To ask how the hell you get medicine into a 3 year old?!?!?!

[princessconsuelobananahammock]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh as above really. DS has tonsillitis & has been prescribed antibiotics but I just cannot get him to take the medicine. Any tips?!

Bribe with sweets? Works for me

Worked the first couple of times, he's wised up now!!

There was one memorable occasion when DH held him down and I poured it down his throat....

I think the "normal" way is to bribe with sweets afterwards

Tried the pinning down too, v distressed toddler & medicine spat everywhere.

Reward chart. Let him choose the reward. Bribe bribe bribe.

Failing that, mix it with yoghurt, put it in fruit purée, hide it somewhere.

I believe in a healthy mix of bribes and threats, a wonderfully successful parenting strategy

Do you have a syringy thing rather than a spoon? If you can get it remotely to the back of the mouth and then squirt, that works well - obviously your child iwill not be happy, but follow it up with some chocolate pronto.

Medicine? You mean that lovely sauce that goes on top of the ice cream?

I don't mind having to put him through a bit more pinning down if the end result is medicine goes in & he gets better. I mean...I'd rather not clearly...but if it's that or he stays sick there's no question!!

Syringe D's 2 had to take antibiotics from two days old as a precautionary until he was about three for a kidney problem I had too place it at an angle and shut his mouth it was necessary !

Syringe into a funsize mars/milky way. That's what we do with a family member who has severe CP and cannot swallow syrups without choking as they claw in his throat.

Mix it in with dilute juice?

Get tablets. Grind up and mix with Nutella or jam. Much more palatable than liquid

I always use a syringe even for my 6 year old as its usually less messy. From around 3 I'd fill the syringe and let them squirt it into their mouth and give sweets/chocolate/ice cream after.

At times I have had to pin them down though as its important.

I use a syringe and let them squirt. I also use bribery - sweets, lolly, ice cream, a go on the iPad etc.

One of my children suffered really badly with tonsillitis, I hope yours feels better soon

Thank you everyone. I was feeling pretty useless so I'm a) grateful for the ideas & b) glad for the reassurance!

My oldest used to fight it all the way - I couldn't force him at all.

I used to put it in a little pot of young hour and mix it up. Also used to show him a sachet of calpol (which he loved) turn my back and substitute the fowl stuff. Did feel a bit guilty and his wee face when he happily took it...

Wrap him in a towel, second person sit on him, then fingers in the side of jaw to open mouth and shove it in. Watch out for claws trying to disembowel you....wait... Sorry, that's cats...

Dart gun, its the only way!