How do you get your child to take their medicine?

[r3ngels]

I am having such a difficult time with my 5 yo.... she has an ear infection in both ears and she is refusing to take her medicine (liguid augmentin sp?). I have never had this problem with any of the girls. I have tried threating to take something away, bribing, then just flat out saying take it or don't get out of this chair and I set the timer.

I gave her a cup of kool-aid to take it with. I know it doesn't taste great but I have always just said to my girls take your medicine they make that face take it and say yuck... but it's done.

She is now in her room for the night.... HELP what do I do

 

[freckles and boo]

You could try to call a 24 hour pharmacy and ask if the medicine will be effective if it is mixed in with yogurt or applesauce. If not, I would call the doctor tomorrow and ask if there is an alternative like an injected antibiotic. If she hates shots more than she hates taking medicine that may be the leverage you need.

 

[ducklite]

A compounding phamarcy could mix it in any flavor she wanted.

Anne

 

[wowsmom]

My son had to take nasty, gritty antibiotics when he was about 22 months old. The pediatrician said to give him a piece of chocolate after each dose of his medicine - partly for the flavor and partly to clear out the grit. After struggling with 2 or 3 doses, I would say "time for your medicine" and he would run and grab the chocolate bunnies.

 

[caribear]

We have a very hard time with dd taking medicines. Lately she is getting a little better, but it is still very hard. First I put her on the counter top in the kitchen so she can't just walk away....I use a syringe type dropper and give her small amounts of medicine at a time....chased down by coca-cola. I do promise a chocolate treat or some other item I know she wants. We also clap and make a big deal after she takes the medicine....so she is proud of herself for taking it. If that does not work then we usually tell her all about the trip we will have to make to the hospital where she will have to stay by herself because she will not take her medicine. This really scares her....and we hate to do it, but she has been hospitalized before for dehydration from a cold when she wouldn't drink....so she kind of knows what occurs...and she does not want to have to go back there.

Sometimes after she takes the medicine we will call Grandma and tell her all about what a big girl she was....and then Grandma send a couple of dollars in the mail for a trip to the $1 store.

 

[marshallandcartersmo]

My son had to take nasty, gritty antibiotics when he was about 22 months old. The pediatrician said to give him a piece of chocolate after each dose of his medicine - partly for the flavor and partly to clear out the grit. After struggling with 2 or 3 doses, I would say "time for your medicine" and he would run and grab the chocolate bunnies.

That's exactly what my ped. said. I asked if I could mix it with a tsp of Hershey's syrup and she said it's better to "chase it" with chocolate syrup instead.
Speaking from a mother who has to hold down her 3 y/o to take medicine, so what do I know.........

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I agree w/ the injection route. Both my daughters will take them when offered. My older one actually convinced the younger. Now they both know, that they will feel better faster, and be done w/ it.

My youngesy has always hated liquid meds. She has taken pills since age 5. We just put the pill, in some pudding when she was younger.

 

[wdwmom2]

We often recommend mixing meds with Hershey's chocolate syrup. Pretty strong chocolate flavor, it hides medicine taste quite well!!!

 

[JVL1018]

My son is competitive, I say I bet you can;t drink this before I count to 10. Now he tries to beat me before I count to 3.
I always let the kids have soda after-to wash away the taste and because they aren't usually allowed soda at home, so it's a treat.

They are 5 and 7, so both old enough to get that it doesn't matter if they like it or not, they have to take it, it's easier than in past years.

 

[aprilgail2]

Mine will say "what happens if I don't take it" and I give the same reply, "then we go to the hospital and they give it to you in an IV"...works like magic LOL...that medicine is gone before you can count to 3! She hates when she is in the emergancy room or hospital and they give her IV's

 

[Lisa L from MI]

I have always been told my kids were "weird"...they LOVED to take their medicine...even from a very young age. All I would do is have to hold out and show them the spoon thingy of it and they came running

 

[RadioNate]

chewable antibiotics

medicine spoons where they can control how fast or slow they drink it on their own

injectables, if a shot is available I'd rather have one than fight 3x a day for 10 days

 

[r3ngels]

She took it, oh my it was not pretty.... picture her lying on the kitchen counter... me holding the syringe with one hand and holding her hands with my arm while my hand was on her mouth. And she is screaming bloody murder.

Gotta love when DH is out of town... Thank God the older girls were outside playing they would have called 911 Mean Mommy Alert

I am going to call the Dr tomorrow and see what else I can do. It is going to be a loooooooooooong 10 days.

It is so weird because she has had meds so many times... she even has tubes in her ears... she has had so many ear infections. I don't know why she is pulling this now. She has never been like this.

 

[eeyoresnr]

hope the Doctor can help...good luck

 

[MushyMushy]

Oh, DS was a nightmare with stuff like that. It took him forever to learn to swallow pills. When he was little, I just basically gave him the choice -- take the med, or go to the doctor and get an injection. It was still a fight, but he took it on his own.

 

[DISUNC]

Just a Spoonful of Sugar helps the medicine go down...in the most delightful way!

I do tlike the Hershey Syrup suggestion...Never heard/tried/thought of that one!

 

[RadioNate]

She took it, oh my it was not pretty.... picture her lying on the kitchen counter... me holding the syringe with one hand and holding her hands with my arm while my hand was on her mouth. And she is screaming bloody murder.

You have to ditch the syringe. Let her have some control. Holding her down and forcing the meds is way more traumatic than just taking the medicine.

Try a medicine spoon or one of those measure cups and let her have control of drinking of it rather than forcing it down.

I swear with my DS it made a world of difference.

 

[shortbun]

Get the shot. We did it for a few years. He learned to swallow pills and now all is good.

 

[MidgeD79]

My ds learned to swallow a pill at 4 years old. The younger you start them the better. My 10 year old granddaughter cannot swallow a pill.

 

[clori]

my dd7 has never had a problem taking meds though she rarely has had to. One time she needed augmentin the dr told me it tasted awful. The dr told me to mix it with hershey's chocolate or strawberry syrup or at the very least to have a drink ready immediately. Also now some pharmacies can flavor some of the liquid meds so maybe that would help.