Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not be able to get my kid to take his medicine!!!

27 replies

Toomuchtooyoung01 · 12/07/2021 19:29

DS 16 months has chest infection and been prescribed antibiotics (amoxicillin). It is a battle to get the syringe into his mouth and once in, all antibiotics get spat straight out.
He becomes absolutely hysterical and thrashes about, the whole thing is so stressful. I’m really worried that he isn’t getting anywhere near a proper dosage of antibiotics and his chest infection is going to get worse.
Does anyone have any tips on this please?!

OP posts:
bludo49 · 12/07/2021 19:36

I'm sure this isn't for everyone but I cover the syringe in chocolate spread, it's the only thing that works for us!

AllisoninWunderland · 12/07/2021 19:36

Other than a bribe with a chocolate button you can’t force a 16 month old to take medicine sadly. I know from bitter experience.

You need to go back to your GP ASAP and explain the situation. Either they can prescribe something that tastes more tolerable or they take your child in for IV antibiotics. It’s a battle you can’t win sadly. And it’s traumatic for child and parent.

Good luck op.

Bksjshsbbev2737 · 12/07/2021 19:38

I’ve had this experience; I put it in milk once snd a yoghurt another time. The risk of that is that they may not drink all the milk or eat all the yoghurt but DD certainly got more of it than when she spat it out

Notimeforaname · 12/07/2021 19:40

Yep. Mix with something

Notimeforaname · 12/07/2021 19:41

I'd go with chocolate antibiotic syringe as mentioned above Grin with more chocolate/whatever he likes for after

CrouchEndTiger12 · 12/07/2021 19:42

Do they do them in suppository form?

EKGEMS · 12/07/2021 19:43

I used to put medications in the nipple of his bottle with formula when my son was a baby. You can also put it in pudding or ice cream or applesauce or yogurt,cottage cheese. It's a real challenge but keep trying. You're doing great!!!

Peppallama · 12/07/2021 19:46

Sit him front of the TV while you do it

Unanananana · 12/07/2021 19:47

I'd wrap him in a towel and squirt it gradually down the side of his mouth. I have done this with both of mine. Let him scream, you know he is safe and unharmed. This is a medical necessity. Its that or hospital for IV.

ObviousNameChage · 12/07/2021 19:48

Mix it with something else, or use bribes. Whatever works.

greenmacaron · 12/07/2021 19:50

At that age I used to squirt it into the side of the mouth, well back. Eventually they have to swallow. It’s awful, but it does work.

Now I bribe with a little sweet or a bit of chocolate, but a 16-month-old might not get it 😔

I think it would be worth trying diluting it 50/50 with chocolate milk, too.

Findmeatthebeach · 12/07/2021 19:51

My son was like this, it is horrid. In the end the only way to get them in was to swaddle him in a big blanket and squirt it in the side of his mouth. I'd then make a big fuss of him straight after and he'd be fine.

MyFartWillGoOn · 12/07/2021 19:52

We are on our third lot of antibiotic this year for our 18 month old. He hates it!

We put it in one of his bowls and mix it with a teaspoon of ice cream. He laps it up! The small amount of ice cream is worth getting it down him with ease

I asked my GP about it and he said as long as he gets the full dose down, that's the main thing!

WonkyMumof2 · 12/07/2021 19:52

If you can manage to get the syringe in point into cheek or under the tongue and release slowly. Alternatively I worked in a pharmacy and the pharmacist use to suggest adding it to a little bit of milkshake for parents struggling to get their children to take antibiotics. Hope that helps.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 12/07/2021 19:54

Distract distract then try and get him with an open mouth and squirt it into the side as fast as you can. It's harder for them to spit out if they are lying back a bit. Persevere though, as I usually find mine tolerate it better after the first day.

Otherwise mix into something.

BadgertheBodger · 12/07/2021 19:56

Jam sandwich, smoothie or ice cream. It’s awful. DS won’t even take Calpol at 4.5 years old and he’s got too big to force him, although I did use the towel trick when he was smaller. You want to aim the syringe towards the back of their cheek near the bottom teeth and then tip their head back and hold the chin to close their mouth but it’s hit and miss in my experience. Needs must though! I’ve been to hospital 3 times with him now for temperatures which I couldn’t get down because he wouldn’t have the medicine.

