How to get medicine into stroppy toddler?

[KristinaM]

DS1 22 months has an ear infection and has to take an antibiotic and paracetemol suspension (Calpol). We have tried all of the following, without success:

Syringe into the corner of his mouth
Giving it by spoon
Letting him do it himself with syringe or spoon
Sneaking it into food or drink
Buying different brands/flavours of paracetemol

He refuses to take the food or drink. If we do manage to get the liquid into his month, basically by force, he spits it out. We can’t just leave it as he has been running a high temperature and the ear infection will cause him pain. We have tried to explain he needs to take it, but it makes no difference.

Any suggestions? We are getting desperate….

Anyone?

what about the meltlets? or supositoriies?how much does ds weigh?

he could probably have half a meltlet tablet (on is 250 mg so half would be the equivilent to a 5ml spoonful of baby calpol)
or you could get supositiories from the dr/chemist

Sorry to hear you're having so much trouble my ds was a pain to get meds into from the age of about 14m - 3.5y. We ended up getting paracetamol supps from the dr. But antib's don't come in that form. We tried everything mostly bribery - star chart, sweets as rewards, special treat of his choice etc. That worked with varying success depending on his mood. Staggering the painkiller and giving that first so that the amount of pain is reduced prior to neogatiating the taking of the antib may help.
I just wish the drug companies would accept how huge a prob it is to get meds into small people and bring in more meltets type formulas or dermal patches. We can all live in hope

"if you take this medicine,you can have this (show child) chocolate button."

I have never heard of meltets - I assume they dissolve in the mouth? How can you get the child to take them? We may have to resort to the suppositories as we cant risk high temps - his older brother has a history of fits.

Colditz - the problem is that he doesnt really like sweets and won't even eat a choclate button at all, let alone as a bribe!!!! He hasnt eaten anything for two days. Wont take sweets, ice lolly or ice cream. sigh

chapsmum - dont knwo what he weights, he's a pretty heavy solid boy, 86cm tall. I guess about 35lbs

\link{http://www.mypharmacy.co.uk/medicines/medicines/c/calpol/calpol_6+_fast_melts.htm\fast melts}
althought they say six plus, half of one tablet every 4-6 hours would be ana age appropriate dose.
But suppositories are an accurate dose absorbed quicker, prob the best idea

We had a medicine dummy - a dummy with a hollowed out area at the back that acts as a syringe. Both boys loved it and used it for years. The best £2.50 I have ever spent - available from lots of pharmacists - particularly little local ones.

Thank you all. Dh has been out to the all night pharmacy to get the paracetemol suppositories & Ds didnt bother at all when he got one. Now sleeping peacefully! BTW I will get some more on prescription on Monday as they cost £18 for 10!!! No thats not a typo , eighteen pounds

Did you know my uncle inveted those meltlet / fast melt style tablet!!

they are all VERY new and will be getting into more and more drugs soon

Infact i was a taste tester back in 1997 when he bought the first (drug free) ones back from the US!

(proud niece moment here!)

MY DS used to happily take medecine from a glove puppet when he wouldnt from us. He puts the syringe in his own mouth and does it himself nowadays - not sure if I should be admiting that really!

Hi
Its depressing when you cant get the medecine into them!
We usually bribe with a chocolate coin or similar- It always works!