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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

105 replies

princessconsuelobananahammock · 18/09/2014 20:11

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

OP posts:

MsAnthropic · 19/09/2014 00:30

I could never get medicine into mine. When he was about 3 he stubbornly went without any TV for days went ill and didn't give in. We'd try disguise it, didn't work. We'd syringe it in and hold mouth, but he wouldn't swallow. So, err, good luck. We gave up after several days of trying with those antibiotics That was also for tonsillitis, but generally they don't often prescribe it for it anymore as it's just as likely to be viral (we were told) and self-limiting.

We have had him in hospital and offered to let all the doctors and nurses try when they've given us withering looks when we said we couldn't get medicine into him or, famously, to have a bottle - it was always good when they tried and couldn't either.

Giving medicine to my cat is much easier!

MiuChoos · 19/09/2014 00:32

One of those syringes that you get in Calpol nowadays is great. Simply squirt and job done!
Measures out just the right dosage, and can distract them with a nice drink or snack afterwards.

Lally112 · 19/09/2014 01:02

what form is it in? I use a syringe then quickly ram the dummy in at the back of it to stop it being spat back out, been doing this since birth with infacol and gripe water type things too.

Princessdeb · 19/09/2014 01:22

Dear OP,

I never had a problem getting medicine into my DD until a horrendous experience when she was very ill with swine flu. The tamiflu was impossible to get into her without her becoming so distressed she was sick and vomited it up anyway. In the end we had to give up trying.

After she recovered I could never get anything into her despite bribes, pleading, holding down and many other strategies. In the end I realised that I had to do something about it before she got ill with something serious where her refusing medication became potentially dangerous.The next time she had a urine infection (which were quite frequent then) when she was 3, I tried asking reasonably, bribing etc and then when it didn't work I told her she would stay on the naughty step until she took it. She did eventually but not until nearly 6 hours had passed (yes she got to go to the toilet and I fed and watered her!). I realised it had become very much a battle of wills and normally I am absolutely an advocate of the be careful the battles you choose approach however having made the decision about this I felt in this situation I absolutely had to follow through. I have to admit she nearly broke me though!
If I hadn't thought it so important I wouldn't have taken such an extreme approach. I would advise that you decide to deal with this when your DS is just a "bit ill" rather than waiting for it to be critical that you get medication in. Good luck xx

HicDraconis · 19/09/2014 01:24

Have always used syringes for my 2 - aside from paracetamol which I used to give rectally (ie suppository) when changing nappies. They are now 8&6 and will give themselves their own meds, with a square of chocolate afterwards.

Paracetamol tabs can be crushed (mortar & pestle) and mixed with Nutella or jam, but you do need to mix it with something sweet as they are revoltingly bitter even disguised.

When they were too young to be reasoned with it was a straightforward "time for your medicine and here's the chocolate square for you to hold for afterwards" - maybe my boys are just amenable to bribery!

CocoLoves · 19/09/2014 10:52

Can you put it in a milkshake? I stick it in a bottle of milk but guessing he's too old for that?

fromparistoberlin73 · 19/09/2014 13:14

brute force, sorry but needs must

hold down, fill syringe and get it in- then immediately give water to swallow. then a sweetie

Hakluyt · 19/09/2014 13:18

But as I said earlier- do think about whether it's actually necessary. For example, ear infections tend to get better on their own, or 24 hours quicker with antibiotics. Most fevers don't need medicine- they just need nursing.

Obviously, sometimes the hold em down and squirt it in is necessary, but sometimes it's really not worth the angst.

combust22 · 19/09/2014 13:27

I agree with hakluyt, if the angst is too great you have to consider whether the medicine is really necessary.

I know many GPs are reluctant to prescribe anything for tonsilitis anyway and bouts do clear up on their own. Unless a medicine is absolutely necessary it may not be with the trouble.
Op chat to your GP- the last thing you want to do is start a treatment of antibiotics for a day or two then suddenly find you have to stop. That would be worse than not giving them at all.

I spaek as the mother of a child who has suffered from tonsilitis for many years, and also the mother of a 14 year old who has never had so much as one spoonful of Calpol in her life, she was such a refuser. Sure she was ill and also prescribed medicine, we did try to make her take it- but you know what- she got better without it anyway..

