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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have let dd go to bed without her meds?

45 replies

Tokyotwist · 26/02/2011 20:46

dd, who is 2 and a half, is on antibiotics (started today) and calpol for tonsillitis. She has been running very high temps, which are usually worse at night (39.5).

I have just spent 2 hrs begging, threatening and attempting all manner of bribes to get her to take both medicines. Nothing worked.

I have given up and put her to bed. I am very worried but can't see what else I can do as she just wouldn't take them.

AIBU to give up or worrying unnecessarily. What would you do?

OP posts:
raindroprhyme · 26/02/2011 20:48

invest in a syringe tomorrow and give her them when she is asleep.
let her settel to sleep go and lift her, gently rowse her syringe in the corner of the mouth done.

readywithwellies · 26/02/2011 20:50

My dcs have this problem.

I have in the past mixed medicine into a flavoured fromage frais

Boys2mam · 26/02/2011 20:50

Could you try giving her them whilst she's asleep? Sit her up without rousing her and just put the spoon to her lips? Followed with a sip or two of water.

My DS currently has a ear infection andis on ammoxycillin (SP) and has been really poorly - I think you need to try again to have her take them as if she's anything like my poor little monster she'll really feel the benefit.

squeakytoy · 26/02/2011 20:51

Its hard, but anti-biotics really have to be taken at regular intervals for them to work effectively.

You have to be able to force her to take them I am afraid. :(

A1980 · 26/02/2011 20:52

Agree with rain, give it to her when she's half asleep, she wont be aware of much and wont remember.

Try even waking her up a bit now and giving it to her with a nurofen syringe?

AndyNick43 · 26/02/2011 20:52

Have a little taste of the anti-biotic and mix it into something else. Amoxycillin suspension tastes of banana, so perhaps a milk shake?

Vallhala · 26/02/2011 20:53

Dare I mention that my mother used to 'pinch' my nose closed so I had no option but to open my mouth (well, not if I wanted to breathe, that is), and then shovel the medicine in?

Not something I'd imagine you'd want to do, Tokyo. :o

I wouldn't worry too much tbh. Tomorrow's another day and your DD may well be more receptive to bribes when she's not so tired. One missed dose shouldn't make a lot of difference.

Marne · 26/02/2011 20:54

We have the same problem with dd2 (who has ASD), it now takes 2 of us to get antibiotics into her using a syringe and quite often she will spit it out or vomit Sad. Antibiotics do taste nasty (even though they try to make them taste of orange or banana).

winnybella · 26/02/2011 20:57

Headlock, aim syringe in the far corner of the mouth.

ABs must be taken at prescribed intervals.

Original poster
Tokyotwist · 26/02/2011 20:59

We do have a syringe but she point blank refuses that too.

She's asleep now so I'll wait half an hour and try again. I just checked and her temp is 39 so I'm really going to have to get it in her somehow.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tokyotwist · 26/02/2011 20:59

Tried the headlock in the past. She spat it all out.

OP posts:
GastonTheLadybird · 26/02/2011 21:01

My DD used to be like this but is now much better at nearly 3.

It always took two of us and on occasion we would pin her down, prise her mouth open, syringe it in back corner then gently rub/tap her throat to get her to swallow. Horrible, really horrible, yet entirely necessary when she really needed her meeds.

justcarrots29 · 26/02/2011 21:02

Yes she really needs to have it before you go to bed. Try tomorrow to mix it with her normal yoghurts and don't let her see you do it. I used to do this when mine were babies.

raindroprhyme · 26/02/2011 21:05

Trick is don't wake her syringe right to the back and side of her mouth. you will be holding her so no danger she will choke. Good luck, hope she is feeling better soon.
Have had to do this many times with ds as he is on long term antibiotics and has been since birth. He is 6 now and can swallow capsules which has made life much easier.

Marne · 26/02/2011 21:06

Try bribery 'one spoon of medicine, then a cube of chocolate' (or favorite food), my dd seems to notice if i put it into food or drink, she then refusses to drink (incase i put anything in it) and she ends up dhydrated or wit a water infection. The only way i can get it into dd2 is with the syringe but a tiny bit at a time (followed by a chocolate button), this can take half an hour to get it into her but its the only way. You could try syringing it in a tiny bit at a time now she's asleep?

ZuzuBailey · 26/02/2011 21:07

Paediatric antibiotic suspension tastes vile.

Could you possibly get tablets instead?

My DD had to take assorted meds as a toddler and we found if we crushed the tablets between 2 spoons and added some fizzy drink (coke, usually Blush) she'd swallow that down no bother.

ZuzuBailey · 26/02/2011 21:07

Failing that, mix it in some ice cream Smile

JsOtherHalf · 26/02/2011 21:16

I find the branded Nurofen syringe the best thing for getting a child to accept medicine; another one who has given it by rousing a child little when asleep.

Original poster
Tokyotwist · 26/02/2011 22:03

Just managed to get most of it in her. She woke up as soon as I tried to get near her and I ended up having to hold her down Sad. I hate doing this and as she closes her throat and spits, some of it does escape.

I'm off to look for Neurofen syringes online.

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 26/02/2011 22:07

Syringe and blow sharply into her face, which triggers swallow reflex.

It is horrible, but she needs to take the medicine.

MollieO · 26/02/2011 22:08

Headlock, syringe, hold mouth closed until swallowed. Horrible bit works. Ds was on pretty much continual antibiotics from birth until 4.5 hrs (we used to get one month off per year). It was exactly the same method I used on the cat.

leeloo1 · 26/02/2011 22:09

'I'm off to look for Neurofen syringes online.'

If you buy Nurofen at the chemists then it comes with a syringe in the box. Or, if you ask the chemist then they'll usually give you one (free) to give calpol etc with. :)

Well done for getting it into her.

mmsmum · 26/02/2011 22:11

Glad you finally got it in her, its for her own good so you are not being cruel. I always used a syringe, makes much less mess. Sometimes it's easier when they are tired as they are less likely to resist. You can get a free syringe from any chemist.

Original poster
Tokyotwist · 26/02/2011 22:19

Thanks everyone. Just gone and checked and the bottle DH bought this morning has a syringe in it Smile.

Never had one in before. Hopefully this will be easier than the hosp syringes I had which are a lot wider.

OP posts:
webbygeek91 · 26/02/2011 23:43

Mix it in a fruit shoot, should do the trick.

:o