2 1/2 Year Old Will Not Take Medicine

Hi S.,
I don't like Tylenol. It has bad press from time to time. We use Motrim for Children. There is a nice flavored one that my kids both like. It is bubblegum. Put it in the syringe and give it a tiny bit at a time.
W.

My son has to take medicine in applesauce with added cinnamon. I think he suspects something, but he takes it without gagging (and he has a wicked gag reflex!) so that's what we do. Follow each bite with a "chaser" bite of something she likes. My kid loves cheese or bread.

I went through this with my son when he needed antibiotics a while ago. A couple of things seemed to help. First, we got his favorite stuffed toy (an ugly doll), and let him pretend to give the medicine to the doll. Then he got to give the medicine to mommy and daddy. Finally, once we'd played like that for a while it was our turn, and we gave him his medicine.
When he just wasn't in the mood and that didn't work, I followed the advice of someone on mamasource. It sounds kind of mean, but he actually doesn't mind that much and it's how we brush his teeth now too. You sit on the floor with your legs in the shape of a V. You put your child's head up by your crotch and then pin her arms under your legs. It's easier to get it in that way. She might still spit some out, but i think it's a bit harder to do that on your back. Like I said, sounds mean. It was worth it for antibiotic - we were running out because he had spit so much out and we needed to finish the course. I'm not sure whether I'd do that for tylenol or not. I guess it depends on how hard she's making your life because of her pain! Good luck!

I just had a pharmacist tell me a few days ago that there are 2 universal things you can use ...chocolate milk or grape juice.

Try one of these without letting your child see you put it in.

If it is just the Children's Tylenol that she won't take- try a different brand or flavor. Anything Grape came flying out of all of my kid's mouths...They all loved regular Kid's Motrin (fruit flavor). If it is medicine then -good luck! My son went through the same thing and we wasted half of a prescription trying different tricks. I finally gave up and called the dr while he was standing in the room with me and asked what to do if he wouldn't take the prescription. They told me he could come in for a shot every day. I repeated loudly "A shot EVERY day? For how long?" and - lo and behold!- he took his meds. And if she doesn't take it- your dr most likely can do a shot instead.
And he was about the same age so I am sure she can understand...

My oldest son is the world's worst. I have to force him still at almost 8 years old. The youngest just tosses it back and goes on with life. If she absolutely has to have it, you may have to force her to take it. Hold her mouth closed. Another lady suggested this as well. I would NOT recommend calling it anything else but medicine. You don't want her to be confused when she is older. THis may result in an accidential overdose, very bad news. Good luck to you! If she gets sick and gives you trouble you could always you the scare tactic of shots. For example, "You have to take the medicine honey, because if you don't, you won't get well and the Doctor will give you a shot." It's an honest consequence from not taking your medicine. CB

I have never tried this, but I am wondering if the medicine is freezable. Add some water to it and freeze it and let her think it's a popcicle. She may not like taking medicine but if she doesn't know it's medicine maybe that will work.

You either have to try a 'trick' (like a different form of medication, hiding it in something else, etc. - you've got some great ideas here) or you just have to hold them down and give it to them, like a couple of the other women have said. If you don't assert your authority now, when she is just 2 1/2 (while you can still hold her down!), it's going to be much tougher later. Good luck!

A oral syringe works great, but if she spits it out, you may need to hold her mouth closed for a few minutes. Not easy wrap her in a blanket or beach towel and then give her the meds. Hold her mouth closed.

Here in Austin we have a pharmacy that can flavor the medications... They have all flavors. The Pharmacy here is called People's Pharmacy, you may want to see if there is a Pharmacy where you live that does the same. We noticed our daughter liked grape or pineapple.

I wish the drug companies would include different flavors for all kids meds.

I may have just gotten lucky...but my toddler did the same thing until I gave her the option of doing it on her own. I still give her medicine in a syringe for the most part..and she takes the syringe..puts it in her mouth and pushes the syringe in at her own pace. I think in my daughter's case..it was a power struggle. Once I gave her the power to control it...the struggle was over and she always takes her meds...I do have to say she is not real crazy about cough syrups...but she still takes it as long as she gets to do it. I had to monitor her at first to make sure it all went in...but now she is a master at it.

we were taught from a very young age not to react like this. mom and dad made yummy noises and if we started to go into fit mode or spitting it out we were told sternly no and to take our meds. we did. our son has been on alot of antiboitics due to ear infections, allergie meds, and has taken tylenol. I noticed he didnt like the cherry flavor in things as much as he loved the grape. I give him his meds in a seringe , like i would feeding never forced even if he makes a face and gets the chills from the taste he still opens his mouth to take meds. You could pretend to play nurse and take meds..at play time then it wont be so weird at the actuall time to take the meds. Also give her a candy after for the good job and getting the flavor out of her mouth. I know not to reward with candy but in this case i think its ok. Best of luck. Nothing worse than seeing an adult be a big baby about meds.

i have a 2 1/2 yr old also who was doing the same thing. finally we got to convince her that its "juice" and we acted like we drank some and told her how good the "juice" was. also my sister (who my daughter loves and she babysits my daughter) acted as if it was "juice", so now when it comes to taking medicine we never say the word medicine its always come take your juice and now my daughter takes it no problem. i hope this helps some.

