Please help me get antibiotics into my toddler

[TwinkleMerrick]

Just that really, I'm calling on all experienced parents to give me some tips on getting my head strong 2.5 year old take antibiotics for an ear infection. The doctor was useless! Just said to use a syringe and squirt in the side of her mouth....like I hadn't tried that! She just spits it every where and gets really upset. I've tried bribing with chocolate....didn't work. Try giving it in smaller doses and on a spoon....didn't work. Now trying putting it in her milk....she is sitting in her den looking at it questionably. It's really stressing me out, made worse by the doctor saying she will have to go to hospital and have a drip if I can't get it in her, I really don't want that with covid and everything. Please help me xx

If the milk stops working, contact your pharmacy and ask if they can do another flavour. Or a capsule as someone else said. It will usually need your doctor to do another prescription though, so might be a bit late for that now.

Just done 10 days of 4 times a day with my 2.5 year old. Chocolate, loads of it. I bought some chocolate reindeer, coins etc. He got to choose his reward, quick squirt of medicine, drink and then his chocolate. By day 8 he was asking for his morning dose 😂 Now he is better I just have to wean him off chocolate 🤦‍♀️😂

Which antibiotic have they given you? Flucloxacillin is notoriously hard toget into children as it's tastes awful but normally would give amoxicillin for ear infections and kids normally like this as it's flurescent yellow and 🍌 !
If it's impossible you could request a different antibiotic to try and sometimes this helps. I've had great success with role play - playing doctors, taking medicine etc, she examines you and gives youedicines then you check her over 'ouu I think you neededicine for that but I need your help to pour the right amount - can you help me' type thing. Works wonders when they feel they are helping you. Good luck x

Yes, brute force. Wrap in a towel, arms inside, syringe and hold mouth closed.

Suck an ice cube first as numbs taste buds. Use a totally different flavour squash/drink/yoghurt to mix it into. Ice cube straight after and sweet.

We have had success with daddy doing it

Christ this thread brings back horrific memories of being pinned down for medicine as a young child.
Get there's a need. I am a parent now and have had this issue .

brute force may appear harmless at the time with 'no lasting effects' but consider that it may not be alright longer term.

Really feel for you OP - we did the brute force child torture stuff with our boy when it was serious illness and we wanted to keep him out of hospital. If you squirt far enough back in the mouth and hold mouth closed for ages until she's swallowed, it'll go down.

We did lots of treats and praise and cuddles afterwards and explaining that next time he could choose his own treat etc - I remember chocolate ice cream waiting for post-medicine reward, etc. It's hideous but when you have to, you have to. Hope she's better soon.

Ah, happy (not) memories. We eventually managed with a 50/50 mix of antibiotics and jam.

Thanks for all your support. I called the pharmacy and they said I could put it in her milk. This has been the only way I can get it in her. Even brut force she managed to spit it out....the girl has skills! On day 5 now and she is a lot better. So no need for hospital....thank god! Xx

Re. Fruit pouch. Squirt it into the pouch, squidge to distribute then pretend to open it and offer to child

@thebearschairs I agree. I had severe emetephobia as a child and I think a situation like this triggered it.

I had this issue with my DS when he was 2. Two things that worked... but only once!

Squirting some in a creme chocolate, like a quality street.

Get a pouch yogurt, squirt some out, put medicine in then top it off with the untainted yogurt. Hopefully they will suck it all in and swallow before they taste it and refuse any more.

Glad your DD is feeling better OP.

Glad she’s better, I used to mix with icing sugar and put on a cup cake, mix with chocolate frosting.