Our child won't take medicine

Toxicity

Been here many times before! LO has had numerous bouts of tonsillitis and point blank refuses ANY medicine. Syringe would never work, she would just spit it out or throw it up. We finally found a solution, she was given a 'special cup' (it was an old unused pink shot glass) and we tipped the antibiotics in and topped it up with a little bit of cold juice or diet coke - the cold/fizziness seemed to mask the taste enough for her to drink it all 4x a day for 10 days.

Doctors were useless, I begged numerous times for something tasteless or just anything else and only ever got a "she has to take it, you are the parent make it happen" in response. They suggested someone sits LO on a lap and puts a hand on their forehead, hold them to your chest and have someone else squirt little bits down the side of their mouths so it trickles down the throat. Thankfully I didn't need to try it.

I think in the end she was so traumatized by us trying to force the syringe in her mouth, she happily took the glass/juice option instead.

double_mummy

have you let LO play with the syringe? get him to be a doctor with you and give teddies medicine with you and then its teddies turn to be doctor and your son has the syringe in his mouth (empty) after a bit of time playing add some fruit juice to the syringe and get him to have that let him put it in his mouth and get teddy to help push down the plunger - if you have a spare one just give it to him and let him get used to it being around all the time

pollypenny

I had to wrap DD in a towel, do that her arms were down, hold her nose, so she'd open her mouth, shove the medicine in and hold her nose again.

It was a nightmare, but had to be done.

TBagpuss

have you ever tried to give him any medication in non-liquid form? My brother, at a similar age, would not take medications in liquid form but was perfectly happy to take tablets or capsules.

My parents had trouble getting doctors to agree to try prescribing it as a tablet rather than syrup, but once they did, it worked like a charm.
I was similar but less stubborn - I would take liquid if I had too, but always found swallowing tablets much less unpleasant.

j.e.j.

Daft question, but why a syringe and not a spoon? If the child is 3 years old they can easily take medicine from a spoon. A syringe would be far more off-putting, I would think.

Fireflyaway

At 3 I think he will have enough understanding if you explain that he needs the medicine to make him better and although it doesn't taste great he needs it. Could you let him put the syringe in his mouth and push the plunger down? How about a sticker each time he does it? If you let him have some control he might feel more like doing it. I would also try and be firm and do it quickly. The more you make a fuss the more he will feel there is something to fear. Good luck.

Violetta_2

Had similar problems when dd was that age with a chest infection in the end she took it in a little shot glass I happened to have in the cupboard. Might be worth a try. Hope he's better soon.

jjj1980

Sorry to hear you are having problems with this. I was terrible at taking medicine as a child and would be sick immediately after.

It turned out Calpol was too thick for me and was catching in my throat and making me gag. With antibiotics, it was either the consistency or as later discovered, I am allergic to most of them. The allergy is so severe it was starting as soon as the liquid was swallowed. I ended up with tablet forms along with anti sickness medication to help stop any irritation.

Might be worth asking the pharmacist if he can suggest anything as they can be a fantastic source of knowledge.

Al1x

Auntie-Dolly wrote: »

Can you mix it up in some youghurt/fromage frais? Perhaps he is finding the syringe a bit daunting.

He will take it in a little yoghurt but I I don't think I could get him to have 8 in one day! He will have 2.5ml of medicine per pot and he will have 2 after dinner, If I put the full 5ml in one pot he knows its in there.

Al1x

Toxicity wrote: »

Been here many times before! LO has had numerous bouts of tonsillitis and point blank refuses ANY medicine. Syringe would never work, she would just spit it out or throw it up. We finally found a solution, she was given a 'special cup' (it was an old unused pink shot glass) and we tipped the antibiotics in and topped it up with a little bit of cold juice or diet coke - the cold/fizziness seemed to mask the taste enough for her to drink it all 4x a day for 10 days.

Doctors were useless, I begged numerous times for something tasteless or just anything else and only ever got a "she has to take it, you are the parent make it happen" in response. They suggested someone sits LO on a lap and puts a hand on their forehead, hold them to your chest and have someone else squirt little bits down the side of their mouths so it trickles down the throat. Thankfully I didn't need to try it.

I think in the end she was so traumatized by us trying to force the syringe in her mouth, she happily took the glass/juice option instead.

Your doctors sound the same as mine, they make it sound so simple don't they. Sometimes i feel like taking him there at medicine time as see how difficult he is.

I might try a fizzy drink, he's not allowed them so he might think its a treat.