Help Getting Toddler to Take Medicine

I have a 2 year old and had the same problem recently. We did several things. My husband and I would pretend to take some of the medicine first. He's also very into things "big boys" are able to do, so we told him big boys give them selves their own medicine. So we put the meds in a syringe and let him take it himself. Then there was always a reward/bribe--one jelly bean.

did you have it flavored? Target will flavor kid's medicines.

If you can't get it flavored, my mom always had a brownie or something I really liked (milk, cookie, etc) ready so that I could see it.

She had the medicine in one hand and the treat in the other so immediately after i swallowed, she shoved the brownie in :) I wouldn't recommend liquid since they may dilute medicine. Good luck!

Well, personally, I believe three is old enough to reason with- at least about some things-. Mine are now 18 and 17. They started spitting medicine out around two or three. I nearly lost my mind. Never mind you spent all that time and money, not to mention missing work, to take them to the doctor and go to the drug store for the medicine and NOW you think you're going to 'spit it out'. I don't think so! I got right down on my knees, looked my child straight in the eye and told him in absolutely NO uncertain terms - "the doctor said you are sick and this is the medicine you have to take to get better. You WILL take it and IF you spit it out you WILL be punished- PERIOD! Medicine is not negotiable." Worked for me. I don't ever remember having a problem after that. Good luck.

BTW - of course I always had a favorite drink ready to chase. I don't know about all this 'adding flavors to taste good'. Granted that usually works and makes a pleasant experience for everybody but be careful when you turn your back and he's figured out how to unlock the medicine cabinet and help himself to all those yummy treats.

Sometimes, even with the flavoring, there can be a pretty strong medicinal taste. Like you, I've tasted them before. If the flavoring idea doesn't work here's what has worked for me. First, don't get in a hurry. In the beginning it's taken me almost an hour for me to get medicine down my children, so take your time. I sit on the floor and simply explain the reason. Mine would sometimes get hysterical so I would just sit with them until they calm down letting them know we can't play, go outside, etc until we do what the Dr asks. Give it to him a tiny bit at a time and let him eat or drink something after each taste. I would give them a small bit then they get a cheeze it or drink of sprite, juice or chocolate milk. Then another small dose followed by a taste of something. Eventually, you should be able to get the dose in him without him spitting it all out. If not, call the Dr and see if there is another option. Now my kids do fine taking the meds we just shiver, make a face and say 'eww now lets drink something to get that taste out of our mouth'.

good luck

Talk to the pediatrician, see if there is an alternative to that particular med. I had to do that once with one of my kids. If NOT see if the pharmacist can flavor it. As a last resort just give "encourage" him by offering him a treat after he takes the medicine without fighting or spitting it out - no matter what time of day it is. Marry Poppins said it best "a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down, in a most delightful way."

Good Luck
Trcey

Take it back to the pharmacy and have them add a flavoring to it - bubble gum is usually the favorite but they offer over 300. If that doesn't work, ask if it comes in sprinkles or medicine straw or some other form (like probiotics do).

My first was like this. Even if we got something down, within five minutes he'd puke it up. My two year old, thankfully, will take anything we give her but she also will take small pills just fine. Given that it's an antibiotic, you're probably out of luck, but check how large the pill equivalent is if you think your ds might be able to handle a small pill.

IF not, you may want to try scare tactics and reminding him that if he doesn't take it, the doctor will HAVE to give him a shot (confirm with dr this is a viable option).

Otherwise, you'll probably end up sitting on him and forcing it into a cheek with a baby squirter thing. Sorry!

Good luck!

I would call the pharmacy and see if you can add it to a favorite food and disguise it that way. Sometimes, you can add it to ice cream, applesauce, maybe a drink, etc. Sometimes that will be enough to make it through the ten days at least! =0) Other than checking with the pharmacy for suggestions, the only other thing I can think of is to have them add a shot of the special flavoring they have now-a-days. Or bribes.......you take this medicine super quick and then mommy will give you a "......"!! =0) I'm never too good for bribes! LOL

You should call the doctors office and letthem know that youalready wasted 3 doses. We mixed one antibiotic in a small amount grape juice. The dr. may be able to give you a suggestion or a different medicine.

sometimes refrigerating it helps but maybe you can mix it in applesauce, oatmeal, etc Maybe even in a juice drink??

The best advice I got was from the pharmcy. I bought the Kool-Aid singles and mixed the dose of medicine with a little bit of the Kool-Aid. I used the grape flavor and it really worked, way better than the add in flavors at the pharcy b/c the still leave you with the bitter medicine flavor. The Kool-Aid singles work better than just plan Kool-Aid b/c the have some sugar in them so the bitter is gone and it taste more like candy, Yum Yum!
Good Luck and I hope it helps, it works every time with my toddler.

Most pharmacies can put flavor drops in the med. I have taken meds back many times for more flavor to be added. The pharmacies have a chart of meds and flavors. This chart recommends which flavor for what med. The aftertaste is the hardest to cover up.

