Refuses to take his medicine!

[nicky2005]

DS is 19 mths old and has been sick for past 2 days. Has lot of cough. Doc prescibed a cough syrup but he doesnt like the taste. Everytime i try to give it to him during the day half the dose goes flying either on his shirt or floor. Any suggestions how i can give him the medicine?

Thanks!

[Riane]

I would say hold his nose so he can't taste it, but he may be too young for that.

Maybe when he's extra sleepy you can do it?

[Dark Stranger]

My aunt went through similar things with her daughter. The kid was about 3 or 4 and my aunt needed a couple of people to hold the kid while she gave her the medicine with a mouth syringe. The kid screamed blue murder, but some kids just will not take medicine, and while forcing it down their throats doesn't make them want it more, it's sometimes the only way to get it into their bodies.

How do you give your child the cough syrup? If you aren't already using one, I suggest using a mouth syringe. Or perhaps you could use a scare tactic and tell him that if he doesn't take it through his mouth that he'll get it in his arm through a needle. Or maybe try positive reinforcement, like telling him he's a big strong boy when he takes it or whatever.

From what I have observed, holding of the nose doesn't help make medicine taste any less rancid. I've tried it myself when I've had to down some pretty disgusting antibiotics and it never worked.

[nicky2005]

well, DH finally figured out a way. We mix it in little orange juice and he likes to drink from a glass so we help him drink it from the glass with a straw.

Thanks for your inputs!

[Ratatosk]

I use oral syringes and squirt it into the pouch of ds's cheek. Or I've used a little bit of juice and put it into a nipple from a baby bottle and let him suck it down. There are a couple of drugs I've shot in that have come out -- septra and plain milk of magnesia. There are also pacifier medicine droppers -- put the medication in the pacifier and have the child suck on that.

Holding the nose shut or holding them down isn't a good idea. Don't want your child choking/aspirating on the medication. Plus it gets them really really mad and the next time you walk toward your child with an oral syringe or spoonful of medicine -- he'll fight and struggle all the way.