Help! My 15 Month Old Spits Out His Antibiotic!

I know this sounds horrible, but insist that the docotor administer a shot of meds. My daughter has gone through this process so many times, and her ears have gotten so bad that there was puss in them. She hates medicine, after going to the er 3 times the doctor gave her a shot, she was better the next day. I think this is last resort, but my daughter can tell the difference in taste when I mix the meds and spits it out as well. its hard too because they are not well so even more cranky, so sticking something they dont like in their mouth makes it worse! I hope this helps
ang

My dad is a pediatrician and recommends this trick: Use a dropper instead of a cup, which you place between their teeth towards the back of their mouth, and squirt out the medicine (a little at a time so they don't choke) until they swallow it all. Keeping their teeth apart prevents them from spitting anything out. Good luck!

I don't know much about perscribing but as a mother of six and six grand kids I do know a little about giving medicine! Try putting it in a lttle of his favorite drink. If is is liquid no problem. If it a pill grind it up. If you don't tell them they don't know it is medicne.

I sometimes use bribery and I let my one year old do it herself. At first when she wouldn't take it I would bribe her with a chocolate chip or something small like that with every little bit she took. So I would only give her a little at a time then the chocolate chip then more medicine until it was gone. I would also sit her on the counter so she cant go any where and explain to her were staying her until the medicine is gone. Ask him if he likes being sick, ask him what he wants if he wants to feel better. Explain to him thoughtfully that he needs it to get better so he can do certain things that he wants. I believe our children understand alot more than we give them credit.

We had the same problem with our 5mo. old and tried all kinds of tricks. Someone told us to blow in his face so he will swallow since he can't breathe when we blow. Sounds cruel but it did work. We also tried pinching his cheeks together multiple times after putting it in. That also worked sometimes. He finally just took it as we would drizzle it towards the back of his throat and talk to him.

Good luck!
~ J.

I always use a dropper. It helps get it to the back of the check where it is harder to get it back out. Keep him lying down till he swallows. While you are doing it it might help to distract him with a toy or something. Hope that helps.

Hi T.
I'm a mom of 4 children age range from 20 to 4. All my children hated taking their meds. So my procedure is as follows:
1. I sit on the floor with the med ready for delivery. Also bring with you his favorite book, toys, blanket or whatever will lure him to you. of course don't let him know you have the med.
2. Do the activity, ie. read book, play with cars etc. After that do step.
3. While you are still on the floor lay him on his back with his head between your thighs, still talking nicely to each other.
4. Then put his arms and legs under your legs firmly. (his arms will be under your thigh area and your ankles over the lower part of his leg)
5. Get the med ready to administer, plug his nose with your fingers, get the med in as far back as you can at the check side. He will be forced to swallow. Then continue being the great mom that you are. Step 5 happens very quickly. Of course he will catch on to the routine. However, I was alway able to get the med down in that fashion.
Good Luck and don't give up.

Does your son use a pacifier? I haven't tried this yet, but I've seen a pacifier that has an opening in the back to put medicine in, then they drink the medicine as they suck on the pacifier. I'm pretty sure Babies R Us sells these, and probably other stores too. Good luck!

My 6 year old daughter is just terrible when it comes to medicine too. How I get her to take her medicine is to hide it in juice or yogurt drinks. Another thing that works is suppository style Tylenol, it works great when you need to get the temp down fast, at least it seems to work much more quick than any other way. She also takes vitamins and supplements every day and I buy the capsules or crush them and add it to peanut butter sandwiches or soup.

I've had the same problem with my now 3 year-old when she was younger. The problem turned out to be the type of antibiotic - it was very bitter tasting. I think it was augmenten. I called the Dr. and they changed to a less potent antibiotic, but better tasting.
That might not be the problem though if he's refusing tylenol as well. Due to my previous experience, I know you can mix antibiotics in with food (pharm. rec. milk, juice or ice cream) but you have to make certain they will eat or drink the entire thing.
Best of luck!

When I was little I had to take some horrible tasting liquid and horrible tasting pills. Mom did mix the liquid with some of my favorite things. 2oz. Pepsi and 1 oz. medicine and after I drank it I was promised a small glass of Pepsi all by it's self. Or some times I got the liquid in just a little water with a dash of flavoring like orange or cherry and in the bottom of the glass was a couple of lifesavers. I had to drink the water to get to the lifesavers. The pills were sometimes mixed with a little jelly or orange marmalade. After that my reward was toast with cinnamon and sugr or what ever I wanted.

