Tips for removal of splinters in children

The following are suggestions gathered from the pages of miscellaneous kid newsgroups. If you have any suggestions, please forward them to kjslivergripper@yahoo.com

If you have questions about the suggestions presented here, please consult a physician.

> > > What is your favorite trick for removing splinters?

"I wait until my kiddo falls asleep then gently use the tweezers. He's always amazed at how the splinter "disappeared" overnight and usually doesn't believe me when I tell him I took it out! Of course, he sleeps pretty soundly... might not work if you have a light sleeper!"

"My best advice is to eliminate the trauma by rubbing the area with an ice-cube to make it nice and numb - then be ready with the tweezers while the child happily munches on its own ice-cube, which nicely provides another distraction for the child from the task at hand. I must credit my G.P. with this great idea!"

"Spread a bit of Elmer's glue over the splinter. Let it dry (this only takes a minute or two). Then CAREFULLY peel off the glue from the skin (it will roll off, just like rubber cement does). If you're lucky, the glue will pull the splinter out along with it."

"Put a drop of iodine over the area where the splinter is. It will stain the splinter very dark and you'll be able to see it much more easily."

"Have the child hold an ice cube over the splinter. This numbs the skin and they won't feel the tweezers. If they're old enough not to choke, let them suck on the ice cube after they've numbed the skin. This will provide additional distraction as you work on the splinter."

"If they're old enough, let them try to get the splinter out THEMSELVES (with you keeping an eye on them, of course). For a lot of kids, for some reason, they'll be very willing to poke and prod and dig on their own skin, even if they wouldn't let you within ten feet of them!"

"I've heard that giving them a bath sometimes helps -- if it's their bath time anyway, I guess; I can't see running an unnecessary bath in the middle of the day just to get out a splinter! But supposedly it's easier to get the splinter out when the skin is all warm and soft from the tub."

"Do it the way we do in my house, whenever possible ... get DAD to get the splinter out, while MOM goes out on the porch so she doesn't hear the crying! (grin)"

"Try putting a plaster on - leaving it until the skin has gone soggy before removing will pull shallow splinters out."