Giving Zantac to a 7 week old Preemie? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

neshee · 07-31-2007, 06:20 PM

Hi, I am currently giving, or trying to give Zantac to my son who is 7 weeks old, but 9 weeks early...so he is small..and the amount is small just 1/2 of a ml. So, I smelled the stuff, very pepperminty, and strong. He hates it and I just wondered if anyone knew of something to add it too to make it better, or easier to give? I do breast pump for him, as he never really has taken to the breast...so I could add it to his milk, but sometimes he doesn't drink all his milk. Thanks!

liloulou · 07-31-2007, 06:31 PM

My little girl has been on zantac too and she HATES it. The minty taste is awful and I even put a dab on my tongue and agree with her it's pretty bad. I once put it in her full bottle of pumped milk and she wouldn't take her bottle. I guess the peppermint is too strong.
I've continued to give it to her and she's gotten used to it a little bit, but still hates it and that was 5 months later. I end up giving it to her and then giving her a bottle afterwards so she can get rid of the taste quickly.
I have heard that pharmaciosts can add another flavor to it, like orange or grape. I don't know if that would help or not, but you could put some of it in another container and have the pharmacist add a flavor to try it out.
Good luck, it's too strong for our little ones.

klr2k · 07-31-2007, 07:43 PM

I have to give some to my 7 weeker too....I just give it in small drops at a time in the cheek of his mouth where its less likely to be spit back out. He always makes the icky face and DH tried it stating it tastes awful, lol.....DS is not a preemie but his dose is 1 ML....keep trying and good luck!

sobannon · 07-31-2007, 08:30 PM

I used to try apple juice, about 1 tsp, just to kill the taste. NOTHING gets rid of that taste. You may want to ask the doctor about another acid reducer and see if the taste is any better.

Amy

goody2shuz · 07-31-2007, 08:39 PM

A good trick is to put a bottle nipple in the baby's mouth and squirt the med in the nipple with the syringe that you measure it up in and the baby should suck it down before he/she really knows it.

You will hear the air sound when the baby has taken it.

Another way to give it would be to quickly squirt it in the baby's mouth and hold the nose closed. I know....sounds awful but it works!!

Hope this works for you.

~ Goody