Juice combo :)
My kids hated them too so we switched to natural stuff they liked but before that I mixed it with a little juice so they wanted it and then put a little more juice in to mix with any that might be left in the bottom. After you finish the anitbiotics get some probiotics to put back the GOOD bacteria to help keep them healthy.
If your children are prone to ear infections there is a homeopathic ear drop that you could put in their ears so that the stagnant liquid in their ears doesn't get infected. The ear drops flush it through so they stay healthy.

I guess this is a little late, but try asking your doctor for a chewable antibiotic. The doctor may think your son is a little too young, but my 20 month old has been taking small chewable vitamins and chewable tylenol for several months now. You could try giving him something else chewable (even a smartie)and see how he responds to it, if he does well ask for future antibiotics in chewable form. Not all antibiotics come in chewables, but it doesn't hurt to ask.
Good luck!

My daughter had this exact same problem. In fact, she had to take an antibiotic that was so nasty that she would throw up every time she took it. The thing that saved us was mixing it with a few spoonfuls of chocolate ice cream. The chocolate masks the flavor of the antibiotic and she loved getting a few spoonfuls of ice cream a few times a day. If your son is apt to throw it up because there is a nasty after taste you can pat him between his shoulder blades and that helps suppress the gag reflex.

BREASTMILK can cure ear infections. You just put it directly in the ear with a dropper. I personally stay away from antibiotics unless absolutely necessary (I haven't used any since I was a child not in charge of my own healthcare, and have not used any with my daughter). They are so harsh on little systems. I am not certain about what your boy can handle, but GARLIC wipes out infections. Another powerful one is GRAPEFRUIT SEED EXTRACT which works like an antibiotic, but without the harmful side effects. (bonus: it has also been used to treat diarrhea and is an immune system enhancer) ECHINACEA is also a good one. With any of these make sure that you use a natural product, not one with additives like gluten or preservatives. The kind I use is a liquid in a vegetable glycerin base.
And if you do continue to use the antibiotic, make sure that afterwards, you give him probiotics (acidophilis or others) to replenish the necessary bacterial balance in his system. This can be done easily by giving him yogurt.
Hope he is well soon!

We have always used Oil of Garlic from the health food store when our children have had ear infections. There are a few different kinds you can get, they are drops you put in the ear. Our childen have never had major problems with ear infections, but everyone I know that gets an antibiotic for an ear inf, the child usually gets them again and again. We have found that natural solutions have always worked better. Don't get me wrong, we go to the doctor, but usually don't have to.

Ive tried squirting it in and immediately blowing in their face, sounds harsh, but works. It makes them breathe in really quick and swallow. Try that.
kt

Hi T.-
My son is now 2 1/2. I haven't had to give him anything for his fevers because they've never gotten too high. If your little one's fever isn't in the danger zone, it's easier on his system to let his body take care of the fever. The fever has a job of its own to do and by suppressing it with medication, it may take your son longer to get over the bug he's got. Try just keeping him cool with just a diaper on and a cool wash cloth, or a cool bath.
Sounds like he's pretty sick. The ear infections my son has had, I've treated at home with a natural ear drop that has garlic in it. Garlic is a natural antibiotic.
You gotta do what's right for you. If your son is spitting out the medicine, try riding it out for awhile without medicine. If he's throwing up, you shouldn't try feeding him. His body is saying 'no food right now please'.
Good luck!
S.

My five year old son did the same thing and I was never able to get him to take it. He did get better on his own, but ear infections are tough. They do usually need an antibiotic. The nurse told me that pudding is a great way to hide the taste as is rootbeer.
I wish I had better advice for you, but do want to warn you that antibiotics strip the gut of good bacteria and can allow major yeast to build up in one's system. Be sure to follow up with a probiotic such as Florajen3 after finishing the antibiotics, or your son maybe even worse in a different way as yeast can cause diarrhea, stomach bloating, mood swings and can bring on autistic behavior. Yeast is a serious condition that not many people seem to know about.

