Conference moira::parenting_v3

    I always hated! having to hold my daughter down to give her medicine
    but it's sometimes necessary if they just won't take the stuff.  A
    trick they showed me at Childrens Hospital was to hold her nose when
    the medicine goes in the mouth.  It sounds cruel but they have to
    swallow then and it always worked on my daughter.
    Hopefully someone else has another method that isn't so traumatic as
    holding the kid down and forcing it in.
    

    Here are some easy ones that are worth a try:
    
    1. Get another flavor.  You might have to ask around a bit, but some
       common kids medicines come in more that one flavor, like bubblegum
       and grape.
    
    2. Try chewables.  Amoxocillin and some other kids-dose antibiotics 
       come as chewables and are so much easier!  I used to have to *ASK*
       the pediatricians to make the prescription for these, you can tell
       that our doctors are always the ones writing the prescriptions but
       *NEVER* the ones dosing it out three times a day!  
    
    I realize that these options mean spending more money (and getting a
    new presciption or two) but they'd be well worth it if they work!
    
    Good luck - let us know what works.

Sammy's 29 months and he takes his medicine with a water chaser.
But we used all the suggestions so far, at different stages,
though. We have a measuring spoon/test tube affair that measures
out the medicine and we control the stuff going down.

calvin

    Getting a child to take his/her medicine can be one of the most
    frustrating experiences.  I guess I'd like to see all babies born
    with a flap that can be opened to insert medicine directly 8^).
    
    Patience, patience, patience, and more patience are needed.
    
    We had the same problem with our son but managed to solve the
    problem, so that now, at 4&1/2, there's no problem.
    (1) Observe that your superior force always wins.  He ends up
    with medicine in him, regardless of how much he struggles.
    
    The next time you have to give him medicine point that out to
    him.  "Tobias, it's time for your medicine. Be a good boy, take
    it yourself, or we'll make you take it.  You know that you can't
    win.  If you take it yourself we'll help you cope with the taste.
    You can either take it voluntarily like a big boy, or struggle like
    a baby."
    
    (2) If he chooses to struggle, after you get it down him, point out
    that he lost, and that he had a choice and refused to cooperate.
    "Yes Tobias, I know that you're angry, but we gave you a chance to
    be a big boy, you refused, and we did what we told you we'd do. Next
    time we'll give you the same choices, etc, etc."
    
    (3) If he chooses to take it voluntarily be prepared for a long
    drawn out session of crying, complaints, but submission in the end,
    assuming that you're firm.
    
    For Tobias this meant: (1) he complained about the glass, cup, or
    spoon, and we humored him.  Some times we'd have to move the medicine
    around a couple of times.  But eventually he'd say that he was
    satisfied with glass, cup, or spoon.
    We symphathized about the taste of the medicine, and let him have
    a cup of juice or water or milk as he took his medicine.  He could
    extend a teaspoon of medicine in a cup out to a dozen miniscule sips,
    with a drink of juice after each, and a complaint before each as well.
    We constantly reminded him of his choice, and the alternative.
    Every time he took a sip we said he was doing good, and kept
    emphasizing how little there was left to take. "Just a little more
    Tobias, just a couple more sips". It could easily take 20 minutes
    for him to finish his medicine!  But the point was that he took it
    himself.
    
    (3) Keep the volume of medicine small.  Add no more than a teaspoon of
    water to a teaspoon of medicine.  Otherwise it goes on quite a long
    time.  Ask him if he wants some water mixed with it, as a way of
    getting him involved in actually taking it.
    
    (4) Insist that he take all of it. Don't get tired and give up the
    struggle when there's just a few drops left. Otherwise, the next time,
    there will be even more left.
    
    (5) Assuming that he actually does take it all, praise him for being
    a big boy.
    
    (6) If he is likely to notice that he feels better after taking
    the medicine, make a point of telling him, when he's feeling better,
    that it's because of the medicine.  When he's not feeling so good,
    remind him how the medicine made him feel better.
    
    We went through this scenario many times with Tobias over the course
    of about a year.  Now he takes the same medicines with little or no
    fuss or muss, and he even asks for medicine when he knows he's sick.
    
    Good luck

Much of what is in .4 is what we do.  Basically:

    1) Let the child have some control.  Give them the option of giving
	the medicine themselves.  With Panadol/Tylanol we let him squeeze
 	the bulb (*after* the other end is in his mouth!).  With other 
	medicines we tell him to take his medicine (in a cheerful way).
	If he doesn't take it, we give him the option: take it yourself
	or we'll have to force you.  By now, he knows he does not want
	to be forced (he is also 2 1/2).  He almost always takes it 
	himself, and does a good job.  If he still refuses to take it,
	we hold him down.  Usually we don't have to actually administer 
	the medicine, because he changes his mind quick.  Then we let him
	do it.

