Advice on dispensing medicine

[laraeo]

My DS is 8 1/2 months and is on antibiotics for a chest infection. They're really runny (not to mention fluorescent yellow and banana flavored). We've got a spoon - total disaster - and a dropper/squeegie thing - mostly disaster. Any tips on getting the required 5mls 3/day down him? He flings his head around, flails his arms (which I try to keep pinned down at his side), you name it. I've been trying to give them in his high chair since he's strapped in. This morning I just about lost it - yellow meds everywhere, and I had to do nearly 2 doses to get anywhere near 5 mls down him. Having a 2nd set of adult hands to help is not an option.

Sounds like Tom. We used to have to pin him down/stick a finger in his mouth. He's not too bad now and 90% of the time just takes it like a man!

I had to give lots of really foul antibiotics to my DD when she was about one. The only thing that really worked was strong-arm tactics. I wrapped her in a big towel so she couldn't move her arms and, with a syringe (the chemist can give you one), aimed for the back corner of her mouth (I was on my own too and the towel really helped). I then rubbed under her chin to make her swallow. Yes, it is horrid using brute force on a small child but if they won't take it any other way that is where you end up. Spoons are disastrous if the child does not want to cooperate.

Gentler alternatives which may work depending on how offensive the drugs taste are mixing it with yoghurt or Ribena (the full sugar version), or getting teddy to administer them.

Good luck - the course will be finished before you know it.

My DS was on the same anti biotics when he was about a year old for a skin infection caused by scratching at his eczema.

We tried the spoon didn't work, the little syringe kind of worked but the best thing was a little dummy dispenser thingy if you fill it then add a little juice it makes it taste a bit better.