T. I would defenitly put it in his favoirite drink , and don't let him see ya put it in there . I had the same problem with both of my children . when they were his age , and that seemed to work the best . I still doe it for my 17 yr old dauhter .
C. N

When my son won't take his medication .. i would just squeeze hos cheeks together so he couldnt spit it out then he would have to just end up swallowing it...

There are many good ideas below. We have 4 kids, so lots of experience with medicine! If we can't talk them into taking it & they fight us (particularly when they're really young), 1 parent holds the child in their arms so they can't squirm away while the other squirts the medicine with a dropper or syringe into the cheek pocket. Then put your finger along their teeth. If they can't close their mouth, they'll have a harder time spitting it out. Hold their mouth open until they are forced by their reflexes to swallow. Not fun, but if the medicine is necessary.... Then we give lots of love & cuddling! To help with the fever, don't forget you can also use tepid baths & cool cloths to the forehead & back of neck.

T., is this something he does whaenever you give him medicine? My four year old did that from birth on. I can't get her to swallow her liquid medicine. I talked to her doctor about it and our only other option was getting an injection of antibiotics. It's a little more painful because it's kind of thicker than a normal shot , but they only need it once and you won't have to feel bad for forcing him to swallow something he doesn't want. I'd definatley call your doctor about that and see what he thinks. Good luck and I hope your little gut feels better soon!!!

Dear T.,

I don't like giving infants juice, but sometimes it is the best way to get them to take the antibiotic. Put the medication in juice in his tippy cup or bottle. Hopefully he will take it. You might try applesauce, or something else he likes.

Also there are some glycerin based herbal remedies that can help if he begins to show signs of beginning ear inflammation before it becomes an ear infection.

I had three boys, all with similar problems. I learned to bath them very carefully watching that no water came into the ears and I covered their ears when outside. I also learned a very effective way of opening the ear passageway from my Naturopath Physician. I recommend consulting with one if you have reoccurring problems with any of your children's ears. Adjusting his neck/ears and modifying his diet, ie. no dairy while he has a cold, or is teething can really help. Dairy increases the thickness of the mucus secretions and can effect the normal drainage of his ears. That's why I suggested juice, not milk for the antibiotic.

He is probably a very healthy little toddler. Hope his health turns around quickly. I know how concerning it can be to see your children suffer with ear pain. I have had to use antibiotics many times, but learned how to use natural remedies as time went on.

These are just some suggestions for future reference.

Wish you the best!
H. B.

When my daughter was about the same age as your son, she got a terrible case of strep throat. She couldn't keep even a spoonful of ice chips down--let alone medicine. Her pediatrician gave her a shot of antibiotics that kicked the illness in only a day or so. I don't know if that is an option for you or not--but if you are desperate enough you might ask your pediatrician.

Once again, I find myself asking ppl to please stop giving medical advice that they have no business giving. A red eardrum is NOT the diagnosis of an ear infection...it is the presence of infection behind the eardrum and a bulging membrane, sometimes with a pus-like discharge from around it. Is it bad to take anitibiotics when not necessary...of course...but they are sometimes necessary and an ear infection left untreated often leads to hearing loss and can be as serious spreading to the throat, sinuses and eyes. They do NOT go away untreated in babies!

Now, off of my soapbox and on to the question that was asked. After all, did anybody actually read the question...I don't think the request was for medical advice from wannabe docs. You can always ask the pharmacy to flavor the med. different...they have a list of what med tastes best with certain flavoring. If you matched the flavor with an ounce of the same kind of juice, perhaps you could get him to take it. Unfortunately, babies sometimes have more stubbornness against taking meds than we do! I've heard that if you stroke their throat a little after you put the med in their cheek, that they will swallow it...just be gentle. I have NO idea if this works or not so that's my disclaimer...lol!

Good luck and I sure hope your little one is better soon!
~L.

T., I had the same problem with my son when he was the same age. I just mixed it with a little chocolate milk everytime he had to take it. I gave it to him in a sippy cup and said "Ohh look! Chocolate milk!" and he drank it like it was candy. It was a miracle!

Have you tried an eye dropper? Just a drop at a time while he is playing, be sneeky, or a drop at a time while he is sleeping? Who says it has to be all at one time? So what if it takes 15 minutes or so?