You might try mixing it with some crystal light mix.

You could also tell your dr it tastes awful and recommend a different one.

When my son was having a medical procedure done in the hospital, he had to take meds to relax him. He flat out refused to take it. My son just turned three at the time. My husband held him in his arms and the nurse pucked up his cheeks and squirted the med in his cheek and held his mouth closed. Then she blew in his now gently. Down went the med!

Good luck. I hate when my kids are on meds.

As a pharmacist, I see this dilemma ALL the time! It's amazing to me that with all the medical inventions, great-tasting medicine has never been one of them! That said, any Walgreens or CVS (as well as plenty of others, I'm sure) will flavor your med as some of the other moms mentioned. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not, depending on the drug. Some are just putrid, no matter what you do. But, the very best cover for nasty taste is to mix it with a big dollop of chocolate syrup. And, for a 3 year old, who will probably understand a reward system, I love the sticker chart idea. Letting him know that you totally GET that it stinks (literally!) to take this medicine, but that he can get something really special out of it may help.

Good luck!!

add flavoring.. using something that will help him take it better they have special medicine droppers.. thinks person who suggested knocking your child out should not have kids or be near them.. good luck

When I was a child I had to take multiple courses of antibiotics and I remember battling with my mom. Eventually she started telling me that if I didn't swallow it I would have to have a shot for my medicine instead. Needless to say I started taking my medicine. She also let me have some juice or a peice of candy after I swallowed the medicine. Good luck. Let us all know what works b/c I have a 15 month old and I am sure we will have this battle someday.

call around in your area to see if you can find a drug store that will add flavoring to in. good luck. my daughter was the same way. but the good part is, she will swollow a pill. she is nine but has been doing this for about two years. mom of 7, R. u.

Hi R.,

I have three children 8,4,and 2. I almost always get the medicine flavored at the pharmacy. They have a lot of flavors to choose from so you can find his favorite :-) Also, i normally get the dose and put it in their drink (chocolate milk works best). If all else fails, then I have asked the Dr. for another one because my kids just cannot tolerate the one given. Hope this helps! :-)

J.

From the time my kids started walking, they refused to take liquid medicines, but were willing to swallow pills. It didn't matter how large the pill or capsule was as long as they couldn't taste the stuff. It didn't matter what the liquid medicine tasted like: banana, cherry, chocolate, whatever.
Having said that, it can be dangerous to give pills under age 3 because of the risk of aspiration.

I recommend:
1) take your time and don't hurry him
2) explain/remind him that this medicine will help him to continue feeling better
3) use a sticker chart. Reward him with a sticker everytime he takes his medicine without fussing.
When he has 10 or 20 stickers, get him a small toy or some sort of bigger reward. This helps with his counting and delayed gratification, also.

I'm probably late (and repetitive) with this, but use a syringe and put it back on his tongue near the throat where he won't have to taste it much (and will have less opportunity to spit it out). It measures and administers it all w/o wasting any.

Try using one of those medicine droppers even though you will probably have to still hold him down. Measure it, put it in dropper, hold him down, put as far back as possible without hitting his throat or making him puke, squirt it in there, if hes laying down, sit him up and blow in his face for a little till he swallows. The blowing in his face forces him to swallow to catch a breath. Worked great for our kids. Our Walgreens actually lets you change and choose different flavors and it only cost a dollar or two. Thats probably your best bet. Good Luck.

Hey R.
put the medicine in his juice but don't let him see you doing it or else he will not drink the juice. That is how i get my little niece to take her medicine for me.

have you tried mixing it with just a LITTLE juice just enough for a drink because he will have to drink it all?..Don't feel bad I have been there I have a soon to be 7 year old and sometime medicine is just a struggle. I would also but it in a dose cup instead of a syringe and give him a cup of water or juice and let him take little of sips of medicine and then a drink to wash it down.. it took a while to get the dose in him but finally it was all in.. I have tried everything. Sometime mixing in a little applesauce..just enough for a couple of bites works to! Just stick with it you will find something that works!

I am not sure what size dropper you are using but sometimes the smaller ones work best (like the ones from Motrin) but we found that keeping the child upright is best and then putting it toward the cheak toward the back of the mouth will allow it to go down better. Slower is always better even if you have to do 2 droppers. Maybe you can mix it with liquid but the problem with that is that you need to make sure he has all of it. Good luck. We have been through it and I know it is not fun. Now when my daughter is on antibiotic, we try to get the 1 dose a day kind. Three times a day is just too often for a little one but I know that is how it comes. Maybe you can "bribe" with giving your son a treat if he takes it like a champ...(a jelly bean, piece of chocolate, or something). This could be an incentive.

If it's zithromicin it taste like fingernail polish remover. Most pediatricians don't give this med to kids for the taste and for the high rate of allergic reactions. Call your pediatrician about this problem. They will understand about the taste and will offer a different drug. If not, consider a different doctor. Also, your druggist may have ideas about ways to make the new drug taste better.