Not giving my 22 month old her medicine.

[MD1803]

As I can’t come up with a way how. So, tricks, tips, type of foods to mix it in. She needs to finish the food. Please keep it coming. It’s 2.5ml syrup consistency.

She took two doses from a spoon (given in small amounts to avoid spillage so three spoons). For the third dose she saw me taking it out of a bottle with a syringe and that was that. We tried bribes, yoghurt but to be fair she saw that, squirted in the mouth when crying as wide open after already being worked up about it - she managed to move her head, held her head to get it in and she spat it out - two men job. Basically it started well, then tried nice ways, then went into traumatic approach and medicine is still not in. I tried with the yoghurt by giving her a spoonful of only yoghurt on the spoon as it looked the same thinking she will forget about the medicine once she tastes the yoghurt she likes. Did all the traumatic things, plus bribe with chocolate straight after so she was already in a bit of a state…

So I need a bunch of approaches I can try out. She is terrible with medicine and never managed to get Calpol down either. I was actually surprised she took the first two doses. I gave her vitamins from a spoon which she does take and then straight after gave her this medicine on the spoon. But now she saw the bottle and syringe just won’t have any of that.

Wait til she's asleep and syringe into her mouth?

When you squirted it in her mouth did you squirt to the back of the throat? That should avoid her spitting it out as its too far back. Also ensure you fill the syringe out of sight. Don't let her see the bottle or syringe any more.

Does she have a dummy? I found a medicine dummy worked quite well, they have a compartment to put the medicine inside. I was surprised, but think it is something to do with getting the comfort at the same time. Unlikely to work if she doesn’t have a dummy already though.

Sat on lap, firm hold, with arms held down.
Smarties lined up on table in front of them. Clear instructions that medicine is taken then they can have the smarties.
I found a spoon easier.
At 2.5, they were allowed to hold their nose with one hand whilst taking the medicine.
And yes, sometimes it was a 2-man job, but having to take meds was non-negotiable.

please don't do this !

hide the bottle and syringe pre prepare yoghurt without her seeing and just give her it casually.

This.
I would lie mine on my lap hold firm, lie them slightly at an angle and squirt in.
Quickly and a little treat after and all was ok.

It sounds harsh and I am a gentle parent!
Medicine is a must though.

Now older, they don't like it and moan but 100% always take it as they understand it's for a good reason.

Someone taught me this trick which I wish I'd know for my older kids: Syringe it into the mouth and blow on their face. It forces them to swallow and it's over with quickly. That works for babies anyway. Not sure if it still applies at 22 months.

This! Get some mini fromage frais yoghurts, peel the lid back and mix it in then put the lid back on, back into fridge. After tea give her a yoghurt for pudding, peel the lid in front of her to open it and feed her however you normally do.

Mix it into a yogurt and she might eat it that way?

I just did it in front of a screen! DS didn’t get much screen time when little so any time it was on he was completely entranced by it and barely noticed me syringing medicine in.

Thanks for the responses so far. I’m going to try with the petits filous in a casual way as suggested. If she doesn’t eat it in the end and we waste a dose, we already wasted few anyways….

Onto the more traumatic stuff after 😬

yes this is what I used to do if the yoghurt didn't work sometimes people think its too harsh though

DS has been on various medicines more times than I can remember. We gave up on the gentle approach and resorted to hold down and squirt into mouth, aiming at the cheek. Traumatic but over in seconds and he gets the medicine he needs.

He’s now almost 3 and squirts them into his mouth himself, even the horrible tasting ones.

Freeze it and offer it as an ice pole? Some of a dose is better than no dose at all. I’d not keep going down the traumatic route, it can cause a lot of issues further down the line (been there, done that with my own DC who now will not take medicine in any way, shape or form so you have my sympathies). Mix it with a very small dose of juice?

No great tips but lots of sympathy -- been there. Be careful with yoghurt and some antibiotics

@PelicanPopcorn this is actually penicillin. I can also google but what is the possible issue?

Yeah, I’m of the view medicine must be taken if vital but there is a line between causing unnecessary trauma / issues for the future. Antibiotics for a serious infection - not negotiable. Calpol to feel better but not really needed to get over what ever virus they caught - I’d rather not cause a fight.

I just squirt back of mouth - my DD is 25m and it's a pain but it's over quick and easily distracted with chocolate afterwards- none of my 3 have been traumatised and meds are important

I resorted to the following technique (taught me by a pediatric nurse) as I didnt have anyone else around to help me, and it turned out that after two turns, the toddlers just realised I meant business and just took the medicine syringe themselves and squirted it in

sit on the floor with your legs right out in front of you and toddler lying in between with their head in your crotch.
Put each of your legs on top of one side of their body so that each of your legs holds down one of their arms and one leg.

Use your thighs to hold their head still
Syringe the medicine into the very back of their cheek and either hold their nose or blow on their face
Once swallowed give a super deluxe edible treat that they value highly
Big hug and tell them well done

Just make sure you have the syringe filled and ready on the floor (so you can reach it) before you get them pinned. Its a much kinder way to restrain them as it doesnt involve grabbing them, but more simple body weight and spread out pressure

Swaddle in a towel, squirt in back of the cheek and blow on face to make sure it’s swallowed. Grab with the element of surprise and be quick and efficient. Afterwards give them a smartie or something.

My 2 year old had a course of antibiotics just before Christmas. We tried forcing the dose, she got so distressed she ended up vomiting. We tried hiding it in food, she stopped eating. The only thing that worked was a chocolate button but it was still a two man job with me holding her arms on and keeping her on a bit of a angle so she struggled to spit out the meds my DH was syringing in. Kept reminding her the button was coming next. Doesn't have an issue with Calpol but the amoxicillin was sugar free and smelled awful.

Thanks for this. Very helpful. Did your’s put up any fight when getting into that position - even before any medicine got involved?

Similar to @SeaToSki here...
I would hold down so they can't move their head, and just squirt it in. Give them warning so "you need to take this medicine, can you do it or does mummy need to do it?" If they refuse just do it. The next time offer again... eventually they'll just take it and you won't need to hold them down.
My sympathies though, it feels horrible. My DD would have a screaming fit until one day like a switch had flipped she just stopped and will now take calpol etc absolutely fine.
Weirdy my DS has no problem, will just open his mouth for a syringe and drink it happily! Although he has been on iron supplements since he was a couple of months old so maybe he's just used to it!

Not sure what the rules are but my 16 month old has some in a small bottle of milk, if that doesn't work then we basically need to hold her head and put the syringe to the side of her mouth and squirt in that way.

Mix each dose with juice and freeze in a little lolly mould?