How long a needle for IM in a non-walking 2.5 yo?

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He is normal sized...14.5 kg, 34" tall.

Pharmacy keeps handing out 5/8" for him, they say that is what they always use for peds thigh site.....I suspect that is not enough to guarantee a true IM since he is a bit chunky (no eating problems!)

I think maybe 7/8 or 1" would be better.

?????

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Specializes in Pediatric ER.
he is normal sized...14.5 kg, 34" tall.

pharmacy keeps handing out 5/8" for him, they say that is what they always use for peds thigh site.....i suspect that is not enough to guarantee a true im since he is a bit chunky (no eating problems!)

i think maybe 7/8 or 1" would be better.

?????

without seeing him i can't say for certain, but for a child that size i usually use a 22g 1".

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Specializes in pediatric ER.

I know you posted this a bit ago, but I worked in a pediatric doctor's office for awhile and we always used 25g 5/8". If the kid was very heavy, we would use a 1", still 25g... It's really just a preference... but I stuck quite a few chunky little dudes with those 25g 5/8" and still felt that rice crispies feeling crunch when you get it into the muscle. (I hate that feeling, ugh, but at least you know it's in the right place!)

Best of luck!

EDIT: what med are you giving? If it's just an immunization, you could do it in the delt. Just a thought

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yuck I know that rice krispy feeling gives shudders, but then like you said it is in the right place...

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