I used to go through this with my two kids. At the time my daughter was totally into the movie Under Dog - so I told her she had to come take her "Bone Juice" so she could be a Super Hero like Underdog. Worked like a charm. My two year old son loves dinosaurs so I told him he had to take his "T-Rex Juice or Dinosaur Juice". He still asks me sometimes if he can have T-Rex juice - even when he's not sick. Hope this helps - Good Luck!

I have the same problems with my 2 yr old. I use the tylenol supositories. It so much easier this way when they are little. For her antibiotics I have been able to usually add it to drinkable yogurts without her realizing it. I ususally use 2 of the yogurts in a free flow sippy that way the amount will cover up the taste of the medication.

Good luck!

I have a son who stopped taking liquid medicine when he was 2. Whenever the doctor prescribed medicine, I ask for a chewable form and he takes those fine. I know the Tylenol comes in meltaways and chewables, you should try those and see if she will take them. I believe they can start at age 2.

You can try the chewable tablets and at a last resort, Tylenol does come in suppository form. In fact, with 2 of my kids that had fibrol siezures (that's a siezure brought on by high fever), we learned that the suppository form was the fastest way to help bring fevers down. And it was easier to give when they were sleeping (we didn't have to wake them up). I don't think you need a prescription to get the suppository Tylenol, just ask your pharmacist.

This always worked for my dog, so I decided to try it on my kids...

We got a prescription for liquid antibiotic (Bactrim - can't hide the taste in ANY flavor - it's like drinking a liquid battery!) My 3 year old kept spitting out. I could not force it in him no matter how hard I tried. I panicked because he really needed it!

I called the doc/pharmacy back and asked them to give me adult tablets in the corresponding dosage for a child. I broke up his dosage in very small pieces and gave it too him in either spoonfuls of peanutbutter or inside a frozen raspberry. (Makes their mouth cold, so they don't taste it!

Worked like a charm. You just need to make REALLY sure the dosage is exactly the same and that you can break up the pill. Some medicine you're not supposed to break.

They make most over-the-counter pills in tablet form for kids, like motrin, and benedryl, so you could try the same thing... But most of them make melt-aways or something similar, which would be my first choice if available.

there are melt aways out there can be used for that purpose try them they might work for you.

I feel your pain. I just went through this myself with my 28 month old son. He had to take oral antibiotics twice a day for ten days...yeah real fun.

I knew that I had to get him to drink it on his own or else he'd just spit it everywhere and I couldn't afford to waste any doses on his silliness. I measured the medicine out, put it in a shot glass and set it in front of him. Then the first stage of negotiations started...want a sticker? Okay, drink your medicine & you'll get a sticker. Uh oh, no sticker unless you drink your medicine. Want a sticker?
Second stage...Want your binkie?
Third stage...Your in time out until you drink your medicine.

The first few times is a battle of wills that you have to win or else you'll be in for a battle each and every time. When you stay strong and they get the idea that you won't be backing down when it comes to taking medicine and it can be easy or hard but either way, the medicine is going down the hatch, they will go along easier.

Best of luck and I hope your little one feels better very soon.

Honestly what works best for me (my daughter is 21 mos) is to fill the syringe and then tell my daughter it's time to take her medicine. I too have tried hiding the meds in food/drink/etc with limited success. Now I just hold the syringe in my hand and ignore her. I tell her about it and wait. After a little while (up to 30 minutes I'm willing to wait) she will usually take the syringe and drink it. On
occassions when she just won't take it (or I'm in a hurry)we set her up in front of a picture slide show or an episode of Dora or something and just kinda force it down. Sometimes are easier than others though. Good luck!

Around this age, we started having a hard time getting our son to take any liquid medicine. I found the Tylenol meltaways and figured I'd give them a shot. He loved them! He liked the idea of taking "big kid medicine," and we still use them. The ones specifically for kids 2-6 melt very quickly, so you don't have to worry about her choking. Just be sure not to hold it in your hand too long b/c the moisture on your hands will start to dissolve them!

Best of luck and I hope your little girl feels better soon!