Preschoolers & Medicine = Bad Mommy

[hpygrll]

So my 4 year old is home with a fever and bad cold. Didn't have any Tylenol Cold in the house so I called my MIL and she brought some over on the way to work. She stayed while I gave him a teaspoon - he hates medicine and hates the taste and quite frankly we never give him medicine because he's never sick.

So I had to give another dose at noon - well it was WW III....and it was just me - he fought - he squirmed - he kept his mouth closed....but he needed it so I practically had the kid in a choke hold - had to shove the spoon in his mouth and then plug his nose and hold his mouth closed...

Now I'm in tears and I need a glass of wine....sigh...

Jenny

 

[luvwinnie]

Wow. Go have that wine! You deserve it.

 

[mickeyboat]

So I had to give another dose at noon
Jenny

Jenny - First, it's after Noon - so have that glass of wine!

Second - My kids hate taking medicine, too. They will take it fine if my sitter is giving it to them, but give me holy you know what when I try to give it to them.

We switched to chewables when they were three or so, maybe that would work for you. And don't worry too much if he won't take it. I never medicate ym kids unless they have really high fevers.

Hope he is feeling better soon.

Denae

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Sorry you had such a battle! I rarely give my kids cold medicine unless it is interfering with their ability to sleep. I figure that the runny nose is doing exactly what it's supposed to do--get the virus out of their body. I also try not to treat a fever unless it's real high (in which case I'd call the dr) or the child is miserable. Or unless I'm getting ready to give them Tylenol so I can send them to school... Kidding! The fever is also serving a purpose.

But of course sometimes meds are required and it's a pain to give them to a child who is resisting. Been there, done that, and it's not fun!

 

[Hannathy]

Don't fight him if the fever isn't high enough to do damage ie over 104 and he isn't lethargic don't worry. Give him lots of fluids,don't over heat him and just keep watch. A little fever actually helps fight the "bug". If he has enough fight in him to fight that hard he isn't lethargic from the fever. Kids tolerate temps a whole lot better than adults RELAX, give him a popscicle instead. Now if it continues for too long call the Dr. but in the short run just push fluids.

 

[tommygirl79]

I comletely feel your pain. DH and I were up until 1:00 in the morning trying to get 3 splinters out of our DD's (almost 5 yrs old) hand. We had been at my parents' house and she found a wallpaper brush and caught it just right in her hand. By the time we got home and got our other DD to bed it was almost 11:00 (we let them stay up late on Sundays since me and the girls are home all day on Mondays). We started trying to talk to her gently about getting it out and she was having NONE OF IT...Well, the night ended with DH having to hold her down (she's strong and was just about taking out my 250 lb hubby ) By 1:00 she was sweaty from screaming and squirming, my DH was worn out and I was near tears from feeling bad about the situation, but the splinters were out and it was over. She says, "That wasn't so bad. I forgive you mommy and daddy for holding me down" Auggh...kids...I still felt horrible, but i didn't want them to get infected. Isn't parenting fun!!!!

 

[mickeyboat]

I comletely feel your pain. DH and I were up until 1:00 in the morning trying to get 3 splinters out of our DD's (almost 5 yrs old) hand. We had been at my parents' house and she found a wallpaper brush and caught it just right in her hand. By the time we got home and got our other DD to bed it was almost 11:00 (we let them stay up late on Sundays since me and the girls are home all day on Mondays). We started trying to talk to her gently about getting it out and she was having NONE OF IT...Well, the night ended with DH having to hold her down (she's strong and was just about taking out my 250 lb hubby ) By 1:00 she was sweaty from screaming and squirming, my DH was worn out and I was near tears from feeling bad about the situation, but the splinters were out and it was over. She says, "That wasn't so bad. I forgive you mommy and daddy for holding me down" Auggh...kids...I still felt horrible, but i didn't want them to get infected. Isn't parenting fun!!!!

For the next time ...

The "splinter fairy" comes to my friend's house. They go to sleep with a splinter, and like magic, it is gone in the morning.

Oh, and duct tape works well, too.

Denae

 

[RadioNate]

We used to have a fighter. My DS (who's 4 BTW) does fine on chewables but if we have to do liquid medicine spoons like this one

http://www.ioffer.com/i/2-MEDICINE-SPOONS-FOR-BABYS-CHILDREN-COUGH-SYRUP-SPOON-6498929

are a must. These allow DS to have control of taking the medicine. He didn't like being forced. The more we'd force the more he'd fight. I can't imagine how scary your mother holding you down and plugging your nose must be for a small child. Now we just had him the spoon and he can control how much he drinks at a time. He still doesn't like it and sometimes takes forever to get down a teaspoon worth but he does it and everyone is happier.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Oh, and duct tape works well, too.

Denae

Duct tape over their mouth?

