Please frustrated mom needing help!

I am going to save the long story and get down to it. My daughter is 7. We have been trying for years to get her to use her CPAP. We just recently was able to get her fitted for a new mask. Very child friendly. Of course she will not wear it. She says it stinks. I have washed and washed it and she still complains. Any thoughts on what I can do to get the plastic smell out of it? Any thoughts on how to get her to wear it all night?

Hi Frustratedmom, As mentioned in a previous post by DanM perhaps you can try CPAP aromatherapy to help mask the plastic smell? Previous post: Manufacturers generally do not recommend adding oils directly to the water chamber of your CPAP machine. The oils can cause buildup in your water chamber, and some oils may actually damage the material the chamber is made from. There are other ways to add aromatherapy to your treatment. If you Google CPAP aromatherapy, you should find some results. Several of the systems involve placing a small disc or wafer (usually cotton or some other absorbent material) with a few drops of the aromatherapy product near the intake on the CPAP machine.

Hi Frustratedmom. I'm happy to hear you were able to find a child-friendly mask for your daughter. How recently did you obtain the mask? I ask because it is not uncommon for some masks to have a plastic or chemical-type smell to them for a few days after they come out of the package. Sleep mentions in the post above about aromatherapy available for CPAP machines, but you may consider asking your home care provider if soaking the mask in a solution of vinegar and water might help. There are also cleaning sprays available that are scented. You can do a quick internet search for CPAP mask spray and should find a couple of options. Hope this helps!

When washing the soft material on a mask, don't use anti-bacterial wipes. They break down the soft material. (Don't ask how I found out!). I suggest mild unscented hand soap then try the other things suggested if you child still smells the mask.