4 year old needs to take meds but refuses.

CRANKY40

My son has sensory issues and I taught him to take tablets as soon as he was able. It won't help you for a while yet but it's something to work towards. I asked him once what his objection to tasting new things was and he said that if it tastes bad then giving him something that he likes afterwards "to take the taste away" doesn't actually work. He can still taste the nasty thing for the rest of the day. I have to admit that this explanation has made me a little more tolerant of his issues with food. He doesn't like most sweets or desserts either so he's definitely not being fussy to try and obtain treats instead of dinner.

rach_k

I find offering a variety of ways to take the medicine helps. We have the syringes that comes with Calpol, a little measuring cup that I think came on cough medicine, a 'spilly spoon' (a non-spill spoon shaped like a caterpillar) and sometimes I use an espresso cup as it looks like a cute teacup (obviously measure the medicine properly in a syringe first). Allowing a little control over how the medicine is taken helps my kids when they're not co-operating. While I know we're the parents and we're doing what's right for them, I try and keep in mind that it's their body after all so some choice is a good thing.

toniq

Thank you so much for the above comments, they have all been really helpful, Jess just woke for a drink and knew that she was having a bit of smoothie to keep her strength up so took the night time dose without realising again.


I do have the betroot mix innocent smoothies so will try those tomorrow if theres a chance of the orange mix ones upsetting her throat.

White pus on tonsils so she hasn't wanted food most of the day which is normal for tonsil issues.

Thank you all immensley.

Savvy_Sue

When you do get to the stage where they can take tablets, apparently they are much easier to swallow in a teaspoon of yoghourt than with a drink. This is a tip for adults too.

I take various non-prescription pills in the morning and find them much easier to swallow with a bottle of actimel or similar than with juice or water.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

When I was that age, I decided that I wanted tablets instead, as I had always hated every medicine I had ever been given (and I'd been given quite a lot). The adults were surprised as this, but my mother asked the GP if it was possible and he, a 78 year old pre-NHS veteran, said that it wouldn't hurt to try as I was going to be taking medication so often.

Worked first time. Kid #2 wanted to do the same and we had a lot of difficulty persuading the GP it was possible; but we did and she was fine once the horrible medicine was no longer an issue for her.

I'd suggest if tablets are something a kid is interested in (because you don't have the taste to deal with), trying with yoghurt rather than water or juice first, as it's slipperier (is that a word?).

TBagpuss

so glad that you've found a way that works.
It may be worth trying to get her used to taking tablets/capsules, for future issues. (maybe practice using vitamins?)
My little brother had pneumonia when he was a similar age - he would not take the liquid antibiotics prescribed, but once the hospital accepted this and prescribed tablets instead he took those with no trouble at all.

I think in his case he disliked the flavour, the sweetness and the texture. (and he isn't autistic, I would imagine that those issues may well be more pronounced for someone who is?)

jaydeeuk1

Glad you found a way that worked. My daughter and I read a book about the tongue, and how it can taste different things. We play a game where I got things like lemon, honey, sour sweets, carrot juice, chocolate etc and she does a blind test, managed to get her to take the oral penicillin that way (she would scream and cry otherwise). Just did it a couple of times, then did it without blindfold, now she will happily take it with a sip of strawberry milkshake after. Might work for you, might not, but for us making it 'fun' seemed to help.

Shame this doesn't work with a 1 year old who hates taking calpol through a tube!