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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Toddler with tonsillitis refusing antibiotics

89 replies

lunepremiere79 · 13/11/2021 07:33

Hi all, posting here for traffic and hoping to get some advice. My 2.5 yo DD has come down with tonsillitis and got prescribed antibiotics (penicillin) last night but doesn't like the taste and most of it she spits right out. I 've tried the syringe and the spoon, haven't tried the juice yet, but will do later today once I get some. Any other tips for how to entice her to take the medicine? Thanks! x

OP posts:
purplesequins · 13/11/2021 07:34

is he in pain?
deal with that first, i.e. give calpol or nurofen.

purplesequins · 13/11/2021 07:35

sorry, she of course.

44PumpLane · 13/11/2021 07:37

We were once given flucoxycillan which is effectively the devil's work.... We asked the gp for a different medication as I refused to put us all through pinning her down to administer. As its the weekend try hiding in yogurt or honey, bribing with chocolate, and if all else fails request new stuff on Monday first thing.

ClaryFairchild · 13/11/2021 07:38

Not taking it is not an option - if you have to, pin them down, squirt in the mouth with a syringe, and hold mouth closed until it's swallowed.

Tamarasnotmyname · 13/11/2021 07:38

Bribe! Buy some smarties or similar small chocolates and say she gets one after she’s taken her medicine. Hold a drink of juice right by her so when she’s had the medication she can have a quick sip to take the taste away. Good luck !

heythereamigo · 13/11/2021 07:38

Antibiotics only shorten the course of tonsillitis by between 12-24 hours, so I’ve stopped getting them for my two unless they are properly sick with it. If difflam, calpol and neurofen can keep them going I stick with that.

Original poster
lunepremiere79 · 13/11/2021 07:38

She will happily take Calpol/Nurofen but not the penicillin. It doesn't seem like she is in pain right now, she is playing with toys etc, but I am concerned that we don't be able to finish the 10 day course as prescribed (4 times a day at 5ml)... Not sure it's something to be concerned about or if there is an alternative. Will this clear up on its own?

OP posts:
delilahbucket · 13/11/2021 07:40

Painkiller first so they have a sweet taste in their mouth, then antibiotics, then a chocolate button?

GoodnightGrandma · 13/11/2021 07:41

It’s not an option to not take it.
Get a drink she likes with a strong taste, a sip of that to get the taste in her mouth, medicine straight down, followed very quickly by another drink.
Lots of bribes for when she’s taken it.

purplesequins · 13/11/2021 07:42

when my dc had pneumonia at 2yo we had to go back to gp. gp then prescribed thesamd antibiotics in capsules which we broke open and mixed the powder (discussed with gp&pharmacist) with jam or nutella. which dc happily took.

Rugsofhonour · 13/11/2021 07:42

This reply has been deleted

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LefttoherownDevizes · 13/11/2021 07:45

I think I saw a thread saying if you squirt it into their cheek and then blow in their face it makes them swallow. Or something.

Disguise and bribe

Mumdiva99 · 13/11/2021 07:45

Having suffered badly with tonsillitis please get the medicine in her.

Add it to yoghurt.
Squirt it into her cheek.
Bribe her with yummy food.
Hold her down last resort.

It's been a while since my kids were on antibiotics but I do remember for one kind there were a number of different flavours and some were better tolerated by young kids.....but that might be amoxycillin and not penicillin. Asking the chemist for the nicer flavour was eecommended.

cansu · 13/11/2021 07:45

I used to get those puree pots of fruit and mix in there.

Maxiedog123 · 13/11/2021 07:50

I used to mix liquid antibiotics into chocolate milk and tablets would be crushed and mixed with Nutella.

ThirdElephant · 13/11/2021 07:50

There's a section on taking medicines in 'How to talk so little kids will listen'. Is she verbal enough to problem solve? So, acknowledge feelings- 'I know, it tastes awful and you really don't like having it in your mouth!' (Say it like you feel disgusted by it too). 'The problem is, we have to get this medicine inside your body to make you better and stop the pain in your throat coming back again. What could we do?' Come up with ideas together, pick one together and try that? She might want to watch a particular TV show while she does it, or hold her nose to swallow, or have a chocolate before and after?

When all else fails, it's time to, 'take action without insult'. So basically tell her you're going to give her the medicine, that you know she doesn't like it but her body needs the medicine. Then cradle in your lap, pinning one arm between you and her body and the other arm with yours, take aim at the back of the cheek and go for it. Good luck!

PaddingtonsHat · 13/11/2021 07:52

It reasonable to ask for an alternative from the out of hours team. Penicillin is notoriously vile.

AnOldCynic · 13/11/2021 07:52

Mix it with undiluted cordial. Nurse did that with some hideous steroids DS had to take when he was tiny.

careerchangeperhaps · 13/11/2021 07:57

@heythereamigo

Antibiotics only shorten the course of tonsillitis by between 12-24 hours, so I’ve stopped getting them for my two unless they are properly sick with it. If difflam, calpol and neurofen can keep them going I stick with that.
This. DS used to get tonsillitis so often as a toddler (he's had them removed now) that the GP said that he wasn't really happy to keep prescribing antibiotics so often. I can't say that there was much difference in the recovery time when he didn't have them. Perhaps speak to your GP to see if they're really necessary (obviously some cases are more serious than others and need antibiotics).
Buzlightyear1 · 13/11/2021 07:59

I was a nightmare as a child my dad used to hide it in honey or golden syrup. As they are very strong sugary flavour it really helped. Also a drink fir right after she has taken them. I'm older with my own kids now so feel bad for screaming at my dad terrified as I couldn't swallow tablets. But hes helped so much as now I can do with my son.

EnidFrighten · 13/11/2021 08:02

@ClaryFairchild

Not taking it is not an option - if you have to, pin them down, squirt in the mouth with a syringe, and hold mouth closed until it's swallowed.
This. Sorry. Ends justify the means.
SeaToSki · 13/11/2021 08:03

You must get it into her. Bacterial tonsillitis can attack the heart valves if you dont treat it.

You can ask the chemist to remake it with a different flavour

You can try hiding it better in something strongly flavoured

You cam try bribing

You can pin her down…. Sit on the floor with her lying between your legs facing away. Put one of your legs over each shoulder and leg..this will oin her head between your thighs. Then slowly dribble it into the back of her cheek with a syringe. Dont squirt it quickly, it hurts. Be very calm but firm.

I found that after I pinned mine a couple of times, they would accept taking it normally, particularly if I allowed them to squirt it into their own mouths

Cheerbear23 · 13/11/2021 08:04

Chocolatés, buttons, small blob of ice cream afterwards for swallowing the medicine? It’s a situation where bribery is required!
If really still no joy, ask the pharmacy to swap.

Chrita · 13/11/2021 08:04

My 2 year old has had recurrent tonsillitis. The antibiotics they prescribe are disgusting so either ask for a better tasting alternative or as another poster has said they have been shown to only reduce the time by 24-48 hours.

Rainallnight · 13/11/2021 08:06

Best tip I ever read on here is to blow fairly hard on their face as soon as you squirt the medicine in. It stimulates a swallow reflex and stops them from spitting them out.

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