FourEyesGood · 12/07/2021 19:58

I used to inject it into a smoothie carton then mix it up and offer it as a treat (DS loved smoothies when he was little).

gingerbiscuits · 12/07/2021 20:00

Urgh! Remember those days well! Definitely mix with something he likes - literally anything as long as it gets it into him! Good luck!!

MangoM · 12/07/2021 20:01

I feel your pain! We're currently a few days into a course of antibiotics for tonsillitis for our 23 month old. This one actually tastes sweet, strawberry flavour and he still refuses it and spits it out.

A few tricks that have worked for us (sometimes) in the past:

  • Aim the syringe into the inside of the cheek before releasing the medicine.
  • Gently blowing on their face can trigger the swallow reflex in some children. Do it as soon as the medicine is in their mouth.

DS has now learned that if he grits his teeth, we won't be able to get the syringe past them so we've got a new trick ... get a plastic spoon in his mouth first, and this'll stop him clamping his teeth together. Bizarrely, our DS instinctively opens his mouth for a spoon, he just can't help it!

Are you trying to give him the dose by yourself or is there anyone else that can help?

Good luck!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 12/07/2021 20:02

Oral syringe ,shoot it to the back of his mouth and just as he's about to create merry hell whip out some chocolate buttons Wink

Brunilde · 12/07/2021 20:17

Have you tried just on a spoon? My son hates the syringe for any medicine but will happily use the spoon, I assume as its more familiar to him.

Original poster
Toomuchtooyoung01 · 12/07/2021 20:21

Thanks for your tips guys, OH has actually had a few days annual leave this week so has been on hand to assist and we have tried one of us cuddling him while the other mans the syringe, with Mr Tumble’s Song Time (current fave) on tv, tried getting DD to make him laugh and distract him with toys, tried aiming it in his cheek, haven’t mixed it with anything as yet as when I asked both the GP and the pharmacist about doing this they said not to (???? But hearing lots of other people’s GP’s have suggested doing so)

OP posts:
elevenses75 · 12/07/2021 20:32

They suggest not to as if he doesn’t take all of whatever you put it in he’s not getting a full dose. I used to put in strong juice or pure orange, smoothie/milkshake good too but only a small amount so he drinks it all.

It’s a battle we all go through. I’m a mum of 4 and a paeds nurse so been through it with my own and at work. I do wish medicines were a bit more tasty . Penicillin v is the worst imo kids hate that. If there 2 of you wrap in sheet to prevent the thrashing and squeeze syringe into cheek and gently blow face, massaging under chin/cheek works too. Scooshing the full lot in will usually result in it being spat all over you, that has happened to me a lot at work. When I was in America my kids were ill and got bubblegum amoxicillin one took it the other we stuck it in sunny delight and he had no idea but he was a non paracetamol taker too. V frustrating.
Persevere and if he appears to be getting worse you need to go back to gp.

gingerbiscuits · 12/07/2021 20:51

Meant to add to my previous post...
Our son would happily scoff a Petit Filou or chocolate mousse from a spoon - we used to stick his meds in that, sometimes! Worth a try! Or a very small drink so that he gets it all.

Flev · 12/07/2021 21:00

We've had to do hay-fever meds since DD was 18 months old, and rapidly discovered that it was not going to work for us trying to force it on her.

At the start we mixed it with strawberry fromage frais as that was the only way she would take it.

She's now 2 1/2 and the last 6 months have been a lot easier as she is now bribeable! We explained she needs her medicine so she doesn't feel poorly, and give her a choice each time of a couple of chocolate buttons or a fromage frais to take the taste away afterwards. We put her choice where she can see it, then wait for her to open her mouth for the syringe, which she does eventually - but I think she's more amenable as we're not forcing it on her and she knows she's getting her treat afterwards.

One learning point - definitely aim the syringe for the cheek not straight backwards as if you accidentally give them a bit much at once it can cause them to vomit (been there, got the t-shirt covered in it!)