Medicine Time - The Stress

[DadChris1990]

Hi all,

I’m hoping for some honest advice!

My toddler and 4 year old absolutely hates taking medicine (Calpol etc.) and it turns into a full battle every time 😩

I’ve tried the usual things (distractions, letting them hold the syringe, making it a “game”) but it’s still really stressful.

Just wondering:

Is this common?

Does anything actually work for you?

Or is it just something you have to push through?

Has anyone done something that made it feel less scary (like a toy or friendly object) that helps or do your kids just see straight through stuff like this?

Would love to hear what others do… I feel like I must be missing something!

Start with why do they need calpol?

As in speak to them about why it’s needed, it will help with the ear ache or illness? That sort of thing…

It’s hard. But quite normal at 4, it gets easier as they get older and more able to understand why they need to take it.

What helped us was

• using full sugar versions of calpol etc. They taste much better. And i’m of the thinking that if the need to take it then the added sugar is no big deal in my he grand scheme of things. might be medical reason why they can’t have the sugar filled ones but if there isn’t and you’ve not tried this it might be worth a go. We went from full meltdowns to taking calpol happily.

• mixing with juice /smoothies (just enough to mask worst of the taste) in favourite cup with loads of encouragement and distraction.

Good luck!

Sorry-no. I put that really badly! I mean, you start with thinking about why you think they need calpol. Is the benefit to them going to be greater than all the stress and struggle?

also try using just a spoon rather than syringe, ours found it less scary

Agree with this. DD wouldn’t take it the first time we tried so we never forced it. She got to 18 without ever having calpol apart from the one time she spat it out as a toddler. She was fine. She had a few fevers and got through them quickly without calpol. She had colds and bugs without calpol. I think around 10 or 11 she took paracetamol tablets a few times. Even now she’ll only take nurofen when she really, really needs it for period pain and she has never had antibiotics or any other medication. But we’ve never rushed to the gp with colds/flu/bugs and have just treated them at home with fluids and rest.

I think people really over medicate these days so it’s always worth asking the question is it really necessary.

Thanks for this - really helpful.

We have tried the juice mix but our 4 year old somehow knew what was going on lol.

We have looked for the sugar version but can never find it - is it because it’s not on the shelf and it’s behind the counters for example (have to ask for it).

If it's truly necessary (usually for a fever which is causing vomiting, or pain so bad it's preventing sleep) then I'm quite hardcore, it's non negotiable. Their choice is about how it's taken - gradually or in one go, from a spoon or a syringe. Firmest tone of voice. Very clear that there is absolutely no way it is not being taken. No messing around or arguing about it. If that doesn't work I tell them that if they don't take it voluntarily I will have to physically hold them down. I do mean it but I've only had to physically restrain once for medical reasons and that was for those eye drops that widen the pupil. Once taken, lots of praise and cuddles.

I don't get this thing of making it a choice really. They're ill and you're the parent, it's not a negotiation, they will likely have to endure medical treatment that's unpleasant as an adult too.

Years ago, my parents did the 'catch the sweet from the ceiling in a bag' trick. I think it came from Morecambe and Wise. They'd put a minstrel chocolate in a paper bag, pretend to catch it falling from the ceiling and secretly flick the bag as it landed. I loved it and couldn't figure out how they did it. I also took my medicine.

Of course it’s choice. The parent’s choice. I can choose whether I think my child would benefit enough from the calpol to make it worth the stress and anxiety making them take it would bring. In most cases with mine I decided it wasn’t.

@DadChris1990 we’ve always been able to get in local Boots. Supermarkets seem to only have sugar/colour free ones. Defo worth asking if you can’t see it.

Also agree with firm tone/no choice. It’s hard but they’re not going to be able the under stand the consequences of not taking medication until they’re much older. Especially important when it comes to antibiotics etc.

With the juice try a few different things if you haven’t already. We initially went with apple juice as this what was suggest by the pharmacy…did not go down well 🤣

What works for us most of the time is concentrated summer fruits squash, and i only use that, no water. I personally think it must taste horrid but it works and they drink it. Also v small amount like 15ml to 5ml medicine.

Ok, good for you.

But maybe let’s assume the OP isn’t giving. meditation ‘just for the fun of it’. And focus on practical tips for actually getting a small child to take meditation they need to reduce pain/discomfort or potentially treat infection.

I’m not assuming that at all. Why would you think that? I’m saying that there are lots of ways to ease pain and fever that don’t involve a battle. That’s why I asked the OP why she was giving her child calpol. Some parents, for example think that you have to give calpol to a feverish child. You don’t. You have options.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

We only provide medicine when absolutely necessary. We don’t generally give it for a fever, as we understand it’s the body natural response to fighting a virus or sorts.

We will try the sugar version as a starter. We’ve tried a spoon and that didn’t work. We have forced once before when it was 100% required for medicine but personally dont want to do this approach. I’m just trying to think of any ways which power the brain to see the benefits, the arts of distraction etc.

We have tried so much but as I say, it’s not often we have to give calpol unless pain is present or they’re really under the weather.

Thank you so much everyone. The minstrel trick in particular 😝

DD2 sometimes needs a very bitter tasting medicine, bad enough that the hospital warns you how nasty it is. What works for her is a small piece of chocolate before the medicine to coat the mouth, then the medicine (near the back of the mouth if possible), then another piece of chocolate. You need to be quick – I'm generally standing next to her with the syringe ready whilst she's having the first piece of chocolate – but getting it right was a game-changer for us.

She prefers a spoon or cup for something like calpol or antibiotics, but this one we do the syringe for speed.

A chocolate button before, the medicine and one after can help, but at that age if they are that against the idea, they are unlikely to suddenly decide to just comply - ut would still need you to be firm/force the medicine in between until they realise it's not actually that bad.

DS (4) has regular daily medicines. One he has 3x a day he still refers to as 'the yucky one', when he first started it after an inpatient admission last year it was horrific, he would see it coming and run, scream, hide, cry, required physically restraining to administer and there was a good chance he would spit most of it out, but it was non negotiable and the alternative was readmission to hospital or invasive at-home procedures so we had to ride it out and he got used to it very quickly. And he'll just open his mouth for it now, despite still calling it the yucky one.