Hi there! I work in a pharmacy and we hear this ALL the time. First what antibiotic is he taking? That can make a difference in what you mix it with. Usually chocolate helps, it covers about anything. You can try putting it in a little chocolate milk, ice cream, or even pure ice cream topping (just a little in with the medicine).You could first try blowing on his face like many of the others said. But my little guy (now 4) figured it out and would hold his breath first because he knew I would blow on his face, then he would spit it out. He took alot of medicine. Both my kids had tubes one at 6 months and one at 9 months I think. Let me know what kind he is taking and I'll see if I can tell you anything else that works well with that kind. Just a note for another time. Some pharmacies flavor mediacines to make them taste even better. I would check that out next time! We do and let me tell you some of those mediacines end up tasteing really good!!!

Hello, I see you did try to put it in the pouch. while you are doing that than hold his nose because he has no choice but to swallow so he could breath.

Put a little in his mouth and then run your finger from the top of his throat to the bottom over and over, and that will make him swallow it, then repeat. Good luck!
T.

I hope by now that he is feeling better. But the next time you have to give him liquid meds, hold his nose so he has to breath through his mouth and his instint is to swallow. I know it sounds mean but it works and after a few times he will let you give him the medicine without a problem. I have 2 children my self and they both went through that at that age and they are now 11 and 8.

I know this is probably to late, but I've just joined the boards! My son has been on medicine since he was 4 weeks old and its a constant battle. The best advice I can give is to keep him held down , pry the mouth open like you were doing, and squirt TINY little bits into the back corner of his mouth/cheek, and then blow hard and fast into his face. This is an old swimming lesson trick, and it immediately forces them to hold their breath, thus causing a swallow. Its a true battle, but by doing tiny amounts you'll only lose a minimum if he manages to reject it! Good luck!

Try getting an eye dropper and placing back further in this mouth where he can't spit it out. Watch that you give a little at a time so he doesn't choke.

L. :)

This is probably too late, but I was wondering if maybe next time you can request suppositories. As aweful as they are, it might help. I don't think they make them as an antibiotic, but they definatly do for vomiting and diarrhea which might help him keep food down that you mix the medicine in. Hope this helps!

Trying putting it in a sippy cup with juice that usually works for me... or if he like oatmeal, or rice cereal still, or even yogurt.. the usually does the trick.
poor thing! Thats the pitts for you!

Try mixing it in a little apple sauce.

You may want to just take him back into the Dr for a shot instead of trying to get him to take it orally.

I'm a mom of three 7 yrs, 2yrs and 8months. Put it in what ever you can discuse it with strawberry milk works great for amoxillican. Whatever gets it in him is better than not getting it in at all.

I had a similar problem with my son, and my mom suggested gently pinching his nose so he's forced to swollow...I didn't have the heart to do it, but my mom said it worked for them way back when...My parents used to have to give my sister medicine for her heart condition (this was 18 ys ago) but anyhow, this might sound mean, but it worked...she had putrid medicine twice a day for 6 months..

For a couple dollars the pharmacist can flavor the med. all you have to do is ask. I did this when my youngest was younger. It is well woth the couple bucks!

GL:)

I have the same problem, with my son who is 2 years old now. He has always done the same thing. I now put the medicine in his orange juice, apple juice. No problem he does not even know its there. However if he see me put it in he will not drink it. So make sure your son does not see you put it in his drink. Now my husband does not have to hold him, while I try to get him to take it the medicine. He get the medicine, get better and no more fighting to get him to take it. Hope this helps you.

I am probably too late, but if you give him the meds and blow in his face at the same time he will instinctually swallow. Maybe this will be good for next time.

I have a 4 month old and she has been taking medicane for her acid reflux, I asked the dr or pharmacist if it was ok to mix it in with her bottle and they said yes so I did and she took it. So if I have something she won't take than I mix it with that if not a bottle than mix it with cereal or something to make the taste not so strong

Hope that you have had the problem resolved by now and he is feeling better, but i wasn't sure if you tried squeezing his cheeks while your are giving him the medicine and making sure his head is all the way back so he can't spit it out and with the help of gravity maybe he'd swallow it. Good luck, hope he's feeling better!

