how to get DS to take medicine

[elderwand90]

sorry not really AIBU but need quick responses! DS 20 months will not take medicine what so ever I have tried to give him Calpol before and it has been a nightmare with him screaming and not taking any.
Anyway now he has a ear infection and has been giving antibiotics to take any ideas how i can get him to take it? We have tried to be really nice about it and calm offering bribes and also trier just holding him down and putting it in the back of his mouth so he will swallow it but he just gurgles it and spits it all out in a raspberry kind of way IYSWIM. So he hardly gets anything maybe just a wee dribble of medicine any ideas what else I could do?

I found you have to be a bit cruel to be kind. Simply put, get child on your knee, hold their hands with one of yours, tip them back and syringe the medicine in. I found I got the best results if I aimed for the back but to the side. Keep them tipped back until they swallow. If they gargle and can spit it back, they’re too upright, their head needs to be further back.
Feels horrible but they won’t be persuaded and they need to have the medicine if it’s antibiotics. You’ll soon get them to an age where they recognise they feel better for it, and sometimes ask for the magic pink milk...

thanks it does feel horrible when I have held him down and he screams and spits out the medicine. I would have just hoped there was a nicer way I never had this issue with DD so it's all new this experience didn't realise how good it was when DD would just take medicine with out any issues.

Just mix it with orange juice.

he doesn't like juice of any kind and I think he would know his water has been tampered with. Tried to give him some fruity water to try before and he wouldn't even try it as he could smell it was different.

Grit your teeth and just do it, big cuddle afterwards, and reiterate ‘you’ll feel better soon’. I had a medicine refuser, still fussy sometimes, but if I go towards him with the loaded syringe he just opens his mouth, resignedly

Wouldn't the citric acid in the orange juice have the potential to deactivate or damage the effectiveness of the medicine?

I do an "inverted jesus" pose, lie them on floor with head between your legs and arms pinned under your thighs...so legs away from you head close to you. Legs are free, but because the chest is secure, they can't move away and you have good vision of their mouth and your hands are free to administer medicine. Slowly put medicine in back/side of mouth, calmly encourage to swallow. Afterwards, cuddles and treat of their choice.

Mix with yoghurt?

I think the inverted Jesus might work as he does try his almighty best to move as much as possible. He does take the odd yogurt as well so that might be an option as well. will try when he is due is next dose

Could you put it in juice. My DC are both medicine refusers I buy paralink as it is watery rather than slimy and can be easily disguised in a liquid.

Wrap tightly in a large towel or blanket and then squirt in side of cheek.

Aim for the inside of the cheek near the back. Do it a little at a time so they don't choke.

It's horrible when you have to do this to them but sometimes you need to be cruel to be kind.

When you put in the medicine syringe, as others said, aim to back of cheek & leave it in situ for a moment or 2. You can't spit with an open mouth, so he'll have to swallow by reflex. Horrible to do these things but sometimes you just have to woman up & gather your courage!

I used to sit mine sideways, snug under my arm. Their closest arm goes behind yr back, and yr free arm holds the (wildly flailing) arm securely. Tip back almost horizontal.

Wouldn't the citric acid in the orange juice have the potential to deactivate or damage the effectiveness of the medicine?

Stomach acid is waaay more acidic than fruit juice so if its OK to be taken by mouth orange juice should be fine.

I wouldn't store in in orange juice for hours or days but fine added to the juice and then given straight away would be fine.