Advice Needed on Administering Medications

My daughter is 7 1/2 months old and has had ear infection since december 07. She been on all different medicine. They are thinking of putting tubes in.

I know you already posted a what happened, but just wanted to add a little. Some pharmacies offer different flavors of medicine. If I get Walgreen's, I can ask for grape instead of bubblegum. My daughter hates bubblegum but will take grape. I think they have several different flavors. That might help, too.

I actually just saw this, sorry i didnt get to it before. But, i do recall a certain LPN i know using the held mouth, nose business with a three and a half year old who wouldn't take anything via mouth in the hospital. The MD said to just put an NG tube down his nose, and he would probably decide to take it after that. (an NG tube was totally not necessary for what this kid had). We gave it one more try, and I have to say, after we did this method one time, the next time all i had to do was threaten to get that LPN to help give it and he took it right away. No NG tube was needed. Just stand your ground. They eventually decide that they dont like being held down and just take it. Sometimes if you offer "what would you like to take your medicine with, juice or milk?" they will decide one or the other and forget about resisting, like it's an option, anyhow! LOL..Good luck!

Have you tried putting it in a drink? We used to put medicine in our daughter's formula when she was too little to take it on her own.

Hi G.-

We have the same problem with our 8 mo old son, both with the bubble gum amoxicillin and now with Tylenol! The only thing that partially worked was putting it in his bottle. He could tell it was there and refused it at first, but then he got hungry enough that he took it. If you learn anything from anybody, I'd love some help also!

Thanks,

M.

my son hates taking medication too. What I do is either plug his nose after I give him his medicine. If he still tries to fight and not take it, I show him that Mommy likes it and pretend to take some. Last but not least I use the long sucky thing that the Pharmacy gives you. I put that in the very back side of his mouth, and squeeze the medicine down his throat and dont pull it out until he swallows. These have worked for me but just have patience is a virtue! She will get the hang of it! Good Luck

if she drinks from a sippy cup, pour a little juice in it only about a couple swallows & put the mecicine in it and have her take it that way.

I would put the medicine in a syringe not a spoon and once you draw up the medicine, draw up some juice too. You can kind of turn it from end to end to somewhat mix it and then make her tilt her head back and squirt it in. I would also have something for her to drink right there and make her take a drink immediately so she will not have time to spit it out. My son has been on some pretty nasty tasting meds and this system has always worked for us.

I had the same problem with my oldest. Still do sometimes and he is 3. Put the medicine in a little bit of juice and make sure that she drinks it all. That is what we had to do. My son used to get ear infections bad and often. We finally got tubes for him. It was a blessing to get those. But like I said mix it with a little juice and she should be able to take it. Make sure she doesn't see you though. My son did and he knew and wouldn't drink it. Good Luck. Hope she feels better.

What I did with my son was fill the syringe with the correct amount of medicine then put the smallest drop on a spoon and put it in his mouth, like a pea size amount and he took it better that way then putting the syringe in his mouth. It took a little longer to give it to him but the medicine went down no problem, and the amount is so small he cant gag on it.

Good luck

G.

It's not a good idea to dilute the meds in juice or milk. What worked for us was to put it in a baby bottle nipple. My toddler sucks it right down that way and there isn't as much aftertaste because it doesn't sit on the tongue.

G.,

To make it easier, we held our son down. While it sounds cruel, it was recommended by a doctor and it really worked well. Lay your daughter down on the floor with her head in your crotch. Put her arms under your thighs (don't apply pressure...but it will stop her from flailing around). Have the medicine in a dropper ready. Because of how she is positioned, she won't be able to turn her head to try to avoid the meds. Put the medicine toward the back of her mouth, near where her molars are...and as soon as you squirt some in, BLOW in her face...just blow some air right at her nose and mouth. It will cause her swallow reflex to kick in. It works, believe me!

This positioning is also great for suctioning noses out!

I have mixed it with chocolate syrup and let my son taste the chocolate first and then he is more willing to let me squirt of little in his mouth at a time. I also do this while he is in his high chair and before he eats so he is not too full. Hope this helps!!

Hi G. ~ I know this is a little late, but for the next time, try blowing in her face....this forces an immediate reflex to swallow. Squirt it as far back as you can, and blow....works like a charm :o) It seems a little easier than plugging her nose and stuff... good luck!

B.

There are one of two ways you can go about it. One is to be the bad guy and just lay her down and give her the medicine and not let her up until she swallows it. Try bribing her to take it (ie...as soon as you swallow the medicine you can have a cookie or so on) She'll probably start to gag though. It's a little scary went through the same with my little boy but it was Zirthomax and it tastes HORRIBLE! So be thankful it's just amoxicillian. The other way it to add it to just a little bit of milk or juice. Not a lot just enough to where it'll help hide the taste and she'll drink it all over a short period of time. That helps too. I hope I could be of some help. Good luck with the meds and the ear infection. They are defintely not fun!

I see that you've already posted a "what happened", but I wanted to tell you what worked for me. My kids always take their meds really well, except amoxicillin. So, I would usually mix it with something creamy, like flavored yogurt. One dose per 6 oz. yogurt cup. I also would mix it in with a small frozen yogurt milkshake. The key is to taste it yourself, and if you would eat it or drink it, then they probably will too. Good luck!

Hi G., a pharmacist once told me that if you put the medicine in a small amount of milk and hersheys syrup that the chocolate will take away the bitter/sour taste of the medicine. I've tried it with my kids and it works. Good luck! ~T.

This sounds totally mean, but it was advise given to me from the doc and it works.....put it in her mouth and hold her nose....she will realize the only way to catch her breath is to swallow and she will. Eventually she will take it willingly out of the little cups. Sometimes if I have to give my girls medicine and they act reluctant, I tell them take it or go to bed and so they take it. Anyway, it sounds horrible and doing it feels horrible, but it works and she will catch on very soon that she'd rather not have her nose held. Good luck!