 

[mickeyboat]

Duct tape over their mouth?

Too funny!

It comes in handy when they are acting up in restaurants (restrains mouth and hands), and when they won't stay in their beds at night.

No, actually, we used it last summer on my daughter's feet. Got most of the splinters out.

Denae

 

[Hannathy]

Goodness duct tape really is the universal fix it...

works on warts to.

 

[mrsv98]

Dd has strep and hates medicine so we have resorted to blatent bribery. If she takes all the medicine (3x/day for 10 days) then we will take her to Chuck E Cheese. So far it is working but I am dreading her payoff! At least they serve wine!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Dd has strep and hates medicine so we have resorted to blatent bribery. If she takes all the medicine (3x/day for 10 days) then we will take her to Chuck E Cheese. So far it is working but I am dreading her payoff! At least they serve wine!

My 6yo also has strep and reminds me first thing in the morning for me to give him his med and the same in the evening. I'll have to say he's always been this way, but has rarely been sick so hasn't needed meds often. I was not this lucky with my other kids, especially not his older brother who had reflux and asthma as a baby. That wasn't fun!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Too funny!

It comes in handy when they are acting up in restaurants (restrains mouth and hands), and when they won't stay in their beds at night.

We prefer the dirty sock/duct tape strategy for mouthy children!

 

[mickeyboat]

We prefer the dirty sock/duct tape strategy for mouthy children!

I wish it was that easy.

OT - but reminded me. We have a new rule at my house about cooperating in the morning to get out the door. If you don't cooperate, you go to be 15 minutes early. The rule was made because Emily was being such a bear, but after about two weeks, Hannah is it's first victim. I wanted her to brush her teeth, she wanted to play with her money. So when she refused to put it away after being warned, she got slapped with a violation.

She cried all the way to school about not wanting to go to bed early, and about how mean I am (actually, I'm pretty proud of that label - it means I am doing my job ). I am dreading going to bed tonight. Would it be abuse to use duct tape in this situation? Maybe I will post a poll.

Denae

 

[minkydog]

Yeah, my first child tried that "not gonna take medicine" routine--once. Then I found acetaminophen rectal suppositories From an early age he learned he had a choice--take it one way or take it the other, but not taking it is not a choice.

We don't use cold meds at all(since DS10 had a 15min grand mal seizure after a dose ). Cold meds make most kids even more irritable, restless, sleepless and lethargic, so i figure what's running out can't be as bad as all that. Put some vasoline under the kids nose and quit fighting. Snot is just ugly, not deadly.

 

[hpygrll]

Thanks everyone - you have all made me chuckle and feel better. I didn't have the glass of wine but I did have some lunch and he is napping - I'm sure he'll nap for quite awhile. I don't feel so bad now!

Thanks again
Jenny

 

[DisneyPhD]

Dd has strep and hates medicine so we have resorted to blatent bribery. If she takes all the medicine (3x/day for 10 days) then we will take her to Chuck E Cheese. So far it is working but I am dreading her payoff! At least they serve wine!

We do the same type of thing, but mostly it is a small toy for taking the medicaiton (given after the 1st time, I always have a stock in my closet of toys I found on sale) then if she contines to be good she can keep it. We did this when she was around 3 years old (it was at the worst then) Now she is almost 5 and very good about medication, because she understands the conection of it making her feel better. It took her a few years to understand that.

Also giving some control to the child at this age is a good thing. It can be a choice of how to take it (chewables or liquid, or flavor) or letting them take it themselves (if they do it in a given time frame). My DD likes it in the surange still, but pushes it herself. Some like it in the cup, all depends. Also a choice of what to have after to wash it down is a good insentive.

Best of luck. I know how it is. Belive it or not, it will get better.

Our biggest issue is DD would wake during the night with a fever crying. She wasn't really awake though and refused the meds. Fine, but she wouldn't stop crying and keep everyone else up until we forced them down her. Glad that phase is over.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Would it be abuse to use duct tape in this situation? Maybe I will post a poll.

Denae

I dare you to post about that! You think a thread about bringing food into a restaurant gets people going--try a thread about duct taping a child to bed. Or maybe post that you were going to tape her door shut--that people will believe...

 

[mickeyboat]

We don't use cold meds at all(since DS10 had a 15min grand mal seizure after a dose ). Cold meds make most kids even more irritable, restless, sleepless and lethargic, so i figure what's running out can't be as bad as all that. Put some vasoline under the kids nose and quit fighting. Snot is just ugly, not deadly.

I feel the same way minky. Cold symptoms don't really seem to bother my kids that much. And I have found when I take them myself, it makes the congestion go away, but leaves me with a dry cough that lasts for weeks or months afterwards. I prefer to feel stuffed up for a day or two.

Denae