VikingLady · 19/09/2014 14:20

I put a sweet bribe visibly in front of DD, then pin her and syringe it in. If necessary I'll drop the syringe afterwards and hold her mouth closed, but usually if her head is tilted back she'll swallow automatically. Then she gets the bribe and a lot of praise!

Generally the first 3-6 doses are the hardest, but DD is keen on chocolate buttons, so she'll give in somewhere on day 2!

Dancergirl · 19/09/2014 18:31

Agree with hakluyt My GP told me antibiotics only reduce the course of tonsillitis by one day.

combust22 · 19/09/2014 18:33

"I put a sweet bribe visibly in front of DD, then pin her and syringe it in. If necessary I'll drop the syringe afterwards and hold her mouth closed, but usually if her head is tilted back she'll swallow automatically. Then she gets the bribe and a lot of praise!

Generally the first 3-6 doses are the hardest, but DD is keen on chocolate buttons, so she'll give in somewhere on day 2!"

How old is your child?

weebleswillwobble · 19/09/2014 18:36

Haven't read the whole thread so don't know if someone has suggested it already, but half or a third fill a syringe with the antibiotic, then suck up the same amount of yummy calpol. give it all in one squirt - the first thing they taste is the calpol which fools them into swallowing the whole lot.

Even my ultra sharp, super determined 5 yr old fell for this one, and didn't even know afterwards that she'd swallowed 3ml of the worst orange penicillin.

NotYouNaanBread · 19/09/2014 18:37

Syringe, brute force. There aren't enough hours in the day to faff around bribing a 3 year old to take medicine 4 times a day.

littlesupersparks · 19/09/2014 18:37

I'm not one to take antibiotics for viral illnesses but do keep a close eye. If it's not clearing up go back to the doctors. I had complications from tonsillitis that were extremely severe.

NotYouNaanBread · 19/09/2014 18:38

weebleswillwobble That's a great tip about the Calpol!

AChickenNamedDirk · 19/09/2014 18:40

Don't use brute force.
I have hideous memories of my father doing this to me. It's so awful that I cannot swallow any liquid medicines without gagging.

AChickenNamedDirk · 19/09/2014 18:41

I'm now in my late thirties

Hakluyt · 19/09/2014 18:42

The consequences would have to be incredibly bad before I used brute force to get a 3 year old to take medicine.

Hakluyt · 19/09/2014 18:43

Certainly much worse than taking a couple of days longer to get better.

combust22 · 19/09/2014 18:44

"Syringe, brute force. There aren't enough hours in the day to faff around bribing a 3 year old to take medicine 4 times a day."

Horrible- notyou would you use the same tactics with an elderly relative?

1stMrsF · 19/09/2014 21:59

Two other thoughts: if you ask next, you may be able to get the Dr to prescribe something that is only required 1 or 2 times per day. They automatically prescribe 4 x per day because its cheaper, but it's not the only option and the fewer doses, the fewer times you have to go through this stress!

Also, do check what it is and challenge the Dr - my then 18mo DTD was prescribed something vile that she would not swallow. When I called the surgery they said that was a mistake for a child and amoxicillin would be just as good.

1stMrsF · 19/09/2014 21:59

next time*

Maxsaidno · 19/09/2014 23:50

Most antibiotics are available as a 'sugared' version, but they don't seem to be routinely prescribed. You should be able to ask your GP to give you a prescription for these. My DD was recently on back-to-back courses of antibiotics and each time we asked the (different) GPs specifically for them. They do taste slightly better.

Also Dentinox do a medicine dispenser - they can suck the medicine through the teat or you can plunge it for them - genius invention. HTH (not had time to read the entire threat so sorry if I'm repeating other advice).

Want2bSupermum · 20/09/2014 01:35

I am of the pin them down camp. I don't have time to bribe them. I give DD and DS two chances. Third chance they get wrestled to the floor and I shove it in them. Yes there are tears but by the 2nd day they get it and learn that it is far more pleasant to not kick up a fuss.

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