Getting medicine into a baby

[TheLegendOfBeans]

Please help me: I have to give my baby 3x1.5mls of three different medicines over the next ten days.

I am hugely struggling to get it into her.
She's 6mo old, and strong as anything, she'll whack the syringe aside or clamp her mouth shut.

Just had an upsetting time as I ended up almost shoving the syringe into her mouth and scraped her gum - it must've hurt for her as it went right through me.

Any secret tips?

Ps: putting it in her milk doesn't work; she's rejected two bottles now.

I remember clearly how difficult it is, but a nurse showed us a technique that sounds and feels horrid, but it is quick and far less painful for all concerned.

Essentially cuddle baby so that they can't lash out too much, tip head back slightly, put the syringe into the side of the cheek and as far down as you can get it (not into the centre of the mouth, they gag and freak out!).

Restraining them feels horrific, but this was the only way that worked for us, and after a few times DD got used to it and stopped fighting. She's now nearly two and loves taking her meds!

Not sure I explained that too clearly - you need to aim for inside the cheek, where the wisdom teeth would be. There they can't spit it out, and it massively reduces the gag reflex, which is what they usually fight back against.

Good luck!

Yes we do exactly what teameponine described. It may seem cruel the first time, but squirting it into cheek means they won't choke and being firm and fast means it's over and come with and forgotten quickly rather than an upsetting, drawn or battle of wills.

Possible alternative at 6 months. Does she like those fruit purée pots? I still use them for a much older baby as a sneaky way to get in the vitamin drops as they seem to hide the taste better than milk. You'd need to be sure she'd eat the whole lot to get the full dose though.

Yes! Someone has mentioned the "aim for the wisdom teeth" technique before: I forgot.

But it's actually getting her mouth to open...

Bloody hell, I had an easier time when I used to have to give the cat is worming tablets.

If you have one of those very thin syringes you can usually push it into the corner of the mouth and down the side of the gums. The battle is when they clench their gums. But this way you go right in the corner of the mouth and down the side of the gums.

Ah, you have to do 1.5 ml, so possibly have a chunky 5ml syringe. Ask the chemist for a 1ml. Yes, you'll have to do twice as many, but it is far easier as it can fit between the cheek and the gums.

Oh my god Epionine I bloody love you

Squeeze her cheeks to make her mouth open slightly the. Hold her nose slightly to make her swallow it. Sounds worse than it is. Have a child with autism and have become a medicine dispensing ninja!

Cakes - a good shout. However I am convinced my DD has "squeeze-resistant cheeks".

At least I know that she's going to be an excellent spy when she grows up

We have to give less than 1ml so a skinnier syringe but we've found it's possible to fit both a teat and syringe in her mouth so she just doesn't notice. With bigger syringes she sort of laps to suck it out but has to be hungry. Sorry to state the obvious but have you tried when your dc is hungry (if allowed to be taken then).

As Epionine has described - worked a treat on my 3 week old. If she tries to spit it out, squeeze her cheeks so she makes a duck face, makes it nearly impossible to spit out.

I see someone has already suggested the mini syringe - it was the only way I could get our DD to take medicine.

Does she take a dummy? You can get a thing which is like a dummy to give medicine with or alternatively I use a regularly dummy after giving medicine to stop her spitting it out.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/231886076217?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=27378760866&rlsatarget=pla-181484357106&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=9046778&device=t&campaignid=620865095&crdt=0&ul_ref=http%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-134428-41853-0%252F2%253Fmtid%253D1673%2526kwid%253D1%2526crlp%253D110919892746_563391%2526itemid%253D231886076217%2526targetid%253D181484357106%2526device%253Dt%2526mpre%253Dhttp%25253a%25252f%25252fwww.ebay.co.uk%25252fitm%25252flike%25252f231886076217%25253flpid%25253d122%252526chn%25253Dps%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9046778%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D620865095%2526adgroupid%253D27378760866%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-181484357106%2526gclid%253DCMuQkvG-384CFSco0wodY9IJrg%2526srcrot%253D710-134428-41853-0%2526rvr_id%253D1082969072860

I have no idea if it works.

The only thing that worked for us was using a bottle lid (the teat and ring basically). We would just pour the medicine into the lid with no bottle attached and by the time she had sucked the teat and swallowed the medicine was already in her!!!

Any luck op?

Varying: basically we are putting her down on her changing mat and administering towards the wisdom tooth area. Little spilled so far but OMG many tears 😭