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Children's health

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Original poster

How to get disgusting medicine into my toddler?

15 replies

Chestnut99 · 18/05/2011 22:12

My DS (20mo) has tonsilitis and has been prescribed penicillin but the medicine (after having the tiniest taste myself) is absolutely disgusting and terribly bitter. He took half of the first spoonful but now he knows what it tastes like won't go near it. The instructions say to take it 30 mins before or three hours after a meal, so I can't hide it in yogurt etc.

Any suggestions for how to sweeten the pill (actually its a very sloppy liquid which doesn't help either!) would be very useful - thanks!

OP posts:

CancerMadeMeUnfit · 18/05/2011 22:22

Violent orange colour? Smells vile? It's a nightmare.

DS2 (5) had to have it at around 2yr (willie trouble). It stank. I called the surgery and there was no alternative but the GP compromised on a minimum 5 days. We got in a smidgen each time for five days with great trouble and it did work. Unfortunately it required two adults each time, which was horrible, and some force. We held his nose and shot it down when his mouth opened but it was really unpleasant to do it. Tbh the only way we got through even the five days was because a friend's child had just been in hospital and she'd had to deal with injections, cannulae and really nasty stuff.

As you can tell, I'm still traumatised at having to force it down. 'Twas worth it though.

mouseanon · 18/05/2011 22:26

Do whatever it takes to get it in but always, always follow it with a sweet. My DD had some vile aniseed tasting stuff for a UTI when she was 3. To start with it took two of us pinning her down to get it into her, but with the sweets after a couple of days she was happy to cooperate. Helps to get rid of the taste as well as being a little treat to make it worth doing from their pov.

RainbowShite · 18/05/2011 22:28

Float a chocolate button in it on the spoon

ChinnityRhino · 18/05/2011 22:29

pin down with the dc head between your knees and arms under your legs

open mouth, squirt meds with a syringe into back of throat

ensure they swallow

then IMMEADIATELY jump off them and give sweets, choc, whatever they LOVE LOVE LOVE

you're doing what best for them

it wont traumatise them

good luck and

headfairy · 18/05/2011 22:32

I'm currently following Trinity's method (I'm assuming it's Trinity under a diff name :o) Painful, traumatic, but it's utterly necessary. DD has terrible bronchitis and I've got to get her to finish her antibs, but they are so vile. Syringe is necessary, as is a bib or some kind of cloth to make sure you don't both get covered in sticky goo. Big cuddle afterwards, and sweet treat of your choosing.

TragicallyHip · 18/05/2011 22:33

Mix it in yogurt/food or a drink.

It's better to take it with food than not at all. The doctor told me to do this when Ds wouldn't take his antibiotics for a throat infection and then a ear infection.

jocie · 18/05/2011 22:33

iv been told that ribena hides most horrible tasting stuff, haven't tried it yet but i would imagine if you mised into a little bit of diluted ribena then he might drink it. Failing that iv found a syringe is easier then a spoon!!
Have just finished my own course of anti's for tonsillitis and yes it is disgusting taste ( have liquid as can't swallow tablets with out eating!)
I have eaten a little biccie after each bit just to take away the taste.

fishcakefoxtrot · 18/05/2011 22:34

Bribery and a syringe.

I squirt it into the side of dd's cheek (don't do it straight in as it might make him gag). I kind of hold her in under my arm in a very firm hug which also keeps her arms down.

I bribe with chocolate buttons after every dose. We get them out and put them on the table so that she knows she is definitely going to get them.

Once dd came to expect the buttons getting the medicine was much easier.

Good luck and hope he feels better soon.

Original poster

Chestnut99 · 18/05/2011 22:45

Thanks all - will give choc buttons and a firm hold a go and see how we do ... Plus Ribena as a fall back. I agree that the most important thing is to get it into him to make him better.

Why do drug companies make medicine for children that is so revolting? I'm sure when I was little, antibiotics were not exactly fun but not this disgusting.

OP posts:

Sirzy · 19/05/2011 11:58

Does he have a dummy? If so a nurse when DS was in hospital taught me to let him suck the dummy then pull it out enough to get the syringe in give him a bit then let him suck the dummy some more then give the rest. Stops it being as easy to spit it all out.

I have used the ribena trick with medicine before (steroids) but he did still fight it but not as much.

ImeldaM · 19/05/2011 13:22

Would agree with forcing it if need be, my DS has had to learn that if he spits it out, he'll get some more (small amount) but if he takes it he'll get a sweetie & lots of emphasis on being a brave big boy.

This was from about 2 years ago when he had a skin infection that was very resistant & I had visions of him ending up in hospital on a drip/injections/ the lot, if I didn't get that medicine in him. Good Luck!

EustaciaVye · 19/05/2011 20:30

banana milkshake.

banana masks the taste of most things. only thing to work with dd.

peeriebear · 19/05/2011 20:37

DD2 had TWO different nasty penicillin meds two years ago when she was 2 (horrific eye infection which should have had IV anti b's). She would cry when i got the bottle out :( but bless her, she was so stoic and took it. I always gave her some ice cream, chocolate, even some golden syrup on a spoon immediately after though. I tasted the medicine myself and it is truly rank. WHY do they give kids the nasty stuff?! Why not the banana one!

galois · 19/05/2011 20:53

If it's the horrid orange one, I got DS1 to have an apple juice chaser.

Then again, with DS2 I failed to get him to take any of his ABs for an ear infection, despite my best efforts. I disagree with those who say "you have to force it" - you can do this for one dose of medicine but not for a full ten day course of 4 a day antibiotics. Perhaps the answer is to go back to the GP and ask them to prescribe pills that can be put in a jam sandwich.

Original poster

Chestnut99 · 19/05/2011 22:00

Well I am very relieved to report that my little chap has been amazing - we woke him just before we went to bed last night to squirt in a dose of antibiotics using a syringe, followed immediately by (delicious) Calpol and a couple of choc buttons to take away the fever and/or the taste. He was totally fine with it and went straight back to sleep. Then this morning, thinking it would be much trickier with him awake, we tried the same thing - no problem. And he has taken the medicine twice more today, with a choc button chaser each time and no fuss.

Yet again I am amazed by how brave and tough these little people can be. Phew and thanks all for the advice :)

OP posts:

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