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Original poster

Toddler won’t take meds

33 replies

Wonttakethemeds · 15/10/2025 14:08

I know, I know! A tale as old as time.

With my eldest, syringe in the cheek worked when he refused. This 22 month old of mine he another story, he manages to get most of it out.

What’s the absolute best way to do it? He refuses it in juice and spoons too.

he’s got hand foot and mouth which has resulted in some impetigo, and an ear infection. The GP said if he doesn’t take them, to go to A&E.

I’ve just tried to give him a dose and he has none of it, maybe 1 or 2ml. It’s Clarithroymycin, apparently vile stuff, twice a day, but the alternative was a 4 dose per day course which they thought would be worse given his refusal.

Help!

OP posts:
OtterMummy2024 · 15/10/2025 15:12

What about apple puree, chocolate milk or ice cream? At this point, you use any bribe/flavour available to you.

Tillow4ever · 15/10/2025 15:13

When our son had a UTI at a similar age, they ended up prescribing a nicer tasting antibiotic for him as the only dose of the aniseed one we got down him he promptly threw up! Can you ask them to prescribe a different one - it might need to be a more broad spectrum antibiotic than a specific one (the good old banana penicillin was the go to when mine were little).

good luck.

Goldfsh · 15/10/2025 15:21

I went for the full-on assault with mine. Laid on their back, between my knees, syringe in cheek and held their nose until they swallowed it. Basically the same approach as the cat.

I apologised and explained in advance, and then apologised afterwards, but was matter-of-fact about it. It was better than hospital admissions.

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Mushroo · 15/10/2025 15:23

Erg yes sympathies.

We’ve had success with straight up bribery and mixing with something they like (obviously check with the pharmacist some mixing is ok).

Otherwise yeh, it’s a pin them down but it’s absolutely awful.

DraftLovely · 15/10/2025 15:39

Ours has a biscuit after difficult medicine. If its short-term then go heavy on the bribery if it works. If it's long-term they start to take it whilst just presuming the biscuit is coming. Whatever medicine, I really hammer home to them why it's important and the worst case scenario that could happen if they don't take it.

coxesorangepippin · 15/10/2025 18:00

Wrap like a cat and get it down
It's the only way.

He'll be traumatised for about half a minute but will recover from his illness

AlexisP90 · 15/10/2025 18:29

Goldfsh · 15/10/2025 15:21

I went for the full-on assault with mine. Laid on their back, between my knees, syringe in cheek and held their nose until they swallowed it. Basically the same approach as the cat.

I apologised and explained in advance, and then apologised afterwards, but was matter-of-fact about it. It was better than hospital admissions.

This for me too.

I hated every moment of it snd felt awful doing it but be safe in the knowledge that it is 1000 times less traumatising than having to take your toddler into A&E to be prodded and poked and be hooked up to IV

He wont thank you now but if he could understand the alternative he definitely would...

Toddlerteaplease · 15/10/2025 18:36

@Tillow4everthat was amoxicillin. Unfortunately penicillin and flucloxaciilin are absolutely vile now.

Seeline · 15/10/2025 18:37

coxesorangepippin · 15/10/2025 18:00

Wrap like a cat and get it down
It's the only way.

He'll be traumatised for about half a minute but will recover from his illness

This - with chocolate buttons or Smarties in view and the promise of having them as soon as the medicine has gone.

Ahwig · 15/10/2025 19:47

Years ago apparently I wouldn’t take medication. I was quite poorly and the doctor was coming every day. My mum had to confess to the doctor that I had refused to take it. The doctor tsked and said “ oh for goodness sake just tip her upside down” and then did exactly that. Apparently I was so shocked I just swallowed it.

Original poster
Wonttakethemeds · 15/10/2025 20:13

We had to force it in. Took both of us, we syringed in 1ml at a time otherwise he’d just spit it all out. He still managed to get some of it out but most of it went down.

However, he didn’t give a monkeys about the choc buttons offered as he was crying and hyperventilating for a good half an hour following it and needed a bath as he’d spat some of it all over his hair/side of his head. How we are going to do this to him for another 4 days.

OP posts:
GreenFrogYellow · 15/10/2025 20:18

He has no choice and you have no choice. Pin him down, syringe to the back of the throat. Explain what you’re doing and why. It’s literally that or he gets really sick.

