How to Get My 3-Year-old to Take Medicine

I'm not sure if this will be much help. I have 3 cats. One of them has to take medicine on a regular basis because he's got a number of problems. Anyhow, when I have to give him a pill I put it inside a syringe, I add hot water so the pill disolves fast, I shake it a little to help it disolve, then I either wait til the water cools down or add a bit of cold water once the pill is disolved, then I give it to my cat in his mouth. It is a lot easier with a syringe once it's in liquid form. I don't think I could force him to take in a pill, it would be too hard. With the syringe it's very easy and fast. I understand you have a baby and I have a cat, but I thought I'd share this with you to see if it can help.

If he takes a pacifier, there's a great medicine dropper that looks like a pacifier that works well. You can also mix the Tylenol in some juice or Pedialyte if he likes that.

Ask your doctor for a prescription for rectal tylenol-- it won't be fun to pop in a rectal suppository, but it's quick and won't involve gagging and choking and spitting up. It just goes in and the fight is over.

Have you tried both chewables and the liquid variety? You can get chewables for as young as 2. The other thing we have tried with chewables(these were antibiotics and we had to get them down!) was to crush them between 2 spoons and then let my son choose what he wanted it mixed up with (peanut butter, yogurt, applesauce). Perhaps just giving your son the choice of liquid or chewables at a given moment will help him to feel like he has some choice in the matter. Hope that's helpful.

Hi! Are you using liquid or tablet? I used to do liquid with my youngest dd and she would spit it all over me, so I'd have to wrestle her down and practically gag her with it to get it down. No fun! I started using orange flavored tylenol tablets and she ate them well. I've also hid liquid pain reliever in a small glass of juice, without the kid seeing it, of course. Good luck with it. I'm sure lots of moms have ideas on this.

Hi, sorry to hear that he was sick =( He may be too old for this trick, but for our 2.5 yr old, there is no such thing as "medicine" it is all "special juice", my sister even tries to mix it with a real small amount of like flavored real juice for her son(enough so they think it is just juice, but little enough you can be sure they will drink it all) anyways, I don't have a lot of real advice, since we often have to remind our son that special juice is only for special times or he would drink it constantly....
well, I hope that everyone is feeling better there, and good luck
H.

Wow I know it is very tough to get tylenol into a young child. I have now changed to grape tylenol and our son seems to take it without a fight.I hope you son feels better.

I've never tried it myself but if your son is willing to take a pacifier you can buy pacifiers now that you put medicine into and then a child can just suck the medicine thru the pacifier nipple, I think Target carries them or any pharmacy.

We use Tylenol Meltaways...my 3 year old really likes them. She won't take the liquid stuff at all anymore.

We've twice used Tylonel suppositories when our 20 month old has had a high fever with the stomach flu - Acetaminophen comes in suppository form for kids who might vomit up oral medication. It was basically a non-issue, uncomfortable for a slight moment only. Check with your pharmacist.

Do they make Tylenol or Motrin in those little strips that dissolve on the tongue? I have been using the Triaminic strips for my son and they are GREAT! No measuring, easy to keep a few in your purse, and quick.

I have also had good luck administering medicine when he's watching something on the computer or a cartoon, and is otherwise occupied.

Hope this helps!

I have switched from the liquid to the melt in the mouth tabs which seem to be better recieved by my 3 year old.

I had that problem with both of my children when they were younger. My daughter likes when I put it in a little cup so she can drink it on her own, it make her feel like a big girl and sometimes she doesnt even realize it is medicine. With my son I layed him on the floor between my legs and put it in his mouth then blew softly in his face which makes them have to swallow, he didnt like it but there was no mess and he got all of his medicine. I would suggest trying the cup thing first, kids that age like to be independant and try to do things on their own!!!