Ben, 2 1/2, is on antibiotics for a possible staph infection on his cheek (again). I'm having the hardest time getting him to take his medicine. He wont take it willingly, he will just spit it out. I have to have him take it, else he will end up in the hospital like last year for 5 days on IV antibiotics. I've tried bribing him with lots of different candy, but he still wont take it. I've tried mixing it with applejuice, but he still tastes it and wont drink it. I've tried doing it very slowly while he is sleeping, but he will just spit it out and wake up. I've been having to force him to take it, and I feel like I'm torturing him. :( I have to wrap up his arms in a towel, have someone help me hold him down, plug his nose to get him to open his mouth, squirt some in, then I have to put my hand over his mouth until he swallows it. I hate doing this! We still have to do this for one more week twice a day. Does anyone have any suggestions on something I could mix it in so he wont taste it, or any other ideas? Thank you for your help!!
I don't know how much easier this would be, but is it possible to get the medicine in suppository form? My DS had to get tylenol that way when he was sick once because he had thrown up and they didn't want to take the chance that he would throw it up again.
Good luck!
What dispenser are you using? See about using a syringe (w/o needle of course) if not already using it to use a syringe. Be frank with him and explain to him that he NEEDS to be a BIG BOY and that he needs to take the medicine or he will need to go back to the hospital for IV (shots) etc...
Then I would explain to him that he can give himself the dosage. Draw it up for him of course and let him squirt it into his mouth a little at a time and he can have a drink of water after each sip--- this alternate way helped me when my little one was 3-- it is worth a try. If that doesn't work explain to him that things will be taken away-- be specific his favorite toy or no TV for the day etc... be up front before giving hime the medicine...
If not hang him by his toes-- just kidding lol :)
Good luck!
HI! I am assuming this is a liquid medicine. Do you know if the issue is that he doesn't like the taste of it? If so, the first part of this solution should work wonders. If not, you might need phase 2 :)
My son was very sick when he was young and I had to give him meds everyday. He didn't like it - and like you I would force it when needed...but no one really WANTS to do that. I would take the medicine up to the pharmacy and ask them to add flavoring to it. Grape seems to hide even the nastiest tasting medicine.
You could stop there and just tell him Momma got him some new medicine that is yummy - but since you have already engaged in a battle if wills with him, this might not be effective. I would bring the new tasting medicine home and sit down at the table (without announcing this to your son) with his favorite stuffed animal or whatever.
I would pretend that the bear (or whatever) took the medicine and make a HUGE deal about what a good bear it is. Hug the bear, kiss the bear, tell it you are so proud of it. It's such a big bear and so good to take it's medicine that way. I betcha he will be begging for his medicine. You can always say "No, this is only for big boys" the first time or two.
I am betting your struggle will end there.
Try giving him two syringes - one with the medicine and one with water. Tell him to squirt the medicine in his mouth and then give him the option to squirt the water in his mouth or on you. I know this sounds weird, but if it is fun (make a big deal about getting wet - sputter and gasp) he will be more likely to do it.
Depending on his maturity level, if there is something he really likes to do (go to McDonalds or rent a movie) give him a sticker each time he takes his medicine. When he had collected 10 stickers, or however many it takes to finish the cycle of medicine, then he gets the reward. I am not above a little bribery (or reward) if it is for something like this. It is important for his health and it makes it more fun for him and involves him in the process.
And be sure to praise him heartily if he does cooperate.
One more thing would be to see if the pharmacy can mix it with a different flavor. This is an option with some medicines and at some pharmacies.
In my opinion, it is time for shots!! I have children who I fight with to take medicine, and so I request antibiotic shots whenever I can. I even heard one woman say that she had gone to the doctor everyday for the last 5 days for antibiotic shots, because her daughter refused to take meds. Do they hurt? Sure, but it is over in one minute versus a 10 minute battle of wills with you. And, you know for certain that he has gotten all of his meds. I dont know if it will work for staph, but I cant see why not! If your doctor has not suggested it, ask questions, and make sure he has a really good reason not to give them to you. Otherwise, it might end up being the best thing for this problem. I wish you luck, I cant imagine your frustration....you are just trying to help!! ~Amber~
I am not sure what all antibotics come in shots, but my son was on Rocephan shots for ear infections and they suggest to only do them twice a year. If you do go to a shot make sure it is not going to be something you can only do twice a year just incase he gets it again. Have you tried asking the doctor for pill form? You could just break open the pill and mix it into just about anything. Maybe the liquid has to much of a bad taste when mixed. You could also try putting it into a sippy cup of coke or rootbeer so he will not be able to see it and just don't tell him it is in there. You could also try strawberry milk.
First make sure that the meds can br crushed- some cannot-
and WITHOUT him seeing- mix it in a fruit drink - like berry type- apple juice is a hard drink to disuise meds.
Also- try mixing it in jello or pudding.
One thing that may actually work- letting him give himself the medicine- "like a big boy"- its amazing how that whole concept can change things- good luck!