I didn't read all of your responses so maybe this has been mentioned...but I put a little in at a time and blow in their face. It kind of startles them, but they automatically swallow every time. I've had some fighters and this always worked for me!

Most ear infections actually go away on their own without treatment.

it sounds like something else might be going on entirely with the vomiting and diareah, like a stomach bug...antibiotics will just make diareah worse.

Was your son crying and upset when the Dr. looked in his ears? If so he may have been misdiagnosed with the ear infection, The eardrum gets red when a baby cries.

Hi T.,

I had the exact same problem with my little one. The only way I could get him to take his antibiotic was to disguise it in chocolate milk. It worked every time.

Hi T.,

The best trick I ever learned was to lay him on his back, put the medicine in the back of his cheek and then lightly blow on his face. It is reflex for him to swallow. My doctor taught me that when my son was a baby and it worked great. Good luck and I hope he gets better.

K.

HI. I just read your post. My first two were terrible medicine-takers. So, when I give my kids medicine and they spit it up, I put it in and right away, and I gently push the bottoms of their chins to help them swallow. This closes their mouth and forces them to swallow. I hope this helps.

Hi T.....aren't 15 month olds fun?
what kind of liquids does he like. Juice or even soda....put the meds in a small glass of one of his favorite liquids. Make it a small amount of the juice or soda, so that he will drink it all. If the meds are flavored try to get a beverage that will correspond with the flavor of the meds, so that he doesn't detect it.
Hope he get better soon. I will say a prayer for him.
Carol L

After you squirt the medicine in the inside of his cheek, blow a quick blast of air into his face. His automatic reaction will be to swallow. We had to do that ALL the time when our boys were babies =)

get a medicine syringe. it has the amounts on the syringe. place it inside their check and slowly empty.it will fit quite far back and they swallowit and you just go slow.

I have that same problem with my daughter sad to say she is 5 now and still does it. she won't take meds and if we put it in milk she can tell or anything for that matter. what i suggest trying is some very strong flavor of juice just a ounce or so if he will drinkk it and then give him more afterwards or something else.
let me know if you do find something that works.
M.

I would go ahead and put it in something like applesauce. I have even put it in apple juice. Its not really worth the fighting to get it down. If it gets real bad, and he wont eat the applesauce too, then call your doctor. They can prescribe something different or call the pharmcy and they could add some flavor to it. Good Luck!

Check with your doctor and see if there's a shot they can give him instead. I have a friend who had to go that route with her son.

I used to hold my son's mouth shut. It helped a little. It's very hard I know. He learned how to swallow pills at an early age. My youngest always asks for more than he needs, so each kid is different. Good luck!!!

Have you tried a syringe type dispenser and slipping it in the side of his cheek? A lot of times they don't have the time to react before it's already in the back of their throat. This one is a tough one. Hang in there!
((hugs))

Hi T. - Boy can I relate! My now almost 5 yr old son is the same way. The pocket thing never worked because he would hold it until I let go and then spit it out! He was on antibiotics several times as a baby. What I finally started doing was putting it over a little ice cream that he loves. At first I was freaked by giving him ice cream three times a day, but it was only a little bit and he would take the meds which was more important. The antibiotic had kind of a vanilla taste so it blended fine. Just make sure you can get him to eat all the food you put it on - so make it just a little bit. Enough to mask the taste. I'd just use a couple tablespoons of ice cream. Also - you may want to call the pharmacy and check the dosage. Our Dr. made a mistake and wrote it for too much and I think we ended up having to do half of what was prescribed. It seems like 1.5 tsp was what was prescribec and it ended up being too much. Just a little heads up, because I never would have known except a friend of mine had her 8 yr. old on the same antibiotic at the same time and she was taking the same amount prescribed for my 1 year old! Of course, you may be on a completely different medication - but just thought I'd let you know about that. It was much easier to get 3/4 tsp. down than 1.5 tsp. You may just want to double check it. Hope it works for you! If I think of anything else we did, I'll let you know!

If you have not already tried, you could call your pharmacy and ask to flavor the medicine. They have many different flavors, hopefully one your child will like and take willingly. This has worked for my very picky son in the past. Good luck!

