Tips for giving 3 year old medicine

I need to give DD medicine. Last night she took half realized how bad it tasted and then refused the rest and I had to hold her down to give her the last bit via syringe. My friends have said you just need to hold them down and shoot it in their mouths. Is this really the only way? It's one dose a day for 10 days. Any advice appreciated.

Thank you

Re: Tips for giving 3 year old medicine

ask the doctor if you could mix it into food. Then pick something dd really likes.

Tips for giving 3 year old medicine

Oh man. We've had hellish experiences with DD this past year with this. We have pinned her down, bribed her, put in food, drink, etc. We once got in the car and drove her to the doctor ( they were closed), but she finally took it in the parking lot (she hates the dr). Hmmm... And another time we actually had the dr give her an injection of antibiotics instead.
In sept she was very sick and spent 5 days in the hospital, and got countless blood draws, has to take oral meds etc. So now, we jusy mention that if she doesn't take it, she may have to go back to the hospital, and then she gives in. I'll use any tactic, I don't care, it's in her best interest to get better. Sorry you're dealing with it. It's so tough.

Re: Tips for giving 3 year old medicine

Mix it into chocolate pudding.

ETA: Or bribe with a lollipop right afterwards!

Message edited 1/28/2015 9:29:23 PM.

Re: Tips for giving 3 year old medicine

My 2.5 year old was extremely difficult with taking medicine after he had his tonsils taken out. Allowing him to take the syringe and do it himself really helped along with a bribe of a few mini marshmallows.

Tips for giving 3 year old medicine

Kept water handy... do it fast and here's the water.. made it a game.

She cries and hates it but to be honest I'm fairly strict about it. Take your medicine! The easy way or the hard way. I am fairly ruthless and daddy plays good cop. So she learned she couldn't avoid it and faster was better. Do it quick!

I always ALWAYS use a syringe with meds that she's never had.

I also 2nd letting them do it themselves.

She's been taking meds since 2 every single day and she's a pro at those and can use a cup or spoon. But new ones, she needs it the fastest way and syringe is faster delivery than spoon or cup.

I used to mix it, but couldn't guarantee she'd take it all. So that's not helpful to me.

And yes... BRIBE! I wouldn't bribe her to take it.. just said You do this, you get this. I refuse to beg her to take her meds. Frankly I hate begging her to do anything. I feel that gives them authority over me, something that is never good in my books. But rewarding a job well done? Sure enough! Want ice cream for breakfast (one spoonful) sure enough kiddo, step right up after your meds!

Good Luck!

Message edited 1/29/2015 9:37:50 AM.

Re: Tips for giving 3 year old medicine

Thanks. Last night I said she could take it quickly from a shot glass herself or I was going to shoot it in her mouth with the syringe. I said once it's done we can play video games together. After about 10 minutes and one attempt at holding her down she drank it quickly on her own. I praised her and she was so pleased to tell daddy she already took her medicine like a big girl. Then we played video games. So far bribing hasn't worked. I've offered her all sorts of yummy things.

2 nights down 8 more to go.

Re: Tips for giving 3 year old medicine

Re: Tips for giving 3 year old medicine

my 2.5 yo isn't good with this either but when she was sick in December I put the medicine mixed with iced tea in a plastic shot glass. she thought it was so cool.

Re: Tips for giving 3 year old medicine

This was, and still is, a nightmare for me. Both my kids refuse the syringe and when we force it, they spit the meds out or if they swallow some, they gag and it comes up. Yeah. Gross.

The problem with mixing it into food is that unless they finish all the food, you don't know how much they got. And then if they still taste it in the food and won't eat any....you just wasted a dose.

The only thing that I found works is:

1. Have the pharmacy flavor the medicine - CVS has tons of flavors. My kids only like cherry.

2. We give them a special treat drink that they like and aren't usually allowed to have - like ginger ale or root beer - and let them put a little of the drink in their mouth first (without swallowing) before we put in the syringe. Essentially the soda masks the taste and they just swallow both. Then they get another sip (not the whole glass or can) after they swallow the medicine without incident! I know it sounds weird but it works for us.