End of tether with toddler not taking medication

[curlygirlintheworld]

DS 18months, will NOT take medication in any form. He’s like a sniffer hound and can detect it hidden in milk/yogurt/juice. Sees the syringe or spoon and clamps his mouth shut, hits it away, screams no. We have tried everything, even if we do get the syringe in his mouth he will spit it out or shake his head so violently it goes everywhere. He is so suspicious now of us offering him even plain milk or water that he refuses it.
We’ve tried syringe down the side of the mouth (between cheek and teeth), spoon with either us or him holding it, blowing on his face to make him swallow, bribing him but he’s not old enough to understand the concept, hiding it in sweet things (difficult as he doesn’t like sweets/chocolate/pudding type things or juice/smoothies - it works in yogurt for maybe one or two mouthfuls then he works out what is happening), pinning him between our legs to force the syringe in, explaining calmly what is happening, making a game out of it, using one of those medication dummies (he will take one suck then realises what it is and spits it out), tried different flavors/brands too.
He melts down simply seeing the syringe.

i don’t understand why they can’t make unflavored medicine - the sweet taste is what he is suspicious of! I’m running out of ideas and patience, he’s got a fever and it’s not coming back because he won’t take his bloody medicine. I dread him needing antibiotics as the bile yellow ones will be a nightmare to get into him.
Anything I’ve not thought of trying?!

Can you just take a break from it?

If you’re just talking about calpol/ibuprofen then does he really need it? Advice now is to let a fever run, only give paracetamol or ibuprofen if they are feeling rubbish too. The NICE guidelines for home care are pretty helpful on this.

Similarly, with antibiotics, I would save those for when he definitely has to have them and has had a chance to get better without them. I’m not suggesting you should be blasé about his health, but to avoid rushing for “might as well” antibiotics that are still sometimes prescribed for what may well be a viral self-limiting illness.

You do have my sympathy. Mine never liked Calpol.

If it's just a raised temperature and he's well enough to put up a fight I wouldn't bother. Treat the child, not the number. Keep him cool, lots of drinks and it'll come down.

Unless he is unwell with the temp, I wouldn't be giving anything. If he is, maybe you could try suppositories? We used to get those for my daughter.

The fever is helping his body fight the illness. It does not need to be artificially and temporarily forced down with antipyretic medication.

Yes he will feel rubbish with it - that's the body's way of getting him to limit his movement/rest/reduce eating so that it can totally focus on fighting off the illness.

The fever will come down in due course when the body 'resets' the body temperature to normal - until then, try and keep him hydrated (when he is sweaty the fever is dropping and he is likely to feel more thirsty then)

I've resorted to mixing it in chocolate porridge before but thankfully dc has grown out of refusal so not an issue anymore, hopefully not long until yours does

Dont give it to him? It doesn't sound like he needs it.

if he does need medicine in the near future then try doing it as a round. Mummy gives daddy medicine, then baby gives mummy medicine, then daddy gives baby medicine. Obviously only one is genuine medicine

and no, of course medicine cant be made tasteless - the chemicals you are giving him have a taste

My DD is 5 and a half and has always refused Calpol or anything similar, since she was old enough to protest. I've just left her to it really, she's been fine.

Just ask the Dr for suppositories. We did that for dd.

Oh OP I could have written this post !! my 2 year old dd is exactly the same!! She won't have pain relief when poorly and also has food allergies and sometimes needs piriton and the battles to get her to have it are insane. I too desperately hope she doesn't need antibiotics before she grows out of the issue with taking medicine. My older daughter used to refuse antibiotics but always happily had calpol. I can't understand why all medicine is an issue either, hoping someone on here has some advice we can use ...