This may be a little strange, but my son would not take his medication either, so I put it on some toast and spread some jelly over it. You could also put it in with a small glass of juice or strawberry milk. Good luck

T., I have 6 kids and lots of experience with this problem. It is hard to explain, easier to show you but I will try to explain the best I can. If you take your thumb and index finger and place it like you were going to feel his glands on his throat, place both your thumb and finger right under the jaw bone next to the neck. This can be tricky but it works, when you are giving him the medicine at the same time massage with those fingers in a circular motion without choking him it almost makes them have the sensation to swallow. The medicine goes right down. After a while they realize that it is not that bad. When my kids got to be 4 or 5 I would have them plug their nose and then they could not taste it going down.

Hope that works. I know it sounds weird but it really worked for us.

S.

i had one that did that too.. and the pharmasist gave me a syringe (without the needle of course) this way i could put the syringe along his cheek towards the back of his mouth and give him the medicine .. kinda slowly.. i still needed help to hold him down, but the medicine went so far back in his throat he had to swallow it. the other thing that helped was i use that syringe and put it inside his cheek after he had fallen to sleep. he usually never woke up and swallowed automatically while relaxed.

good luck.. i hope he is well soon!

My daughter has the same problem. She is now almost 2 and is getting better but I did have to lay her down and put it in her mouth and then gently push down on her throat a few times to make her swallow. I worked pretty good. To get it in I would have to pinch her lips together. Good Luck.

Just went through this with my 19 month old! We would put her down on the table and give her a piece of chocolate to eat. Then we would put a finger in her mouth and pull it away really fast and say "Ow!" and laugh...like she was biting our finger. She would laugh and open her mouth and we'd shoot the antibiotic in the back of her mouth really fast. It's kind of mean because she's laughing, but at least she got her med. Then she could eat the chocolate to get the taste out of her mouth...anything they like to eat...a cookie, piece of fruit, whatever works for him. She did sometimes spit out the antibiotic, but always got most of it in. Hope your little guy gets better.

T., My kids are older now, but I remember doing this same thing with them.

The best suggestion I have is to squeeze his cheeks when putting it in his mouth. They cannot spit it out, when you do that. Hold is cheeks and he will have no choice but to swallow.

Sounds horrible but it works.

T.,
Try chewable tylenol! Otherwise, as you suspected, put the liquid in something else. Juice. Though, he really doesn't like the taste. Can you make a deal with him? Also stressing that this "will make him better". In the end, make sure his is getting water/electrolytes if he is vomiting and has diarrhea. I had a doughter that refused meds..mostly just pain relievers, but she is alive and doing well. If the vomiting and diarrhea continue into the day and he is not consuming liquids, CALL THE DOCTOR. Good luck
C.

T.,
I had the same trouble with my daughters who are 2 yrs.and a 6th month old. In the stores they have a nipple medicine measurer and that work wonders. But we lost it at some point so I just measured the medicine then put it in a regular nipple with a bottle on it so know air would get in. I hope that this helps your son get better.

Again I have to agree with Lacy. Always follow your doctors advice when it comes to antibiotics especially. Follow the entire regime even though it's difficult. Talk to the doctor if you ever have a question about doses when he spits out the medicine or throws up shortly there after. Ear infections are nothing to mess with.

We also had trouble getting out daughter to take her medicine. She would spit it out and even puke it up. What we would do is just a very small amount at a time. It took probably some 20-30 minutes before we got the entire dose in her. But it went down in the end and it stayed down. I think when it's such small amounts they are less likely to spit it out. I hope you figure out something, it's terrible when your children are sick. Good luck.

My son did that all the time too. I would put it in his bottle or cup with juice or something but not a whole lot of juice. Just enough that you know he will suck it all down. Worked wonders!! You just need to make sure he drinks it all.

try mixing it with something sweet and a little thick - like spple sauce. a spoonful of sugar does help the medicine go down, like Mary Poppins said.

My son was just put on an antibiotic for the same reason a couple days ago and he hates it. He would spit it out as soon as he tasted it. We live with my in-laws right now, so my mother-in-law gave him the medicine VERY slowly in his cheek, waiting for him to swallow before giving another little push of the syringe, while he was held down. (He began to relax halfway through). And all the while we were telling him what a good boy he was for taking his medicine and continued with that all evening and in the morning. Now he only lets grandma give him the medicine! I know it's hard and there never is any easy answer for giving medicine when they fight it so much, especially when your son is so young. Good luck.

