Daughter Refuses All Meds......

I have an 18 month old son that does the same thing. I usually put the medicine in a cup with a small amount of juice. He drinks it with no problem. Hope this helps! W.

My son takes meds on a regular basis. For the ones that he doesn't like (one is a liquid, the other two are pills that we crush) we mix them with really strong lemonade and use a syringe or medicine dropper. At first, they made it easier to get the medicine far enough into his mouth that he couldn't easily spit them out. Now he likes pushing the plunger or squeezing the bulb - makes him feel like a big boy.

Have you tried mixing it into some food or milk or juice? Just a small amount of beverage to insure she drinks it all.

Good luck and I hope she feels better soon.

Ask if she can get a shot.
Jade

We've been through this countless times so we know what you're going through. Our daughter has severe asthma and as a result she often gets bronchial infections in which she has to take several unfavorable tasting antibiotics. She too spits it out or vomits whatever does go down. We've started to mix the antibiotics with some of her favorie snacks like applesauce and puddings or even combined with juice or a little bit of soda. For us the sodas that are lemon-lime flavored (7-Up, Sprite, or Sierra Mist) seem to work best because the medicine sort of makes it taste like cherry 7-Up. We don't often let her drink soda so she thinks she's getting a treat anyway. Simply measure the correct does into the amount of the snack she usually eats/drinks and stir it up. You can also request the medicine be prescribed in pill form and crush the pills into whatever snack she prefers. This works ok for us too. Our daughter likes the idea of getting soda so we prefer it in liguid form. Since she has gotten older, she will sometimes take it in "shots", a sip from a medicine dropper or spoon and then a shot of soda or other drink. Although, she didn't start doing this until recently and I noticed that your daughter is still quite young. Mine just turned 5, so this my not work for you, but if she won't take it any other way, it's worth a try. The idea of mixing it with snacks worked well for her though when she was your daughter's age, anything at least semi liguid should work well. I've also noticed, with my daughter at least, if I offer her the medicine when she is tired, before bed or nap time, she seems to be less combative and usually so tired she'll just drink it and fall asleep. You may also want to offer it in a cup with a straw. The straw will put it further back in her mouth and she may not taste it as much. As for the cough medicine, we found this product made by Mucinex that she LOVES. It comes in packets of powder that "fizz" like pop rocks when they pour it on their tongue. The dosage - the amount of packets - depends on your childs age. She was thrilled when she was old enough to have more than one packet and even asks for more than her recommended dose, which of course we don't give her, but she actually looks forward to the next time she gets to take her medicine. If you're afraid of the dryness of the powder choking her, you can always mix it with a little water or soda and she can watch it fizz in the cup. If all else fails, you can try rewarding her for taking her medicine like a "big girl". Offer her stickers or extra play time (or whatever gets her excited) if she can take her medicine without getting any on her clothes, the floor...etc. Another tip is to not make a big deal about it being time to take the medicine. Just simply offer her the mixture as a snack or drink, however you feel it will be more satisfying for her. If she doesn't like it, try something different the next time. Be VERY careful not to overdose her too. I'm sure you already know this but just as a reminder... If, for instance, you offer it in applesauce and she doesn't finish the applesauce, DON'T offer her any more medicine in any form. The amount that she has gotten in her system, whatever it may be, is better than nothing AND better than her getting too much! I know it can be frustrating to have a sick child and then to know she won't get any better unless you can somehow get that horrible stuff into her. Just remember to stay calm (she can sense if your tense or nervous) eventually you'll figure it out! Good Luck!

you can take the medicine to a pharmacy that flavors. genuardis does. you can pick anything from bubblegum to chocolate cherry pie! Also u can try putting it in applesauce.

I encountered this when my son was much younger than your daughter, so I don't know if it would work for a 19 month old. I put the medicine in his milk. The pharmacist said as long as he drank all of the milk, that was fine. So if there is anything you could add it too that she would drink/eat?

Good luck!

HI J., Oh wow, I really feel for you! Have you tried using the "shooter" (syringe type medicine applicator whatchamacallit)? Try using the "shooter" and as you "shoot" the meds in the corner of her mouth blow in her face (if you blow in anyones face it makes them swallow) then have a cup of her favorite drink or a favorite cracker or two right next to you and hand it to her to "wash it down". Start with her laying down (changing tables help with this as well) and sit her up to hand her the drink. As hard as it is, be calm, matter-of-fact, cool and collected as you do this. Just get everything ready then 1-2-3 (even count it out for her) "good girl okay your done lets go do..." The biggest part of the "trick" is to do it fast enough that she doesn't have a chance to get "worked up" or into "tantrum" mode. Good luck!

Try using a nipple and ring and fill it with the med. This helped mine to go straight down the throat cuz they don't taste it as much. Then give them a drink immediately. Find out if it can be mixed with a drink like juice or milk.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisburgPAChat

I have an 18 month old grandson (daughter and grandson live with me) he also will not take his meds (ear infections) I gave my daughter the idea of placing the meds in a plastic cup
and he finally will take it without spitting it out or gagging

Good Luck!

I would call your pediatrician and ask their advice. Most peds don't recommend putting the medication in another drink, because it can change the concentration of the medication, or if they don't drink all of it, you have no idea how much medication they missed taking.

