giving a child medicine

[dee13071]

I need help in giving my son who is almost 3 yrs old medicine. I have been having a problem since he has been 1 yr old. I have done everything I can think of, mixing it with liquids, food, icecream whatever he likes. I also have done the hold him down and suringe it in his mouth until he swallows the problem is that he screams and gets so worked up that he throws up all over the place. I don't know what to do anymore. He has a terrible cough maybe going into bronchitis and I can't give him the medicine he needs. Please Help somebody

[sara3]

it depends how much he understands. me? I'd try this.. "if you don't take it we'll have to go to the doctors/hospital because you won't get better.. "

this used to scare my son into doing almost anything! good luck :o)

[Ice.Maiden]

I'd show him the syringe - say, full of water - and put it in your own mouth first, to show him that there's nothing bad in it. Talk to him, saying that "Dr. Syringe" is there to make him feel better. Don't squirt all thes tuff down his throat at once. Do it in small stages, and when he's in a sitting position. He probably feels as though he's choking if it's shot down in one go. Failing that - and always try and be calm when doing the job - put eh medicine into a beaker of his fave drink. It'll be watered down then, and he probably won't notice it. x

[angiebaby57]

I had this problem a few years ago....put juice in the syringe and make a game of it and give him a little treat afterwards. Dont aim for the throat - just the inside of his cheek. Also you can gently stroke his throat to aid the swallow reflex. Let him give you some juice with the syringe and smile and make yummy noises!! Then you can try the medicine and do the same thing.Have you tried pretending to give it to his favourite teddy as well...thats a good trick. it in a small amount of milkshake in a bottle as well? Good luck!

[lilacben]

My daughter is having the same problem with her three year old son. She has tried everything that has been written on here without any luck. He just will not take it.!! any more ideas. please. !!

[Pottyone]

Some of them do taste foul. I have twice taken medicines back to the chemist and asked for one with sugar rather than sweetener cos quite frankly, when my son is ill, I just want him to take the medicine, I don't care about it being sugar free. I also took one back to the nurse at the surgery for her to look at when my son had really bad tonsilitis as it was so thick with bits in it resembled artex. She said it wasn't dissolved proerly and shook it, but once she realised it wasn't going to dissolve any more (obviously i had tried shaking it before taking it in to her!), she prescribed a different sort. So I would suggest going back to the chemist/doctor and explaining to them. Also, a spoonful of butter first is meant to work as it coats the tastebuds with grease for a minute or two.