Medicine and my 2 yr old

Melissa - posted on 10/19/2009

Got to the pharmacy and ask for a syringe to give medicine. Squirt it in their mouth and pinch their nose. They will swallow it. I also keep a cup of water ready for them afterward. I have done this will my 3, still do. One of mine HATES medicine and this works with him.

Good Luck!

Jessica - posted on 10/19/2009

my son, who threw SCREAMING tantrums, flailing and twisting and turning when I tried to give him his meds with a syringe doser, finally takes his medicine without much fuss, and all we did was offer it to him in a dosing cup instead of forcing it down his throat. Trust me, its sounds impossible, but try just offering to let him "do it himself". worked for me

Michelle - posted on 10/19/2009

I have mixed medicine with flavored applesauce too. My daughter is 4 and is fianlly starting to drink it normally, but before I could get it down her in the applesauce.

Di - posted on 10/19/2009

have you tried mixing the medicine with milk or juice?

Mary - posted on 10/18/2009

No not plug his nose. When your nose is plugged, your first reaction is to breath through your mouth. It's the same for children. This could cause him to choke on the medicine. A nurse at the doctor's office tried that with my daughter and I threw a fit. Offer him something as a reward to take his medicine. If it's the taste, use the flavor option at the pharmacy, etc. My daughter did not like taking her medicine either, so in return I gave her a drink of my soda as a reward. Something yummy that she is not aloud to have to wash it down. It works and now she takes her medicine whenever she is supposed to, only without the reward.

Tami - posted on 10/18/2009

There is also a flavoring company out there called flavor rx. If you take the prescription to a pharmacy that flavors (I know Kroger affiliated companies do) they can add extra flavoring as they add the water to the medicine. You can do this with over the counter medicines too. There is a fee, but it is only a couple of dollars. It is worth a try because sometimes it really can help with the taste and he can pick out what flavor he wants which may give him more incentive to cooperate! I hope this helps!

Rachel - posted on 10/18/2009

My child hates meds too-but I have found the V8-Fusion covers up the taste well-if it is a orange medicine try Peach Mango-a dark colored-pomegranate-red-strawberry banana- plus as an added bonus you are also getting a serving of fruit and vegetable for every 8oz glass!

Kristy - posted on 10/18/2009

We have the same problem with our little girl after alot of illnesses & whooping cough early this year she's sick of medicine. We now put it in her drink either cordial or juice, always put in a few mls more than needed & abit extra drink to mask the taste but it works every time for us. Hope this helps

Kelly - posted on 10/17/2009

I don't think there's much else I can think for you to do hun. Rewards are definately worth trying, like his favourite treat. Is it the sort that can be added to a drink maybe? Check with your doctor as that might work. Or if not, is there anything you can add to make the taste a little more appealing? I use a syringe for Kacey - she's 18 months now. I squirt it to the back of the throat but sort of to the side, so its too far for her to spit it all out but won't choke her. If you use a syringe, you could put water in first, then you take it and tell him how good you are taking your medicine, and now you're gonna have a biscuit. Then its his turn. Kids love copying their mums so might be worth a try. Even if you have to keep forcing it on him, don't feel guilty....if its important he takes it then its worth a few unpleasant minutes. He'll have forgotten it all as soon as something fun comes along! Good luck!

Krista - posted on 10/17/2009

I've just had a bout impetigo that required antibiotics in my household. The baby (19months) really couldn't stand the bitter taste of the medicines. It took two people -- one to hold him sort of lying down and another to give the medicine out of a medicine spoon. I'd dribble a little in and then sort of direct what he spit out back into his mouth. Alternatively, I would strap him into his high chair and put it in the almost lying down position. He struggled and hated it of course. I didn't cover his nose but I did keep forcing the bit of medicine back into his mouth. When the ordeal was over he got a cookie or other treat. When the course of meds was almost done, he was almost cooperating (spitting less out) to get his treat afterwards...

Krista - posted on 10/17/2009

Well, this may sound mean, but it was shown to me by a nurse in a hospital. My son never used to take his medicine properly and would do just as your son does. She told me that I should pinch his nose closed so that he has to swallow. Again, sounds mean, but a nurse did it so it's not harmful.

Also, have you tried one of those soothers that they can suck the medicine out of? (If he sucks a soother)

You could also try offering him a yummy chaser. Some juice or ice cream or something?