It is such a trial to give babies meds. I hate to ask you but have you tried holding his nose when you give him the meds? I had to do that when my oldes had pnuemonia at 2. had to lay him on the floor with his arms and legs beneath my legs so that I could give him the meds with one hand and hold his nose with the other. Sometimes I wish they would just give them a shot of meds like they used to when we were kids!
The meds might give him more diarrhea. Did they tell you to try the brat dies once he stops vomiiting? (banannas, rice, applesauce, toast)I am so sorry you are having a hard time!

Have you ever tried a syringe? Do you happen to have one from Motrin if not from a pharmacy? Just lay him back and put it way to the back and side of his mouth and he should swallow it when you squirt it. I've had to give it to kids who won't take meds good and MOST of it gets down that way, if not all of it. Good Luck!!

My son does the exact same thing, and he's 14 months old. I don't know if he still takes a pacifier, but that's one of the tricks i use. After I give him his medication I instantly put his pacifier in his mouth. That way instead of him wanting to spit it out in my face he just sucks on his pacifier, in turn swallowing his medication. That or you can put his antibiotic in his bottle, if he still takes one, or in his sippy cup. I would ask your pharmacist to see if maybe you could cut his doses in half and just administire the medication twice as much. This way you wouldn't be mixing so much at one time.

Boy, you got A LOT of great advice. Funny, my 9 month old just got diagnosed with the same thing yesterday. I get the whole thing of trying to not do antibiotics, but I think a mom knows when your child is really sick and needs more than TLC.

On that note, I'm having the same problem getting the meds down my baby and some advice I got from friends and family is to wrap her (in your case him) in a towel so she can't use her arms to swipe away the syringe, and then ever so slowly, drop by drop, use a syringe to give her the medicine so she can't spit it out as effectively. This is a time consuming, two person job, but it works for me.

I feel your pain. Good luck.

I had a similar problem with my five-year-old when he was that age. Sometimes it works when you're holding him down to blow in his face while you're putting it in his mouth. And then after you get it in his mouth, shut his mouth for him so he'll swallow it. Also, if you use a syringe you can get it into the back of his mouth and it's harder to spit out that way. Don't be afraid to be pretty forceful. You're not hurting him, he needs to take his medicine or he won't get better. Good luck!!

If it is amoxicillin (sp?) then you can just mix it with his bottle. My son just went through the same thing and would throw up or spit out all of his medicine. I called the nurse at my doctors office and she told me that mixing it in his bottle would not dillute the medicine or change the effectiveness of it. You just need to make sure that he drinks the whole bottle down. I would always just mix it with a little less in each bottle to make sure he drank it all. It worked, and now he is ear infection free. Good Luck!

T., MIX IT! try sprite or (even though you wound not want to) coke, Coke has a strong flavor and will cover the taste of the meds. Any way you can get it in him! Unless the fever is over 102 even 103, don't worry, the fever is fighting the ear infection. dress him lightly, tepid baths, cool drinks. Make a rice bag, cut a wash cloth in 4, throw 2 away, sew around the bag most of the way, put instant rice in the bag, sew the rest. put the bag in the micro for 30 seconds. Hold it on his ear (if possible, or put it on when he is sleeping, the heat reduces the swelling, and the pain. If you still can't get him to take the meds, call your doctor. there are ear drops that are prescription, there are also pain drops for the ear, Ask for them. also tylenol and motrin come in a
form to be inserted rectally. (fun!) You have lots of options hon. K.

I used to put my kids anti-biotics in either jelly or honey can be put on a piece of toast or roll, if it can betaken with food... If not, just the honey will do....

If worse comes to worse, put it in some apple juice, milk or food, because getting SOME medicine down is better than none at all. That is what we had to do with my daughter. She would absolutely get irate when we tried to give her meds, so we would just try to put them in something flavorful enough to cover the medicine taste. It did not work every time, but it was the best we could do.

