Getting antibiotics into a toddler

[Jayandnoisybob]

2.5 yo DD needs antibiotics 4 times a day. They’ve given her the one with sugar in but it is still foul.

I have tried mixing it into her usual yoghurt but it was disgusting and she wouldn’t touch it.

she won’t be persuaded to take it. I have resorted to holding her on my lap while she cries and basically squirting it in when she opens her mouth wide enough. It feels cruel and she spits most of it out.

Anything else I can do?!

Need to tip her head right back, or get your partner to help. It’s a bit mean but there’s no alternative. Can bribe with some chocolate

That sounds tough. I had lots of trouble getting my dd to take any medicine at all (including calpol). Fortunately she was rarely ill, but the thing that worked was using an eye dropper (got one from the chemist) and holding her on my lap and putting one drop at a time into inside cheek. It wasn't easy and it was time consuming but at least it meant she didn't spit it out or sick it up which was the previous problem.

Chocolate buttons before the ABs. Then squirt in as soon as her tongue is coated with chocolate and more Choc buttons straight away to take the taste away asap.

I used to dip the syringe in honey. Also try and aim for very back sides, right at the hinge of the jaw so she doesn't choke but she'll taste it less.

Sticker charts?

Chocolate buttons for bribery?

Breaking the dose down into smaller bits helps

Bribery and also if you blow on their eyes they swallow so it helps with not spitting it out.

Syringe far back against the inside of her cheek. Might be a two parent job if possible.

My DD had to have multiple courses of antibiotics late last year - one in particular was vile. I mixed each dose with carob syrup and her Calpol and syringed it in with the Calpol syringe as it was the only way it was palatable for her! Obviously if your DD doesn't need Calpol then don't add it in but mine did and it worked for her. I think the fact it looked the right colour to be Calpol helped too

If it’s really a struggle ask the GP if there is any chance of changing. We had one set that was impossible to get in and was making my toddler vomit immediately (we’ve had many rounds previously where we’ve tried mixing with yogurt, smoothies, chocolate buttons, haribo etc. honestly this one set tasted like paint stripper when I tried it so I can see why it was hard. I tried all the usual tricks and it just didn’t work but fortunately the GP was able to re-issue the script and try something else.