Peachpot18 · 15/10/2025 20:23

My son use to take this every 3-4 weeks for ear infections / tonsillitis until he had them removed and grommets fitted. Vile antibiotic.
In the end I use to syringe the dose into a chilled Aldi smoothie carton, place finger over hole and shake really well then give it to him. Made sure he didn't see me do it. I found the berry flavoured one worked best.
Otherwise it was a two man pin down job!

Candlesandmatches · 15/10/2025 21:30

It’s ok and he won’t remember. When my DS was 6 we moved to a different country. My DS spend months crying on and off , missing his old friends and I had to hide his leaving card from school as I’d find him weeping and reading all the messages.
Ive found the card and we are moving house - he is now 20y
Heres our text exchange today.
Your child won’t remember you doing this to them and it’s for their health 🙂

Toddler won’t take meds
3luckystars · 15/10/2025 21:33

Yeah I would wrap him in a blanket like a burrito, hold him and it’s really a two person job. Sorry but the hospital is absolutely out of the question, do whatever you need to do to avoid that.

3luckystars · 15/10/2025 21:35

Wonttakethemeds · 15/10/2025 20:13

We had to force it in. Took both of us, we syringed in 1ml at a time otherwise he’d just spit it all out. He still managed to get some of it out but most of it went down.

However, he didn’t give a monkeys about the choc buttons offered as he was crying and hyperventilating for a good half an hour following it and needed a bath as he’d spat some of it all over his hair/side of his head. How we are going to do this to him for another 4 days.

Don’t worry you will get better at it. 😁

Goldfsh · 16/10/2025 09:12

Have you explained it to him? He either takes it or you force it down. Make it clear it's his choice. Even at 2 he should be able to understand.

If he's getting upset then I'd be extra brutal and make sure it's a surprise and as quick as possible rather than a bit at a time. If he's upright it's much easier to spit out, so put him on his back. I'd go for cheek rather than back of throat and it sounds brutal but pinching the nose always forced mine to swallow.

FuzzyWolf · 16/10/2025 09:35

Get the nicer tasting stuff. Once he realises it doesn’t taste as bad he won’t find it as traumatic.

Original poster
Wonttakethemeds · 16/10/2025 13:04

Goldfsh · 16/10/2025 09:12

Have you explained it to him? He either takes it or you force it down. Make it clear it's his choice. Even at 2 he should be able to understand.

If he's getting upset then I'd be extra brutal and make sure it's a surprise and as quick as possible rather than a bit at a time. If he's upright it's much easier to spit out, so put him on his back. I'd go for cheek rather than back of throat and it sounds brutal but pinching the nose always forced mine to swallow.

No, he doesn’t understand that. He’s not quite yet 2 either.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wonttakethemeds · 16/10/2025 13:07

FuzzyWolf · 16/10/2025 09:35

Get the nicer tasting stuff. Once he realises it doesn’t taste as bad he won’t find it as traumatic.

He’s the same with Calpol unfortunately. I did call the surgery this morning to ask for an alternative but they didn’t offer one and instead said if his condition worsens to take him to a&e.

OP posts:
Goldfsh · 16/10/2025 13:10

Seriously, get brutal. Don't get emotional, treat this like getting pills into a cat. It's much, much worse having them tied up to drips and stuck in bed for days in a hospital.

egganbacon · 16/10/2025 13:13

Goldfsh · 15/10/2025 15:21

I went for the full-on assault with mine. Laid on their back, between my knees, syringe in cheek and held their nose until they swallowed it. Basically the same approach as the cat.

I apologised and explained in advance, and then apologised afterwards, but was matter-of-fact about it. It was better than hospital admissions.

Definitely didn’t work with my son . He was so distressed he threw up,cannot remember the solution though!

Goldfsh · 16/10/2025 13:17

Wonttakethemeds · 16/10/2025 13:07

He’s the same with Calpol unfortunately. I did call the surgery this morning to ask for an alternative but they didn’t offer one and instead said if his condition worsens to take him to a&e.

Show quote history

Mine refused or threw up Calpol but I used paracetamol suppositories. It's brilliant for toddlers like this. Pharmacy should have them if you explain.

Original poster
Wonttakethemeds · 16/10/2025 13:19

We got 3.5 to 4 ml of his 5ml dose down the last 2 doses. From what I’ve read, the dose is actually closer to 4ml anyway based on weight and rounded up to 5ml. So, hopefully it’s doing its thing.

OP posts:
crazycatladie · 16/10/2025 13:25

Mix in yogurt