What is the first step in administering eye drops to a child?

The first step in administering eye drops to a child is asking the child to look upward. This position is important as it helps to create a larger target area for the drops and reduces the likelihood of them blinking in response to the medication being administered. When a child is looking upward, it allows gravity to assist the medication in flowing into the eye rather than away from it.

Positioning the child properly not only facilitates the administration process but also helps to keep them calm and less anxious during the procedure. Moreover, it allows for a more accurate placement of the eye drops onto the conjunctival sac, which is the area where the drops are meant to be effective.

In contrast, applying medication to the eyelid, placing the child in a standing position, or pulling the upper eyelid upward are all techniques or positions that might follow, but they do not position the child correctly or prepare them effectively for the administration of the drops as looking upward does.