Two year old antibiotic refusal help!

[Alicia870]

My 2 year old (just turned 2) has been prescribed her 5th (yes I know!!) dose of antibiotics within 3 months for a uti. The reason she has so many different prescriptions s because we have been barely able to get even one dose into her never mind the full course.

I feel like we've tried everything. Using the syringe, spoon, mixing it with stuff, through a straw etc she always sees through it and just has a complete meltdown. Even the sight of a syringe and she's completely inconsolable. She will now only take the pink coloured calpol as she thinks the clear one is antibiotic and completely refuses.

She's too young to understand any kind of reasoning or explanation and even bribing is completely lost on her. I'm so stressed even thinking of trying again never mind 4 times a day! Please help!

It's really tough but you have to be very firm. If she won't cooperate, and lots of kids won't, then you will have to hold her tight and push the syringe into her cheek then tip her chin back slightly without letting her open her mouth. Expect a lot if resistance. We were taught how to do this by a nurse in hospital as ds wouldn't cooperate and was seriously ill. Explain that it is important to have the medicine and give her a treat afterwards. Good luck!

Mixed into puréed fruit or yoghurt? All prepared out of sight of course! But I’m sure you’ve probably done that. 4 times a day is hard.

@Tiredpigeon

It's really tough but you have to be very firm. If she won't cooperate, and lots of kids won't, then you will have to hold her tight and push the syringe into her cheek then tip her chin back slightly without letting her open her mouth. Expect a lot if resistance. We were taught how to do this by a nurse in hospital as ds wouldn't cooperate and was seriously ill. Explain that it is important to have the medicine and give her a treat afterwards. Good luck!

Yes this. Pin, then praise and treat.

It's awful but you have to get the medicine in them.

@Tiredpigeon thanks for this.
We have tried all this but she holds her mouth completely shut when she knows we're about to give her medicine, we pin her down and hold her head and hands etc. I know we do just have to try and persist but because it's such a struggle and fight hardly anything even goes in her mouth even if we do get it open as she just spits it out and makes it impossible for us to get it in. I'm at my wits end with it! It's so traumatic for all of us and i know I can't be the only one who finds it almost impossible

Recently had this with DS. We found no matter what we put it in, he was able to taste it and refused it - it was the most vile tasting medicine I've ever known so I'm not surprised. But the only thing that worked was putting it in milk and using the straws that turn milk different flavours. I randomly picked some up in B&M and they were a godsend! DS thought he was getting a special treat and took all the medicine willingly when it was hidden in "special banana milk".

Aim for the cheek rather than the tongue or back of throat where she is likely to spit back at you and just do tiny amounts at a time so she hasn’t got a large volume to spit either. Have a drink and a treat ready for straight after. If you do this religiously every time eventually she will know that you mean business and will hopefully become a bit better. Don’t get upset in front of her, or say sorry to her as it’s really important. If she can see you are getting upset it gives her more ammunition to refuse.

Use a towel to pin her and try a spoon rather than the syringe. My friend's ds wouldn't take medicine and ended up in hospital on IV antibiotics more than once. Wrap her in the towel then gently lean her back and in it goes then clamp shut. Sounds worse than it is. Also be confident even if you don't feel it!

Hold her nose so she has to open her mouth

Thanks all for the tips it's good to have encouragement from other mums - we will just have to force I think or I can try the milk straws too. Nightmare!

Just an update in case anyone cares lol. We've resorted to the only option - mixing with ice cream. We asked the pharmacist who said it's fine and doesn't make any difference. Certainly better than attempting it and nothing even going in. Before this tried all the tips of holding her nose, pinnnigf her down, trying to close her mouth etc but I don't know why this just doesn't work on my child she is so determined and it was a total fail! So ice cream it is and 3 successful doses in. Better than nothing!

Well at least she’s taking it!
It’s heartbreaking.

This sounds awful but my cat doesn't get a choice. Down it goes, I have a technique.
It involves holding her mouth open, deftly and quickly squirting it down the back of her throat and then shutting her mouth until she swallows it.
Its better than letting her die horribly of the illness she has.
Ditto your LO. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind.There are always treats afterwards, possibly not dreamies but maybe a chocolate button.

Well done with the icecream. I can't see how it matters if she has icecream, the antibiotics are more important.

Hope it’s still going well op.

I completely sympathise. My 3 yr old had a week long course of flucoxicilon. 5mls 4 time’s a day. It was hideous evil tasting stuff.

Anyway I got all doses in....we did:

• explained the situation and were honest about taste
• her teddy had the same illness. Teddy went first for each dose.
• telly on for distraction
• Ice lolly first. This numbs the taste buds. Made a big difference I think.
• syringe in the meds (rinse syringe first to get rid of evil taste)
• follow with chocolate treat!

Other thing I learnt was the often the same antibiotic has different strengths. So although I had 5ml doses I could’ve asked for a different strength and got 2.5mls. I learnt this too late to do but know for next time.

The flucoxcilin was too vile to mix with anything. It is known to be bloody awful!

Anyway good luck with the course!

Well done op! That's great progress and a bit of ice cream is never a bad thing. Hope it continues to go well.

I had this with one of my dc. Parents who suggest pinning the child down and forcing the medicine in probably haven’t encountered the level of distress and panic that some children have in these circumstances (particularly children with sensory issues). In the end, the pharmacist gave us capsules for the dc, which she was able to swallow after practising with raisins and tic tacs.

@Bvop

I had this with one of my dc. Parents who suggest pinning the child down and forcing the medicine in probably haven’t encountered the level of distress and panic that some children have in these circumstances (particularly children with sensory issues). In the end, the pharmacist gave us capsules for the dc, which she was able to swallow after practising with raisins and tic tacs.

I thought this too. My DS reached levels of distress I'd never seen before and it was traumatising for everyone involved. I understand children need to take their medicine but not when it means putting them in such high levels of distress. Imagine as an adult someone pinning you down and forcing a syringe of some unknown liquid that tastes disgusting into your mouth? I don't think the argument of "it needs to be done" would be acceptable in those circumstances. There are much kinder ways of getting medicines into children than the pin down and force in method. I'm glad you find that ice cream works OP!