16 month old won't take penicillin - help!

[leannac]

Dd has tonsillitis. Has been given antibiotics 4 times a day for 10 days. First 3 doses have ended up 90% over us. Have tried everything, including the stuff you're not meant to try - even tried mixing with choc mousse reasoning that as dd doesn't have choc normally she would def go for it. Nothing works. Help!

Btw takes Nurofen no probs so isn't the syringe or anything

Here's what I do (antibiotics need to have the full dose each time):

Lie DC on the floor, straddle them and use knees to gently but firmly pin arms to their sides. Syringe medicine to the back of their cheek i.e. not straight down throat. Wait til swallowed then release child, cuddle and reward with a chocolate button.

It's grim but it is for the best and they do learn that a choc buttons forthcoming.

I had tried pinning her down & squirting in throat but she seems to spit it everywhere. Maybe I'll try the cheek this time. Thanks for advice. I'm pregnant & tired & at moment feel like joining her in her wails after the medicine battles!

Could you mix it with milk? DS has chickenpox and it's the only way i can get ibuprofen and antihistamine into him atm!

mixed in to a little yoghurt has worked before

In the past I've had to hold mine down and empty the syringe right at the back of the mouth. It has to be right at the back and the child needs to be lying back and they won't be able to spit it. If necessary hold her mouth gently but firmly closed until it's gone down. It does seem cruel, just remember why you're doing it. Hope she's better soon :)

Sometimes you cant hide it. Ring your pharmacy or gp. Different manufacturers use different additives. They should be able to re issue the script for you. It's not uncommon.
Personally I wouldn't recommend a pin down with one so tiny, their gag reflex isn't great.

Hth

I'm not sure how far down the sugary substances route you are planning to go but we found hiding antibiotic medicine in the type of strup designed to pour over icecream worked a treat.

The stuff is so sickly sweet tasting that DC couldn't detect the nasty stuff at all.

I would use the pin down route. It's always been the "if all else fails" for DS until he was old enough to be bribed

Syrup

I'm willing to try anything as a bit of sugar not as bad as tonsillitis getting worse. Off to buy icecream syrup - that's a great idea!