CPAP machine around little kids

[PicklePod5810]

My mother-in-law recently got set up with a CPAP machine. We currently live with her, and have a 3 y/o son who loves to play with the mask. For the first week or so, I took apart the machine and put it away in its case every morning. My mother-in-law agreed that doing this was the best way to keep it safe from my son, until he learns it's not a toy. We stopped doing this because my father-in-law says taking it apart and putting it back together will damage it, and it will eventually break. I'm at my breaking point with it because he will yell at my son until he cries if he even goes near the machine. Is it ok to just put it away every morning, and put it back together when my mother-in-law goes to use it at night?

[chunkyfrog]

Can you lock the door to her room?
It's good when a child is not afraid of the equipment, but to let him get in trouble with an abusive adult is not right.
If Grandpa can't (or won't) control his temper, the situation should be avoided.

[JDS74]

Taking the hose off and emptying the water tank won't break anything.
If Grandpa won't behave, then keep putting the machine away each morning.

Have you shown your son how the machine works?
Has he seen your mom all hooked up and ready for bed?
Pehaps his curiosity will be satisfied if he gets to do those things.
He is old enough to understand that it is a special device that help Grandma to sleep better and not get sick and it is not a toy.

I don't agree that he should be allowed to play with any part of it, that sends the wrong message.

[BlackSpinner]

Putting it away is not a problem unless you move it with water in the humidifier.

Look at where it is. Can it live in a drawer that can be pulled out at night? Can you simply put a big plastic container over it ? Maybe if you just remove the hose with the mask attached, the kid will ignore it.

Remember people travel with these machines all the time. As long as it is not falling on the floor or getting water inside it is not fragile.

[jwerley]

I keep my whole setup on a tray that sits on a folding table by the bed. During the day I just put the tray with everything on it away in a cupboard, and fold up the table and put that away. Everything stays clean and out of sight.

Hope this helps!

Janice

[zoocrewphoto]

I keep mine in a little cabinet with drawers. The machine and hose fit in the middle drawer. I remove the mask and keep it in the top drawer. It could be locked if needed.

[chunkyfrog]

Just put a muzzle on grandpa!

[Bill44133]

Well it is a very expensive "toy" to be playing around with.. machine and masks.. I admit grandpa maybe a bit out of line..

The child should be taught not to play with grandma's cpap and equipment, that it is saving grandma's life and it is best leave it alone.
I don't agree that hiding is the solution.. I think teaching the importance of keeping hands to himself is best.

[bavinck]

Can you get mad at a three year old for not having enough will power to resist the tempting "toy"? Not sure you can or should. A six year old I would say you can, but a preschooler?? Just pit the machine up high when not in use, simple fix.

[chunkyfrog]

Three is too young, but Grandpa should be, unless he has diminished capacity.
If he's a danger to his grandchild, one needs to go before something bad happens.
Just shouting can mark a child if done too often and for insufficient cause.

[JaceS]

Good answer Bavinck - I agree with you 100%.

It is a combination of two answers that I would endorse:

1) Let the child know this isn't a toy for him to play with, but also to avoid temptation...
2) Put the machine on a high shelf when not in use.

If this were a firearm, or a hunting knife you wouldn't keep it out for an accident to happen; likewise take the same precaution and tuck the CPAP machine away in a safe place. At the same time instruct the very young child that it isn't a toy and is a very important piece of equipment that saves grandma's life.

I would go with both approaches at the same time, being proactive AND instructive.
Would you leave medications on a low-table? A little extra effort to "child proof" Grandma's bedroom would avoid the harsh words between Pops and youngin' too and for sure you don't want to ruin the relationship between the 2 of them over something that is an easy fix.

Wouldn't it be great if everything in life was as easy a fix?

[PicklePod5810]

Well it is a very expensive "toy" to be playing around with.. machine and masks.. I admit grandpa maybe a bit out of line..

The child should be taught not to play with grandma's cpap and equipment, that it is saving grandma's life and it is best leave it alone.
I don't agree that hiding is the solution.. I think teaching the importance of keeping hands to himself is best.

He is 3. He understands the word no, but he is 3. We ARE teaching him these things, but he's not 5. You can't just tell him it's not a toy to play with, and expect him to understand it right away. My 5 year old and 8 year old know better, but they're old enough to understand. As young as he is, the best way to deal with it is to tell him it's not a toy, and then put it out of his reach, wherever that may be. Which is why I came here. I don't know if the doctor said anything about putting it away each morning, and since I can't call her and ask, I figured here would be a good place to ask.

My father-in-law has a certain way of disciplining, and often forgets that at his age, the correction has to happen in the here and now, so that my son know that it's his playing with the machine that is wrong, because at his age he has no concept of past actions yet. My 5 y/o will know that she is in trouble for something she did 5 minutes ago, but my 3 y/o will not. So he thinks he's in trouble for laying in Grandpa and Grandma's bed, watching cartoons.

Thank you everyone for the pictures and advice on how to set it up. I have some pretty good ideas on how we can set it up now

[chunkyfrog]

It's lovely to be with family for the holidays--over the long term, though, it can get stressful.
I hope you have a Merry Christmas.

[archangle]

Take the water tank out. You're supposed to do that every day any way. Don't move the machine without removing the tank. Then put everything out of reach.

If you want to take the hose off the machine or the mask every morning, that's not a problem. Learn how to disconnect the hose the right way, and it's fairly easy. You don't pull or twist the hose connection, you sort of bend the connection so that one side of the hose slides off the end of the connector.

The biggest risk is turning the machine over and spilling the water into the machine. Take the tank out and the risk of this is much reduced. Other than that, make sure he can't knock it off the table and make it fall.

[Stormynights]

Last year we had people staying with us with 2 year old twins. When I was home they were not allowed to play unsupervised in my bedroom. When I was at work they did as they pleased. Small children have to be constantly supervised. I can't see a 3 year old quietly laying in bed watching cartoons for more than 15 minutes without trying to find something to play with.