, but not so tight that it cuts the flow of blood.)

Good luck.

Alice

 

[catalina_francisco]

Hmmm, another little masochist in the making Grace?!!

Catalina

 

[Vixandra]

Get a roll of cotton (like you'd use to secure a bandage) and wrap the world out of his foot, starting at the toe end and going up. Go through a couple of rolls if you need to. Put enough batting on there and he won't be able to get to the stitches. Tape to close it, I'd suggest 1", and its near impossible to get off.

Or, if you can get it, the wrap that only sticks to itself... can't recall the name right now. Kurlex I think. Anyway- that stuff works wonders! Great for keeping infants from pulling out thier IV lines (what we used when I was still working on a nursing floor).

 

[His_pita]

You could bribe him with cookies, but I bet you ate them all.

 

[DVS]

How do I keep my son from playing with his stitches!

I fell and hit my head on the corner of our front step, when I was 4. I had to have quite a few stitches to close that sucker up. And, being on my forehead, right above my left eye, it was easy to get to.

I didn't like anything foreign in my body...still don't. That night, I laid there and pulled them all out. I do remember there being a lot of blood, but it was dark, and I couldn't see it.

Well, my mother didn't appreciate it a lot, and we went back to the doctor, the next day. More stitches, to again close that sucker up. And, again, that night, I pulled those out, too. I just didn't want that crap in my forehead.

We went back to the doctor again, and they decided to just close it up with some kind of fancy bandaid. I didn't mind that so much, because I knew it wasn't "in" my body.

But, because of all of the stitch pulling I did, I have a very nice little X shaped scar on my forehead. And, I think it's rather cool.

Don't be too upset with the boy. All strong, manly men don't care for stitches in our body. Looks like he's on a fast track to manliness. I can see it now..he'll be pulling his shoe and sock off to show all the girls his manly scar.

 

[@}-}rebecca----]

I can see it now..he'll be pulling his shoe and sock off to show all the girls his manly scar.

awwwwww ............

Good luck grace and for real little children I am seconding the response of Vixandra

 

[snowy ciara]

I'm sorry, Gracie, did you say something? I was distracted by that manly scar on DVS' head.....

Seriously, that gauze tape that sticks to itself is a good idea, cause it's a pain in the butt to get off. I don't have kids, but I used it on Eeyore after she played kitty soccer with a piece of broken glass. She had stitches in both her front paws and I made mittens and she couldn't even use her pointy little teeth to chew it off! I also recommend petty bribery. Let him pick the breakfast cartoons or something for every night he leaves them alone.

hugs and kisses for you and the Mini-K.

 

[graceanne]

I've tried everything but the cobain (that's what the gauz stuff that sticks to itself is called). Daniel is smarter than the average kid, and figured most ofthem out. It took him a while but he managed to get the tape off the gauz that K put on him, and then the gauz and was playing with it in a half an hour. Right now I've got a long rag that I keep tying around it. It takes him a while to untie the knot, and most of the times one of his sisters catches him. I'm gonna go buy som cobaine.

 

[brioche]

I've tried everything but the cobain (that's what the gauz stuff that sticks to itself is called). Daniel is smarter than the average kid, and figured most ofthem out. It took him a while but he managed to get the tape off the gauz that K put on him, and then the gauz and was playing with it in a half an hour. Right now I've got a long rag that I keep tying around it. It takes him a while to untie the knot, and most of the times one of his sisters catches him. I'm gonna go buy som cobaine.

I'm sorry, how old is he again? Is he old enough to know that it will hurt? You could always tell him that if he pulls them out you'll have to go back to the doctor and get them re-done.

There's always bondage mitts...

 

[DVS]

I've tried everything but the cobain (that's what the gauz stuff that sticks to itself is called). Daniel is smarter than the average kid, and figured most ofthem out. It took him a while but he managed to get the tape off the gauz that K put on him, and then the gauz and was playing with it in a half an hour. Right now I've got a long rag that I keep tying around it. It takes him a while to untie the knot, and most of the times one of his sisters catches him. I'm gonna go buy som cobaine.