Darlene S
My DD is 5 and still fights with me over medicine. I have to lay her down with her hands over her head, locking her head so it will not move and then I straddle her to keep her from kicking me. She will clamp her mouth shut and spit some out every now and then, but I think (and pray) that she is finally understanding that it does make her allergies better or her head quit hurting etc. She has been like this since about 1 years old. She was in the hospital for 3 days with mild dehydration at 10 mths of age and they had to use an IV thus I think she actually remembers that horrible incident.
I use to put her liquid vitamins in her apple juice but now she actually takes a chewable vitamin in the morning. I am hoping she grows out of it as she is starting school this year (Kindergarten).
If any, talk to your physician and see what they recommend. Maybe they could give your son a shot and he may actually prefer taking the liquid medicine :0)
Praying for you,
Julie S.
when you squirt it in his mouth..immediatly blow in his face hard and it is a natural instinct to swallow it ....or mix it in chocolate milk or a milkshake:)_
I had this same problem I just called my pharmisist and asked them what types of medications they had that might taste different or better or a pill I could crush up and put in pudding or something and they told me and I called the peditrician and asked them if they had anything other than that they could reccommend and if not then I asked if we could try the other medication and they would always say yes... you might try that.
other than that you could just hold him down and give it to him with a medicine syrenge type push dropper in the side of his cheek twards the back of the jaw and then hold his mouth shut and blow quick puffs in the face until he swallows...
that sounds mean but its only for a few seconds and if he needs it, he needs it...
I have also heard of people just asking their peditrician to give them a antibiotic shot. if what he has is so serious that he needs the meds that bad then they should agree to do that...
Hope that helps
April J
Like everyone else, I was going to suggest the syringe and then blowing in his face. Put the syringe down his cheek, as far as you can, so it isn't easy to spit out, then hold his chin up and blow in his face.
Another suggestion would be to give him the medicine in a spoonful of yogurt or ice cream. I've given medicine to little ones many times in ice cream. Remember the old Mary Poppins song, "A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!"
You can try finding a compound pharmacy- and see if they can make it in supository formula. I have a child that would never take a thing. The pharmacy here (McGaugheys) will make most anything in the form that is kid friendly (supository) and it changes everything. My son would never even take Tylenol and so we had to get the supository form and it worked lika a charm and he didn't say a word about it. The other option is to have a shot for two or three days in a row. You do that once, like I had to do with my son and it alos will change how they take it. Now, he eats the chewable ones so things are fine. This is just a thought.
Walgreens can add flavors to your meds-grape covers up the taste of most meds-only costs $2
Does he like yogurt? What about mixing it into yogurt? Or you could make a yogurt smoothie for him and mix it into that. I know some antibiotics you have to give without dairy though.....do you know if the one he has to take is one of those? If so, that won't work. But it would also benefit him to have the yogurt since he is on an antibiotic. It will help with putting the good bacteria back into his stomache. If it is one you can't give with dairy, I vote for having the pharmacy make it flavored.
Best of luck!
Try frozen sorbet / italian ice. Try to get a flavor that blends with the flavor of the medicine. Mix enough of the sorbet to cut the taste, but won't waste the medicine if he can't finish it. As far as holding your son down to take the medicine, you are doing what is best for him in the gentlest way. Good luck.
I am assuming he has been prescribed Clindamycin. It is known as "liquid skunk" by our famiy and it is AWFUL! The flavors take away a little of the "bite" but NOTHING makes it tolerable.
As a mom that deals with staph infections, I can not stress how important it is for you to finish the medicine. That type of staph is resistant to most antibiotics (assuming here... and doc probably assumes too until culture comes back). There are three antibiotics that are available by prescription to staph, unfortunately sometimes the staph can become resistant to one or more of those. If you aren't able to administer the medication, you need to call the doctor. If the resistancies are high, your chances for hospitilization are very high. Let me tell you, that is NOT FUN! Been there, done that. Contact isolation with a toddler is the pits! Not to mention the IV administered Vancomyacin (sp?). It is some harsh stuff and has to be administered via IV over the course of an hour multiple times a day for multiple days.
With that said... my "mean mom" way of getting those meds down is by force, really. I lay my little one between my legs, with her head toward my groin area. By pinning her arms under my thighs my hands are free to hold her head and squirt the medicine in. Her legs are down by my legs are free to do whatever she does... usually kicking. After the medicine is down I hold her and love her until she calms dowm. A popscicle afterwards helps sometimes too. It is a horrible, awful thing to have to go through, but the alternatives are much worse! Staph can be deadly. It is fast growing and super fast spreading. You need to be almost OCD in your handwashing and cleaning of the wound. The rags or whatever used for the wound cleaning need to be treated with extreme caution and everything sanitized completely. Keep the wound covered at all times while it is oozing or if your child is going to be around other children. Also, the bactrim cream in the nostrils is also imperative at this time for your child AND EVERYONE in your family!
Wow, I could go on about staph forever. Feel free to message me if you have any questions or just need someone to talk to that knows what you are going through.
Once you get the medicine in his mouth. Lightly blow in his face. He will swallow and then take a breath.
Good luck. :o)
Blessings,
Pamela <><
Ask your doc for an injection.
Can you mix it in apple sauce, peanut butter or pudding? Or a banana smoothie? Best wishes, sounds tough!