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Original poster

Child refuses to take medicine

44 replies

Happyandglorious · 25/03/2019 15:10

My son (6) needs to take anti biotics.
The ones he needs do not taste that nice but can not be changed.
Have added water and sugar (no idea if this makes it ineffective) Just took 45 mins of crying to finally get him to take it.
Any suggestions?

OP posts:

loveskaka · 25/03/2019 15:11

Can u not mash it and put in food. Lol x

Original poster

Happyandglorious · 25/03/2019 15:15

Its a bright red syrup. Dont think so

OP posts:

Original poster

Happyandglorious · 25/03/2019 15:15

Can't even tell if that was a joke. Got post tantrum head ache

OP posts:

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Burlea · 25/03/2019 15:19

We gave our DD a soft sweet to suck. She held in one hand as near to her mouth she could get, she opened her mouth with eyes closed, swallowed and we shouted now.

loveskaka · 25/03/2019 15:22

Does he just not want it or is it just the taste? You could just give him a wee bit at time on something he likes.

Original poster

Happyandglorious · 25/03/2019 15:26

He wont do a bit at a time. He wont shut his eyes.
Thank you though. Keep em coming.
Someone must have the answer.

OP posts:

OrchidInTheSun · 25/03/2019 15:28

Squirt it to the very back of his mouth and give him a drink of juice straight after

ABC1234DEF · 25/03/2019 15:30

Mix with strawberry jam and hide in something?

like a donut

Original poster

Happyandglorious · 25/03/2019 15:40

Cant squirt it. Tried. He runs away or struggles. Don't want to restrain him.
He is a great kid. Just super defensive of his body. And a horrendously fussy eater...
Appreciate your suggestions.
And any others...

OP posts:

SimplyPut · 25/03/2019 15:43

Into a strawberry milkshake?

Spottyowl · 25/03/2019 15:44

One of our children has to take very bitter tasting medicine- we take a marshmallow, make a hole in it, and syringe the medicine inside. He eats it no problem.

greenelephantscarf · 25/03/2019 15:44

bribe with whatever you don't allow (10 min 'you've been framed', a teaspoon pure nutella, a bowl of ice cream with skittles...)
or go back to gp for new prescription of capsules. break them open and mix the powder with golden syrup, nutella, jam...

Seeline · 25/03/2019 15:45

Mix in yogurt.
Hold him down.
Bribe with whatever it takes.
He is 6 - old enough to understand that he must have his medicine. Talk seriously with him, and ask for his suggestion.

BertrandRussell · 25/03/2019 15:47

Is it something that will get much worse without the antibiotics or something that will just get better slower without them?

Spottyowl · 25/03/2019 15:50

Holding him down is a terrible idea! Unless you want him to have issues around this sort of stuff forever more...

WhatNow40 · 25/03/2019 15:52

DS 7 has ASD and always had issue with taking liquid medicine. For him it's the texture. I finally got a GP to believe me when he was 5 and still refusing all oral meds. He had an infection at the time and needed anti biotics, having previously been hospitalised for the same thing because he would not take them in liquid form (there was literally no way to get them in.)

You are right not to restrain him. Short term, he may get so upset that he throws up whatever you manage to get in to him. Long term, he doesn't trust you or learn to take meds.

I convinced the GP to prescribe the correct dose in capsule form. DS eats the first bite of a Jaffa cake and when he's just about to swallow, pops the capsule in and swallows it all. Don't tip his head back or use water, it's harder. Think how big he will swallow lumps of food because he's not chewed properly. It's the same thing. DS then gets another Jaffa cake as a reward.

We practised with tic tacs and smarties.

Best of luck, I know exactly how you feel.

WhatNow40 · 25/03/2019 15:58

Mixing the powder of a capsule as a op has suggested doesn't work. It makes whatever you mix it with taste vile. We tried yogurt,
Chocolate pudding, spoon of nutella etc.

Liquid anti biotics doesn't mix well with anything either, although we never tried the marshmallow trick. Worth a go.

Another suggestion we didn't try was to freeze it, in small enough blobs to swallow whole. The cold distracts from the taste, apparently. I think this would work with calpol maybe but not vile tasting stuff.

Original poster

Happyandglorious · 25/03/2019 16:00

Marshmallow could work. Thank you.
I have explained why he needs to take them.
He risks an infection spreading and worst case causing heart problems.

OP posts:

agirlhasnonameX · 25/03/2019 16:01

DD3 just had the same antibiotics by the sound of it. Couldn't blame her as it was disgusting. Only way I could get her to take it was bribery.

anniehm · 25/03/2019 16:01

Into nesquik or similar? Check the package and see if there's any foods it incompatible with obviously but the trick I use with the canine of anything he's not usually allowed works a treat (though obviously not squeezed into cheese!) Every kid (and dog) have their price.

MumUnderTheMoon · 25/03/2019 16:03

I am all for bodily autonomy but as the parents we do sometimes have to insist on cooperation. I know it's hard dd wouldn't cooperate with ear drops I used to have to set my alarm and get up throughout the night and do it while she was sleeping. Could you rouse your ds enough to get the meds into him?

greenelephantscarf · 25/03/2019 16:05

when dc had to take foul tasting meds we made an 'ugly face' competition and took photos to look and laugh at after.

Walkingthedog46 · 25/03/2019 16:06

Try letting him suck an ice lolly first - it dulls the taste

Original poster

Happyandglorious · 25/03/2019 16:08

I actually feel vile about how I behaved I feel utterly defeated and ashamed of my own tantruming and yelling and threats.
Have apologised and explained to him and my older kids that I am trying to keep him healthy etc
Appreciate everyone's advice.

OP posts:

Original poster

Happyandglorious · 25/03/2019 16:18

I cant give them in the night. He has to swallow them. He would choke, scream and prob be traumatised.
There is a paritcular game he likes to play on my phone. Removed it after todays shennanigans. But told him I will re-install if he takes it with less fuss tomorrow.
Problem also is I dont have all frigging day. Mornings are rushed as it is to get to school etc (he is not ill or infectious so he is def going) evenings are not as bad.
I am so touched by the face pulling and juice bribes. Juice would a fine thing any day. He is very fussy and stubborn and obviously more spoilt than I realised. This aside, he is a lovely boy.
I just feel sometimes one has to do things even if they arent so nice bc I am the mum and I know best.
Thanks all.
Lots of deep breaths

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