Is there a better/easier way? Toddlers and antibiotics.

[Sterla]

DS has a middle ear infection and we've got antibiotics for him (5ml, 3 times a day). DH and I are really struggling to get the stuff into DS though. One of us holds him (has to hold down his arms and hold his head), while the other squirts the stuff in his mouth, but DS just blows raspberries and spits all of it out. I really don't think he's getting very much. DS cries the whole time, and I don't blame him.

Now DH is at work today (had yesterday off cause he was sick), so now I'm on my own for giving DS one dose of antibiotics.

So, what I'm wondering is if there is an easier/better way of getting the antibiotics into DS?

[Daydream Believer]

Can you mix it into youghurt, ice-cream or custard?

[Sterla]

I thought of something like that, but he's barely eating at the moment, and won't be spoonfed either.

[Junglemum]

we're struggling with the same issue atm. DD just spits it everywhere. I am BF'ing, so i use a syringe and put it right down the back of her throat and then quickly put my boob in her mouth. Or i have tried sticking the syringe in next to my nipple and squirting a little in. She is kind of cottoning on now though and lets go and spits it out about 50% of the time. So this morning i mixed it with juice and put it in a cup with a straw, the novelty was enough to get her to drink it. It's so hard isn't it?
The dr told me to block bub's nose, put some on the tounge and then they don't get the bitter taste and they swallow when you unblock the nose. This didn't work for us but maybe worth mentioning.....

[~Kim~]

I was going to suggest in a cup mixed with something and a straw too.
What about off a spoon (a teaspoon is 5ml)?

[Sterla]

Thanks for the suggestions. Mixing with juice or something might be an idea, cause DS has never had juice, so the novelty might be enough. Might give it a go. It's so hard, especially as I don't want to waste the antibiotics trying different methods. Hopefully the small amount he actually swallows still does the trick.

[Junglemum]

I think that's why the juice worked here, she couldn't believe her luck! Just taste is and make sure it's not too bitter, if it is put a tiny bit more juice in. If that's what it takes to get AB's into my daughter then i don't mind her having juice, milo, or whatever really.

[Olive]

ab's here too but im lucky shes happy to take them, though i find it easier if i give her another syringe/plunger to hold (i use the nurofen ones) or it could be that shes had them that often she likes it

[Mother Goose]

try squirting it into the cheek instead of the back of the throat - squirting straight into the back of the throat triggers the gag reflex.

You could try a game - pretend to give his fav teddy or toy some medicine to help make him better... "Gee DS, your toy truck isn't feeling very well today and needs some special medicine to make him better. But he won't take it. Do you think you could be my Big Boy Helper and show truck how to take his medicine?"

Another trick is to mix it in with fav drink and have a "competition" to see how quickly he can drink it "I bet you can't drink all your drink before I count to ten!".

If DS is still using bottles, you could put some into the teat and let him try it that way.

Good luck matey.

[Sterla]

*sigh* Well, mixing with juice didn't work.

DH and I do seem to have developed a quicker method though - DS still screams, but it's quicker and more is getting in.

[black_rose]

Sterla I feel your pain!! I went through this last week, we tried milk and juice but I had to resort to lying her down with her head tilted back. Hope your little one gets better soon.

[Sterla]

It was awful tonight. He was already overtired, and he screamed and tensed up. And after that we still had to give him panadol too. Awful .

[Junglemum]

Is he still BF'ing? I managed the squirt-down-the-side-of-my-nipple trick tonight ok. She clamps down to bite a bit but it's worth the pain if she swallows it! Worth a shot?

[Vixstar]

I saw this yesterday and then as I gave my son his anti-B's last night I thought of the many ways I have had to administer anti-B's since 2006!

~ When DS#1 was about 8 months old I was feeding him Weet-Bix and would suirt some of it on the spoon and give it to him.
~ In a small bottle of Ribena / juice.
~ Held down which DH and I both hate and all parents hate!
~ Bribed...have this and then you can read a book, have some choc/fruit etc
~ I think Mother Goose mentioned playing a game ie fav toy and DS administers medicene to his fav toy whilst you do the same to him
~ Explain that this medicine will help make his trhoat better and help the nasty bugs go away!
~ Squirted into a bottle of Yakult!!!!


xxxx

[tiffanny]

Mother Goose has the right idea. I put the tip of the syringe just in the corner of DD's mouth and administer it in small squirts. I stumbled onto one thing with her though and we have no problems now as I asked her to see if she could suck it out of the syringe lol she loves watching the plunger bit go down and we used to practice with water and juice so she understands that it's not always an unpleasant experience. Now when she has to have medicine even if it's just panadol I measure it out and hand her the syringe and she pushes the plunger down herself-Little Miss Independence