Is her cough medication over the counter, or is it prescription. The only reason I ask is because my son has asthma and had chronic ear infections...most pediatricians recommend against cough medication over the counter for young children. You may want to discuss that with your pediatrician.

Good luck, and I hope your little one feels better. I know your pain!

My 3 yr old is the same way. I told the Ped. about it last time he prescribed an Antibiotic and he offered an injection instead. My son has always been great with shots so that's what we did. No tears, no fighting! Once and done!

Bribe her with a lollipop or juice chaser in a regular cup with a straw as a chaser. Or, can you give it to her while she's sleeping? Offer her favorite food and tell her she can only have it after her meds. I tried mixing it in the juice and milk before, but it seemed that this only worked once and then she stopped drinking it and I would end oup throwing it out. I also recommend the syringe type thingy to give it to them, we get ours at TARGET. Maybe you could get two and fill one with something else and pretend that you are also taking meds and just LOVE it. Good luck, I have had the same issues with mine and she has finally grown out of it. The lollipop was my best friend for awhile.

Hi,
Did you try mixing her meds with a little juice? My son was like that with certain medicine. Don't use alot of juice try a little if she still refuses, add a little more until she can't taste it. You just have to make sure she drinks it all. When they get older and can take medicine in tiny pills, mix it (whole pill) with peanut butter or ice cream.. works like a charm. Hope this helps!

I never tried it but there's a bottle at CVS that mixes the medicine with milk/formula/juice... I think they are in separate sections of the bottle. Just a thought.

I personally will put the medicine in the syringe and squirt a little, give my son the bottle, squirt a little, bottle... it takes a good 5-10 minutes but prevents him from spitting it out

~H.
www.DiscoveryToysMom.com

I had the same issues and I try to make it a game. I try to disguise it in something she likes. I have found that most meds mixed in marishino cherry juice works. Is there something that you don't allow her to have maybe? Pop for example adn only let her have it when she takes the med, try a little on a spoon and mix it with the pop, even if it take 10 times, you'll get it in? i hope it helps nd does the trick

Try hiding the medicine in a drink or food that will "cover up" the taste. If she continues to throw it up then see your Dr. because this could be an involuntary reaction to the meds.

we had similar issues with my son. Some ideas (not all worked all the time, you just have to roll with it)

1. pinch her nose after "shooting" the medicine into her cheek as far back as you can (I stick my finger in his mouth to keep the mouth open until I squirt and then pull it out and pinch the nose which causes him to swallow

2. I tried the meds in juice, but he didn't like the changed flavor

3. Have her hold the syringe and make a game of it. Tell her it's medicine and it will make her feel better. We put water in the syringe and let my son play with it. Now we just hand him the syringe and help him push the meds into his mouth. He knows that medicine is to help so he's not afraid or adverse to it any longer. We try to minimize the ordeal which is what you might want to do so it's less stressful on you both.

Good luck!

Try putting the antibiotics in a strong fruit juice. My son would take it in apple or grape. About 2-4 ounces. Just be sure to get her to take the bottle/sippy cup right away and also make sure your son doesn't drink it.

Most doctors are recommending NOT giving children at that age any kind of cough or cold medicine. So I would save myself the trouble and skip that one. Instead, put some baby vapor rub on her, run a cool air humidifier at night in her room, and simmer some water on the stove during the day for extra moisture in the air to help break up her congestion. Also, my family has handed down a home remedy that helps with the congestion. Peel an onion, put it into a large pot full of water. Boil the onion until it is soft. Turn off the pot and let it cool. Give your child the water with a little sugar to sweeten it (like tea) in her bottle/sippy cup. If you can't get her to take this, you can add some chicken boullion (sp?) or base to the water along with some carrots, celery and noodles. The strong onion helps to break up the congestion as does extra fluid. Also, the "onion juice" is actually not disgusting. It is kind of sweet. So while I (along with many others) find the sound if it kind of unappetizing, it is actually pretty good and most babies, toddlers and preschoolers like it.

Anyhow, I hope this helps. Good luck with your little girl.

Hi J.,
That's gotta be tough. Can you mix it with apple or berry sauce? It may disguise it well enough to trick her. Also, I am a fan of the syringe as well. You can put the dose into the syringe and then give it to her bit by bit--it won't be messy or spill. Any pharmacy will give you O.. You could also try mixing it with juice, water, etc., whatever she likes to drink but the thing is once you mix it you have to make sure she eats or drinks it ALL to make sure she gets the whole dose. Then you start guessing amounts and wasting the medicine. Personally, I'd go for the syringe method to make sure she's getting dosed correctly. We have a great small pharmacy that can flavor medicine to your kids best flavors. Good luck to you!

Did you try applesauce, icecream or pudding. Mix in meds and spoon feed them to her.

Take a 1ml syringe... put it ALL The way in the back of her mouth by her cheek, and squeeze it in real quick, 1 ml at a time. She'll be forced to swallow it. This is how I get my refluxer to take nasty nasty meds

My daughter was born with a rare disorder that causes seizures along with alot of other problems but anyways she has to take a anti- seizure medicine twice a day and what we do for her is at the pharmacy they now have where you can get flavored medicine in a flavor your child may like and I usually just tell my child its liquid candy and she is always asking for more either that or put it into a spoon of applesauce which works also or even pudding whichever u perfer. hope3 this helps and good luck

Try mixing it with milk, juice, any liquid. Just give it to her when she's really thirsty