I'd suggest using a syringe to administer the antiobotic. Squirt it back of the tongue if it tastes bad. You could see if giving him the syringe and asking him to squirt it in his mouth (depending on his ability) helps. You could call the nurse and ask about breaking up the dose into smaller portions given half hour between each other. In a pinch I've rewarded my child with a bite of something she really liked after giving her the medicine. Especially when it knew it didn't taste well. As for the fever & Tylenol, don't fight just buy the suppositories. I think I have Feveral brand at home. He might be more compliant if his fever is down. If you son gets diarrhea from the antibiotic, try buying some Cultural (one capsule) and putting it his food. I do this every time my daughter is on antibiotics and it works. I learned this from my doctor.
L.

WHen you put it in his mouth try blowing into his mouth at the same time. a normal reaction would be to swallow. if you hold him down put him between your legs with his head closest to your body. then his arms under your legs. this way your husband can help with the blowing. HOpe it works.

Hi T.

If you were to blow in his face a little he would have to swallow. It might be a little uncomfortable for him, but it is a natural responce to swallow if you have something blown in your face.

Brittany G.

T., here are a couple suggestions. If you put the medicine in the back of his mouth and hold his nose, he will be forced to swallow. A trick I use is sticking the medicine in a sippy with milk or juice. My daughter will always take it that way.

Hi T.!

My son did the same thing a few months ago--24 months. He's a big boy, so it took both my husband and I to get the medicine down...one of us would hold him on our lap in the laying down position. The other would use squirt some in the back of his mouth with the medicine dropper (not in a cup)then quick push his chin up so he had to swallow it. Sounds mean, but it works to get the poor thing feeling better!
Good luck! Mixing it with food would work too if he can't taste the difference:)

what i would try is putting it in a bulb syringe and while he is crying get it to the back of his mouth, what i have found is chances are they will swallow it the next time they take a breath for more crying...or try putting it in about 2 ounces (not very much cause you want him to drink it all right away) of juice or milk and then give it to him...i have done this in a bottle for younger children or sippie cup for older children and both work great!!

What I have always done with my kids is to put my finger between their teeth. This way they can't close their mouth and then end up swallowing the medicine. It is really fast, and they will get over it quickly. It is easiest if there are two people but you can do it by yourself.

Does he still use a bottle? Try putting the meds in a nipple and have in suck on the nipple. If not, ask the Dr. if it can be mixed with juice and he can drink the meds from a zippy cup.

I found that the best way to give medicine to my children is to use a syringe, you can get them at the pharmacy. You may still have to hold him, but can get right to the back of his mouth and it will go down.
hope he gets well soon!

I use to hide the medicine in some strawberry milk. Worked every time. It disguises the taste really good.

I am a mom to 5 boys (ages:16, 14, 12, 10,and 6)

Yes I think you can mix it in something like sugar or a water bottle, maybe even food. It probably will not be as effective, but right niow it is more important to get the medicine in so it will work quickly,but call a pharmacist and ask to be sure what you can safely mix it with. mc

I had the same problem when my little boy had RotoVirus and he didn't like his antibiotic. I had to end up putting it in Rice Cereal for him to take it. Good luck.

My daughter has always faught when she has had to take anything. We tried every flavor of tylenol and Motrin, and finally found the berry flavor of Motrin that she likes so she will know take it without problems. As far as the antibiotic, try asing the pharmacist for a flavor kit and you can make it a bit more appealing. This worked for my nephew, however it did not cover up enough of the medicine taste for my daughter. We finally tried gently squeezing her cheeks until she swallows. They cannot spit with their cheeks squeezed!! Good Luck! It can be a hard struggle.

It sounds bad but if you hold his nose closed by pinching it he will have to swallow. Also the pharmacy can add flavoring to almost any medicine.

Ask your pharmasist to get it in another flavor or ask if you can add it to a small glass of soda. The child might think if it's a treat, he'll take it. Good Luck!

Have you tried to mix it with some milk or other beverage in a sippy cup or bottle? I have a 9 month old and he is currently on an antibiotic for an ear infection as well. He would not take his medicine either and would spit it out and so we have been mixing it in his bottle with his formula and he has been taking it just fine and getting much better. Make sure to check that the antibiotic can be taken with food. It will say so on the bottle if it can't: "Do Not Take With Food". Some antibiotic's absorption can be affected if taken with food. However, most antibiotics for ear infections are fine to take with food or beverage. Hope this helps!