How to help your child use a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer
Follow these steps for helping your child use a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer.
Shake the inhaler for 5 seconds. Remove the cap.
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slide 1 of 8, Shake the inhaler for 5 seconds. Remove the cap.,
Hold the inhaler upright with the mouthpiece at the bottom. Then place the mouthpiece of the inhaler into the spacer.
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slide 2 of 8, Hold the inhaler upright with the mouthpiece at the bottom. Then place the mouthpiece of the inhaler into the spacer.,
Have your child stand or sit up straight. With the spacer a short distance from their mouth, they should breathe out slowly and completely.
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slide 3 of 8, Have your child stand or sit up straight. With the spacer a short distance from their mouth, they should breathe out slowly and completely.,
Have your child place the spacer's mouthpiece in their mouth. They should close their lips tightly around the mouthpiece and keep their tongue away from the opening.
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slide 4 of 8, Have your child place the spacer's mouthpiece in their mouth. They should close their lips tightly around the mouthpiece and keep their tongue away from the opening.,
Have your child press down on the inhaler to spray 1 puff of medicine into the spacer. They should start breathing in slowly and deeply. Have them hold their breath for 5 to 10 seconds and then remove the spacer's mouthpiece from their mouth. Then they should breathe out slowly.
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slide 5 of 8, Have your child press down on the inhaler to spray 1 puff of medicine into the spacer. They should start breathing in slowly and deeply. Have them hold their breath for 5 to 10 seconds and then remove the spacer's mouthpiece from their mouth. Then they should breathe out slowly.,
If your child needs another puff of medicine, wait 1 minute between puffs.
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slide 6 of 8, If your child needs another puff of medicine, wait 1 minute between puffs.,
Remove the inhaler from the spacer, and replace their caps.
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slide 7 of 8, Remove the inhaler from the spacer, and replace their caps.,
Have your child rinse their mouth with water if the inhaler has corticosteroids, such as fluticasone. (Controller inhalers usually have corticosteroids.) Do not let your child swallow the water.
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slide 8 of 8, Have your child rinse their mouth with water if the inhaler has corticosteroids, such as fluticasone. (Controller inhalers usually have corticosteroids.) Do not let your child swallow the water.,
Current as of: May 1, 2026
Author: WebMD Ignite Staff
Clinical Review Board
All WebMD Ignite education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.