It's not an AIBU - but help otherwise I'll feed my a child fruit shoot...

[mrsrupertpenryjones]

I need some help. My (wilful) 6 year old has been peeing blood and been diagnosed with a water infection. She has been prescribed co-amoxyclav and hates the taste. We had the mother of all stand off's last night and this morning to get her to take it. This afternoon I've tried mixing with yoghurt when she got home, but she realised and is currently sat dicking around eating it tiny bit by tiny bit.

So please - educate me in your dark arts of getting children to take their medicine. One of us will not last the 7 day course we've been given.

Cheers!

[Janethegirl]

At 6 I'd go for tablets they can swallow. My Ds would refuse point blank to swallow the medication. I'd more luck with cats.
Dd was as bad and I got her taking tablets from just under 3 as she got tonsillitis on a regular basis ( and still does!!).

[BlackeyedSusan]

serious amounts of sugar. on the basis that eyes trump teeth.

is this the yellow banana milkshake medicine or the pink vile stuff?

the yellow stuff goes in milk. the pink stuff goes in 15ml or so of neat concentrated black currant with a spoon of sugar stirred in, with chocolate bribery. I hope that with a NT 7 yr old you would not need so much bribery.

[PacificDogwood]

IMO and IME there are only 2 ways to give liquid antibiotics to a reluctant child: quickly and firmly (may be a 2 person job), then cuddles and reward, or with bribery involving Nutella. Ribena/black currant squash may help as well.

Before you give her too hard a time, please try a bit of her Augmentin.
Liquid antibiotics for children taste absolutely vile - there's a specific antibiotic taste that is almost impossible to hide.

DH and became masters in the quick-and-firm approach when DS2 had to take daily antibiotics for 3 years…. . He is now the master in swallowing horse pills.

Good luck - hope she gets better soon

[PrimalLass]

When DD had to take that stuff I took her to the shop and she chose 10 wee sweeties, one for after each dose. We put them in a bowl so she could see how many doses were left.

[parallax80]

What I find bizarre is that the default now is sugar-free liquid, presumably because of concerns about children's teeth or weight - but because it tastes so rank, most people end up giving a whole load of sugary stuff to get it into the child.

[BrumMummy]

I would second the suggestion of smoothies, it's the only way DD1 would ever take hers! I think it's the texture because it's sort of gloopyish like liquid medicine and because it's not quite smooth and a strong flavour. By 6 or 7 I was asking for tablets and she swallowed those fine. If you think yours would be the same then I would really seriously consider asking for tablets in future, some kids find swallowing tablets much less of a chore than the taste of liquid medicine but the standard is that they'll give you the liquid until at least secondary school age I've found.

[ToysRLuv]

There are some things that DS will not take even with the biggest if bribes, or worst of consequences. That is why stealth works better. He us only 5, though.

[mrsrupertpenryjones]

Thanks vipers for all your suggestions - it really is appreciated.

I'll be giving most of these a go over the next week with a large helping of tough love. I know they were concerned it was more than "just" a water infection due to the amount of blood she was passing, so whether she likes it or not she'll be taking the medication, I don't really care if she likes it or not - it's more about saving my sanity when getting her to take it.

Thanks again! x

[MuttersDarkly]

Is it an antibiotic ? I don't recognise the name.

We only ever get prescribed horse pill sized anti-bods by the doc. But they are dissolvable. So I melt some chocolate, mix in a little water to stop it re solidifying when it cools, and use a shit ton of it under and over the dissolved anti-bod on the spoon.

It also worked on a spoon (2 spoons) as a pre and post squirt when he had liquid anti-bodies as a kid.

Mightily squished ripe bananas also work in a pinch.

Neither of us can gag it down in something "big" like a whole yogurt infected with the smell. It has to be a stong-ish taste right before and after the admin of the iccky taste. Fast.

I never strong armed becuase I am just as wimpy about vile tasting medecine. Still have flashbacks of diving upside down in the laundry basket to avoid my mum with a massive tablespoon of that horrific white gunk they used to torture us with In the 70s. Have never liked laundry bins since. I stayed there upside down for yonks. While she lurked. Tugging on my flailing legs. Unfeeling woman.

Usually the first few days with the pre/post spoon of the "kill the worst of the taste" method involve quite a bit of whimpering, putting off the moment and spluttering. Especially from me. By the last few days things are usually easier.

[dementedpixie]

chewing gum worked with ds. take the medicine, get a chewing gum

[Andanotherthing123]

My ds has type 1 diabetes and sometimes has un sweetened anti biotics which are utterly vomit inducing. With the help of mumsnet we found half a spoon of nutella before the meds, then half a spoon straight after. It kind of coats the mouth and he found it made it all much easier. Good luck!

[trilbydoll]

Jam & yoghurt worked for my tonsillitis medicine at a similar age. Not loads, you can't dilute the taste, you're better off with about 2 mouthfuls.

[HeyMicky]

It's unlikely antibs will be slow release so you should be fine

[ToysRLuv]

Careful, though, with tablets, as not all should be ground..

[HeyMicky]

Tablets ground up in honey/jam/Nutella

[ToysRLuv]

Friji fudge milkshake or innocent smoothies for DS. Disguises the senna nicely.

[Remind]

My mum used to tell us to hold our nose and swallow it quickly. Apparently, you can't taste it if you can't smell it. Dunno but it made us giggle and we took our meds.

Anyway, take it quickly with the chocolate ready to go in as soon as it's down.

[FenellaFellorick]

Bribe her with anything that works. The most important thing is that she takes the medicine.

[AuditAngel]

I am also with bribery. We have tried sneaking it into a sleepy DD2, but she just spits it out. Come clean and be prepared with whatever will get it into them.

[heymammy]

Absolutely agree with bribery, something they are not usually allowed preferably! If it really is unbearable then ask the doc/chemist to prescribe something else.

[WeirdCatLady]

It's time for tough love I'm afraid. She can have a treat once she has had it but nothing until she has had however much she has to take. And if she refuses then she gets nothing, no tv, nothing until it is done.
If she knows she cannot get away with it then she will eventually give in.

You have my sympathies x

[ginmakesitallok]

We mixed dd2's into something not unlike a fruit shoot. The harm (??) Done by a fruit shoot is more than outweighed by the benefit of the antibiotic.

[Fatstacks]

Is yoghurt/milk ok with the anitbi's?

I'm older so I just went straight in with the big guns.
1 pack of pokemon cards and a cornetto.
A bonus of a rowntree winder if no tears.

[Andcake]

We mixed ds with orange juice ( not squash) as she has Ito does she like lemon or orange barley as that helps uti