Medicine Help!!

J.,

We had this exact same issue with my younger daughter when she had a bad spell of ear infections. She got to the point she was tired of taking medicine. We had to literally wrap her up in a sheet like a burrito. Then slightly tilt her head back and squeeze her cheeks so that her mouth was open. We would hold her cheeks until she would eventually swallow. Sometimes we'd have to blow in her face so that it would force her to smile. She did finally get over taking medicine again and now she takes it no problem. So there is hope of it changing. Good Luck!

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I wholeheartedly agree with having it flavored!! Other than that, I have two suggestions (feel free to take or leave any or part of either!):
1) Does she like being a "big girl"? (This was very important to my son, to be a "big boy"!) I started using the tube (looks like a test tube with a spoon on one side), along with a short prayer when I gave it to him, so that he could do it HIMSELF! It might take longer, but he seemed to enjoy being able to control how fast or how slow the medicine went into his mouth - this was ALWAYS followed by him wanting to "drink" water from the tube a few times.
2) Not a fun option - force. I grew up around animals and working in a vets office. I know this will sound horrible to some people!! I have had to use the syringe, and even if he was clamping his teeth down, behind the molars there is a space (between the last tooth and the jaw) - aim the syringe here and almost all of it will go down. (It's also closer to the throat so it will be much harder for them to spit it out.)

THIS IS NOT MY PREFERRED METHOD!! Around this age, kids want to be in control of more and more things - I try to let my son have as much control as is APPROPRIATE FOR HIS AGE. If this means he gives himself his medicine in a special tube, great!

I know it isn't fun having a sick child - hang in there!

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What about adding it to yogurt, ice cream, jello? If it's something prescribed by your doc, you can get it flavored at the pharmacy.

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One time my daughter was prescribed the absolute worst tasting/smelling antibiotic for an ear infection. It was the third recurrence of an ear infection and the third antibiotic. This medicine smelled like gasoline and even I wouldn't want to take it! We put it in chocolate pudding and made sure she ate the whole thing.

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You can try putting it in other things- but that didn't fool any of my kids! None of my kids would take medicine until they were about 3 1/2 or older! Our pediatrician showed us how to give it to them. If you put your finger in her mouth to keep it open, put in the medicine and then don't allow her to close her mouth, she can't spit it out- and the airflow will force her to swallow. It is not easy. I would still cry sometimes with them when we had to do it- but it worked. Your doc most likely has ideas on how to do it- I would check with them. If it is not a flavored antibiotic, I would put it in just a little bit of choc milk- like an oz- and then make her drink it. The other thing you could try is giving it to her in a little cup- like the ones that come with children's meds (tylenol, motrin, etc) and offer it to her- she can do it herself or you will force her to do it. Sometimes that worked with our kids... Good luck!

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Hi J.,

I went through the same with my youngest last year. My kid had pneumonia, so I was desperate to give him his medicine. It was frustrating and, I tried everything even pinching his nose to put the medicine in his mouth; the medicine was flavored, but the smell and flavor itself was pretty strong yet. The only thing that finally worked was mixing the medicine in chocolate milk. You have to find something with a strong flavor in it. My little guy finally knew that I was giving him the medicine, and even he liked! I also explained to him in a simple way that the medicine would help him to get better and help him not to come back to the hospital.
Good Luck!
A.

PS just do not panic or show him you are upset or mad at him.

When my 2 y/o started refusing meds. it was because he wanted to do it himself. Use the med. spoon or dropper; let your child choose a special drink, then fill the dropper or spoon with the med., have your child sit down & let her administer her own medicine. Having a special drink for meds. like a drink (or dropper) of kool-aid or gatorade helps the taste go away.
This was the only way my son would take any meds. & I still administer meds. this way (he is almost 4 y/o).
The pharmacy also has flavors that they can add to liquid meds.
God bless!

J., Try gently pinching her nose once you get the medicine in her mouth. She will have to swallow to take a breath. B.

we bribe. Our DD loves M&Ms, and she gets one if she takes her medicine. (and poops on the potty, but that was a whole other fight...hee)

We have an almost 2 yr old daughter and she has the same issue. The only thing that we found that works is using a syringe for the medicine and putting a little in her mouth at a time and then blowing in her face. I know it sounds kind of harsh but when you have to get antibiotic down - you have to try everything. Give it a shot and see if that works for you. Good luck.

I was going to suggest the "blowing in her face". She will gulp and the medicine will go right down. No, she won't choke. This was what our pediatrician suggested and it worked great. Good luck and God Bless you and your family.

We went through this with my son. We ended up having all his medicine flavored grape (when we could, Walgreens does this if you tell them when you place your order) and actually putting it in grape koolaide. A 1/2 cup of grape kool aide and no mention of medicine around the house waht so ever did the trick for us.

You and your husband are almost there.

You do need to hold her safely so she won't hurt herself.

Once you get the medicine in her mouth, cup her chin with your hand to keep her mouth shut and pinch her nose so she will reflexively swallow in order to take a breath. Once you see her swallow (just watch her throat), immediately release her nose and chin so she can take that breath.

Let us know how it goes.

I have found that if I do as you have described and force it in my childs mouth then immediately blow a big puff of air towards their face it makes them swallow. It works for me everytime.

We had the same problem with my daughter a while back. During each dosage, we mixed the medicine with a little bit of fruit punch Gatorade and she took it. Good luck!

I don't know how often she needs to take it, but there were a few times when our son was on antibiotics and after he went to sleep we realized that we had forgotten to give him the medicine. We went in his bedroom with a syringe of medicine, put it in the corner of his mouth, and he reflexively started sucking. It still works now, and he'll be three years old in about a month.

You could always mix it in chocolate pudding. They can't taste the difference.

Try lying her on her back and holding her down. (I know this is not ideal but it is for her health sake!) Then put your finger in the corner of her mouth and stretch it out. Squirt the med in her cheek. You then have to continue to hold her cheek out and don't let her close her lips. She may cry and scream but she will keep swallowing in between and will eventually get it all down.

Good luck!