Won't take her medicine - help

[AnyDream]

Speak to your pharmacist as they may be able to make the same drug up in a different flavour, alternatively compounding pharmacists are able to add various flavours to medicines.

Also, if she screams when she sees the bottles, keep them hidden and just bring the medicine over once you've got it all measured up.

The other thing I was going to suggest was a lolly bribe. Very un-p.c. I know but we always made it 'fun' by singing "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down..." as we did it.

[aussienic]

have you seen the tommee tippee medicine thingo. It is like a dummy but with a teat on it..

maybe you could also make up a little sweet drink. Cordial or something maybe juice and give a little at a time. Can she drink using a straw? Maybe have a go at that

[Arimeh]

Tis a good idea about the spoon from Kel - as long as she is not anything like my DS. I thought the spoon would be good cos he never refuses food at all. He took the medicine off the spoon for about two doses, then refused ANY spoon for the next three weeks. Made it VERY difficult to give food!!!!!!
Back to the drawing board for us!!!!!

[C~Q]

Thanks guys, I have tried with sweet food but she's off her food at the moment so she's screaming as soon as she sees it. I haven't tried off a spoon yet so i'll give that a go.

We've almost used the whole bottle of antibiotics and we've only had them a day The flavour we have is strawberry and iit's really nice. I think she just doesn't want to know about anything that tastes a bit different.

This morning I even scooped her favourite food out of the jar (Heinz blueberry oatmeal), mixed the AB's in and PUT IT BACK IN THE JAR so she wouldn't notice and she still knew!

Thanks for all your ideas, I'll get one of the Tommy Tippy droppers too.

Thanks guys

BTW, does anyone know, if they only get half of the dose, it'll still work won't it?

[minimatron]

Hi Rachel,

I had the same problem a few weeks ago with my dd. I tried everything...even the dummy thing. The only thing that worked for me and I hated doing it but I lay her down on the ground, held her arms on her chest, put the abs in her mouth and quickly put the dummy in so she wouldnt spit it out. Its easier with 2 pairs of hands but because df was at work most of the time, I mastered it on my own.

You're only supposed to give them the prescribed dose, so if half of it comes out, dont attempt to measure the amount she missed and give her more (iykwim). its better they get some as opposed to giving them too much. For the first 3 days dd spat out every bit i gave her. Until I started holding her down.

Good luck, its hard work

[Mother Goose]

Hi Rachael,

A little bit is better than nothing. You have no way of really knowing how much she has actually consumed if she has spat some out so it is not advisable to "top up" the dose as you may give too much. A smaller dose is still effective, they usually just need to have it over a longer period of time.

The ideas already given to try and get DD to take the medicine are good. Some other tactics include:
Make a game of it - "How quickly can you gobble this up? Geez you're a clever little girl!" or whatever works for you guys

Tell her it is magic juice that will help her do something she likes - maybe give her special powers or something.

Get her fav toy to have some first. You could have a similar dispenser and get her to give teddy his medicine first (water of course!) and then she can have hers.

Encourage a game of Dr's and Nurses throughout the day which involves giving the patient medicine so when it is time for her to have hers, you can say "just like in the game".

HTH and good luck
MG

[C~Q]

I bought the Tommy Tippy dummy thingy and nope, nothing This morning she has eaten her morning tea and breakfast with no worries so i'm going to try and puree up some fruit and give it to her like that. Fingers crossed for me