Getting my daughter to take medicine?

Mittens124

Has anyone got any ideas how I can get my daughter to take her medicine?

She is two and has a severe throat infection, we took her to the doctors last night and had to pin her down to be examined. We just can't convince her to take her antibiotics and painkillers. The pain must be so bad as she won't eat (she hasn't eaten for 3 days) and only drinks when desperate.
We have tried making it into a game but she's not silly and knows what we are doing and tried hiding it in a drink but she refuses. It's heartbreaking seeing her in so much pain and with a fever but she's too young to understand that we are only trying to help.

Has anyone got any other ideas?

Silverbird

Have you checked with the docs/pharmacists whether there is a dissolvable tablet that you can use here? Easy to disguise with a nice drink of juice etc. I'd be concerned if she hasn't eaten a thing for 3 days. Perhaps a call to your local Pharmacist might be in order? They're very good with advice and are very helpful.

redballoon_2

what about putting the medicine into a home made ice lolly? there are some tupperware thing that you can get cheap to make them, with plastic stick handles. it would be soothing as well. worth a try!

Ms_Piggy_2

Mittens124 wrote: »

Has anyone got any ideas how I can get my daughter to take her medicine?

She is two and has a severe throat infection, we took her to the doctors last night and had to pin her down to be examined. We just can't convince her to take her antibiotics and painkillers. The pain must be so bad as she won't eat (she hasn't eaten for 3 days) and only drinks when desperate.
We have tried making it into a game but she's not silly and knows what we are doing and tried hiding it in a drink but she refuses. It's heartbreaking seeing her in so much pain and with a fever but she's too young to understand that we are only trying to help.

Has anyone got any other ideas?

Ask for suppositories. We use these for our one year old rather than liquid Calpol. It's standard on the continent and FAR easier than trying to get liquid into him - which is invariably spat out.

oystercatcher

redballoon wrote: »

what about putting the medicine into a home made ice lolly? there are some tupperware thing that you can get cheap to make them, with plastic stick handles. it would be soothing as well. worth a try!

I wouldn't recommend this as it may affect the medicine if it is frozen. An ice lolly afterwards may be a good idea though.

Try talking to her more, they can understand a lot at this age. If you explain the medicine is to help her feel better she may decide to be good and help you. Then reward her with something nice like a nice ice lolly or favourite DVD, and lots of cuddles of course.

Nikkisun

Ms_Piggy wrote: »

Ask for suppositories. We use these for our one year old rather than liquid Calpol. It's standard on the continent and FAR easier than trying to get liquid into him - which is invariably spat out.

Suppositories are definitely the way to go - with my youngest even if by some miracle we managed to get the medicine down him then he'd sick it back up!!

splishsplash

Grind the tablet up with the back of a spoon, mix it with a little ice-cream and either syringe it or put it in a teaspoon to the back of her throat.

Once she has a dose or two of the medicine, the soreness should start easing, so subsequent doses should be easier for her.

Poor little thing, not easy for her.

Nicki

We had this problem with my DD when she was about 4. She has severe learning difficulties and just won't take any meds, no matter how you try to disguise them, and however gently you try to persuade her to. What we were advised (by the hospital) to do, was for one person to hold her gently but firmly with her back on the floor, and for the other to straddle her, pinch her nose until the mouth opens, then squirt the dose to the very back of her throat, and keep her head tilted back slightly and nose pinched until she has swallowed to take a breath.

This is very very upsetting to do, and we would only do it if it was essential that the child took the medication, and took the full dose of it. In the particular circumstances with my DD at the time, she had a nasty infection and the alternative would have been admission to the hospital for IV antibiotics. And we had tried all of the suggestions which have been made above...

However, if OP is in extremis, it does work.

Mel2

It's abslutely fine to mix it with a few spoonfuls of ice cream. As well as making it taste nice (and most children like icecream dont they)?, it will also sooth her throat. You dont have to let her see you mix it up . Just et her think she's having a bowl of yummy icecream to make her throat feel better.

milly09

my son hates taking medicine and rarely wants it even when he is ill
the only way i can convince him to take it is if its followed by half a glass of sugar free lemonade, he is not allowed fizzy juice at all generally but its the only way he will take medicine.

i have tried all other ways, he either gags or spits it out!

daveyjp

Syringe into the side of the mouth worked for us. As Nicki says it's not pleasant, but children of two have no long term memory so they won't hate you for life!

Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.