Tried plaster?

 

[Blushing Bottom]

I have a very nice little X shaped scar on my forehead. And, I think it's rather cool.

You didn't hang with Charlie did you?

 

[brioche]

You can also wrap his hands too...with his foot and his hands wrapped it would take him even longer...he might fall back asleep before he gets done.

 

[DVS]

You didn't hang with Charlie did you?

His was a cross and in the center of his forehead. And, mine is an X. Also, my eyes don't bug out like his do.

 

[graceanne]

I'm sorry, how old is he again?

He's two.

Is he old enough to know that it will hurt? You could always tell him that if he pulls them out you'll have to go back to the doctor and get them re-done.

I don't think he'd understand. And even if he did, I doubt that he'd remember more than a few minutes. He doesn't have the longest attention span. Frankly I, and his dr, will not be surprised if he's ADHD. A friend of mine said that he's like a squirrell on speed.

There's always bondage mitts...

LOL Might work . . . but if htey make bondage mitts in children's sizes I DON'T WANNA KNOW. *shudder*

You can also wrap his hands too...with his foot and his hands wrapped it would take him even longer...he might fall back asleep before he gets done.

I think I'm gonna try that. It'll do one of two things. (A) work or (B) piss him off so much he won't sleep. If B happens I'll just take em off him. I'm actually hoping to talk K into putting D in bed with him tonight, so he can keep an eye on him till he's sound asleep. Then I'll move him.

 

[snowy ciara]

How's the baby foot?

 

[Xelebes]

What cut is this? I bet this is not like the time with me and that nasty nasty axe.

 

[graceanne]

He's managed to rip out two stitches. But he's stopped fiddling with it. I guess he just wanted those two stitches ripped out. But I'm keeping it clean and dry, and that's helping. On the other hand he's acting like he's sick, so I'm watching it pretty closely.

And X - my daughter got a glass tea set for Christmas. She left a piece out and he stepped on it, and sliced open his foot.

 

[Xelebes]

Ouch, but not as bad as the axe. Actually come to think of it - the tea set would have been worse.

 

[snowy ciara]

Right, cause now he has an irritated big sister AND a big old owie...

 

[Xelebes]

No, I'm thinking the cut by the tea cup set would have been larger though not as deep as the awesound I recieved. I'm also thinking since that the shock value of the pain from the glass was not as great as the shock value of an axe planting itself on your big toe.

 

[DVS]

No, I'm thinking the cut by the tea cup set would have been larger though not as deep as the awesound I recieved. I'm also thinking since that the shock value of the pain from the glass was not as great as the shock value of an axe planting itself on your big toe.

THen again, when speaking of shock value, remember he's only two years old.

 

[graceanne]

No, I'm thinking the cut by the tea cup set would have been larger though not as deep as the awesound I recieved. I'm also thinking since that the shock value of the pain from the glass was not as great as the shock value of an axe planting itself on your big toe.

Actually he only got three stitches. I'm not sure about the shock value, K was watching him when it happened. And as DVS pointed out, he's two. I doubt he even remembers how he hurt himself by now.

 

[DVS]

Actually he only got three stitches. I'm not sure about the shock value, K was watching him when it happened. And as DVS pointed out, he's two. I doubt he even remembers how he hurt himself by now.

Such a manly little guy. He's already brushed it off as if it was nothin' at all.

His name wouldn't be Tex or Duke or Hank or Dutch, by chance? Those are manly names.

 

[graceanne]

Such a manly little guy. He's already brushed it off as if it was nothin' at all.

His name wouldn't be Tex or Duke or Hank or Dutch, by chance? Those are manly names.

Nope. But if high pain tolerance makes you manly, he is. When he was 18 mo old he burned his hand while we were camping. Since he didn't cry I figured he hadn't touched the burner like it looked, and that he'd just gotten close. The next day his hand was blistered almost twice it's size. I took him into the drs, and their were two spots where he had third degree burns. He didn't cry once.