Weaning recipes that will either compliment or hide the taste of aniseed

[CBear6]

DD is 6mo, almost 7, and is going to be on medication for the next 5-6 months (possibly longer but we're optimistic about it being less). She absolutely hates the medicine, the whole experience of taking it too, and clamps her mouth shut as soon as she realises what we're trying to give her. I won't pin her down and force her so the consultant suggested mixing it with her food instead.

Anyone know any good recipes that will either compliment the taste of aniseed or help mask it? She has no allergies that we know of but she's not good with finger foods right now (choking issues). I made a cocoa pudding tonight that went quite well with the aniseed flavour but I can't feed her that every night!

OP, how are you giving her the medicine? We found a syringe works best for DS (14 months). Also, I just wanted to reassure you that we had to "force" DS to take medicine (Calpol or antibiotics) before, but in the past couple of months he has been taken them without complaint, because either DH or I pretend to taste it as well and say "yummy" (we do look like a pair of idiots, but it works).

I'm not sure about what would mask the flavour of aniseed, maybe a cheese sauce with a bit of parmesan in (if she like it)? Or a very thich fruit smoothie? I hope your DD gets better soon.

I second the syringe advice. All in, quick as you can, and then straight on to nicer things - a cuddle or a nice snack or a game or something.

We've got a syringe but she's gotten wise to what will happen and clamps her mouth shut, she's finicky about having anything in her mouth as it is (she's only just started accepting a spoon) and this stuff is an outrage too far the way she sees it. I can't say I blame her, it's foul bitter stuff even with the syrupy aniseed flavouring.

She's very strong (even the doctor has commented on her strength) and it was going to become a case of one of us holding her head and arms while the other forced her mouth open enough to get the syringe in. Fair enough for a one-off or an occasional thing but I just can't do that to her twice a day for the foreseeable future. It'll get easier as she gets a bit older and we can persuade her to open up for the syringe.

I might give the cheese sauce a try, she's recently discovered cheese and it was a big hit :)