20mo scarlet fever and antibiotics - how to go about this

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

DS is 20mo and has scarlet fever. Been prescribed penicillin 4 x a day for 10 days. On day 1 and already DS screams and hides when the syringe comes out. I have to hold him across my lap, pin him down and squirt it into his cheek through clenched teeth (his and mine!). Feels like I'm waterboarding him :((

Feel it's going to be a long ten days which will scar him for life! The dose has to be taken on an empty stomach and he can't eat until an hour after having taken it.

Does this mean I shouldn't mix the dose in a spoon of yogurt/honey/peanut butter/warm milk etc to make it more palatable and less traumatic for everyone?

Any hints on administering antibiotics to little ones? This is the first time DS has been ill so I know we've been lucky - I just don't know what the top tips are!

Thanks

[Ghostsdonttalk]

it needs to be taken on an empty stomach as it works better with the acidity of an empty stomach. It has to be penicillin and it is gross. we went with bribery & force if bribery didn't work.

it might be worth ringing GP to see if there is any alternative. There must be something for people allergic to penicillin.

[LoveSewingBee]

To start with, this is not going to scar him for life. Once it is over he will forget all about it. You will be the one remembering it, but you know you did what needed to be done.

Maybe try to bribe him with a small present but if that doesn't work you will have to do what you need to do.

Ten days may seem like a long time but it will be over before you know.

Good luck, it is going to be ok.