     2) Find a gimmick.  Sounds like you've already tried them and it doesn't
	well for you.  It might for someone else, though, so I'm including it.
	At first our gimmick was the medicine dropper.  He really liked it
	given that way, instead of with a cup.  Then came the crocodile -
	which was a tube shaped spoon with an alligator/crocodile face
	and legs.  He thought that was spiff.  This summer we used the
	"cowboy."  Somehow he got the idea (from movies?  something we said?)
	that cowboys drink their drinks in one gulp.  He did this with his
	medicine.  We'd say, "Drink it like a cowboy!" and it would be *gone*!
	This may have some drawbacks, but we were on the "vacation from hell"
	and it worked, so we used it.  We haven't had to use it since (I don't
	really want to encourage him to drink things that way, especially if
	he ever got ahold of something bad for him).  There may be some 
	gimmick that works for you.  Good luck.  :-)

               Carol

    What's the saying?  "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,"
    though in this case, purely metaphorically.
    
    In fact, most medicine tastes OK, and almost none tastes really awful
    (these days).  The "trick" is to keep your kid from ever forming the
    idea that it's an ordeal (I realize that for the basenoter, this is
    like closing the barn door . . . etc.).  Mostly, that probably means
    avoiding having the parents inadvertantly teach  this.  Example:  my
    spouse had a lot of (psychological) trouble swollowing pills (even
    vitamen pills).  When the kids were small, we made a point of never
    having her take a pill when they were present, whereas they saw me
    gobbling them down without a thought (or even a chaser); thanks in part
    to this, they never had any problem.
    
    In the present case, you're going to have to try to un-teach this
    lesson (however aquired) with words, which ought to be possible with a
    2 1/2 year old (somewhat along the lines of .4).
    
    If it's any consolation, it's much easier to get liquid medicine into a
    reluctant child than to get a large non-slippery pill into a small and
    angry cat.  Most insurance policies have an exclusionary clause respecting
    fingers lost while attempting this task.  Further, parents often wonder
    why infants and toddlers have so many ear infections.  The simple
    reason is that it helps them get used to taking their medicine when
    they're still young.
    
    			- Bruce

    re: .6
    
    Your last paragraph was definately good for a chuckle!
    
    Lori B.

    
    My son Shane recently has been running away and saying "Noooo" when I
    tell him "It's time for your drops" (fluoride).  But usually if I ask
    him to help me open it, he'll come running back.  He'll try turning the
    cap and say "Turn turn turn" while I'm holding and turning the bottle. 
    Then he tilts his head back a little and opens his mouth wide.  Then I
    let him help me put the cap back on.  
    
    Sometimes he'll try putting the cap in his mouth, so I have to be real
    watchful.  And I sure don't want him to learn how to open child-proof
    bottles, so I get those started before he "helps me".  This works
    pretty well with medicine too.  There's only been few times we've had
    to force it down him.  Luckily, he's never spit it out. (knock on
    wood!)
    
    Holding the nose should really help if someone doesn't like the flavor
    of something.  The sense of smell and taste are directly related. 
    That's why food tastes bland when you have a cold.  In high school I
    did an experiment with the senses.  Students couldn't really tell what
    they were drinking or eating when their noses were held even when it
    was ONIONS!  
    
    Oh also, when using those squeeze droppers, make sure you have the end
    where the medicine comes out near the back and side of the mouth.  The
    less that gets on their tongue where the tastebuds are, the better.
    
    Often with the spoon dropper, when the medicine is almost gone, I'll
    put water in it and Shane will want to drink "more more".

    My pride and joy who is 7 has NEVER consumed liquid medication. 
    Period!
    
    She is stubborn and she HATES the taste of children medication.  She
    also hates the taste of all juices except orange and apple because they
    are 'too sweet'.  She doesn't like jam or jelly - too sweet again.
    
    Don't think that in the end you always win because you are bigger and
    stronger.  The child can always vomit the medicine up.  
    
    You can get antibiotics in tablet form.  Yes - even amoxi.  I crush
    them and work them into peanut butter and spread it on a saltine.
    
    This she will tolerate.  I put up with this because when I did try the
    liquid I gagged myself - it does taste terrible!
    
    Not all people like sweet flavors.  
    
    By the way - children who take a lot of sweet liquid medicine have a
    greater chance of having tooth decay in their primary teeth.
    
    My cousin has 5 children.  1 had many ear infections and has consumed
    gallons of amoxi et al.  She had 11 cavities at one of her dental
    visits.  Her sister who has also had ear infections - though not as
    many- also has many cavities in her primary teeth.  My cousin's other
    children have had few if any cavities.  The children's dentist asked if
    the 2 girls had many ear infections.  It is his experience that there
    is a correlation.  I have heard this from other sources.
    
    This is another reason that I am partial to tablets.  They do cost more
    but that's better than the alternatives.

    It's worth exploring another alternative: chew first.
    
    I hated swallowing pills as a child, and still do (I chew asprin
    and then wash it down, for example).  I gag easily.  When as a
    child I had to take some foul-tasting pills, my parents luckily
    did not force me to swallow them whole, but allowed me to chew
    them in a dry mouth.  That kept me from tasting them too much,
    and I wouldn't gag.
    				-John Bishop

    In re: 10 -  it takes all kinds.  I have always hated the taste of
    asprin, and would scarcely chew one up to save my life!
    
    In re: 9 - I find the connection of liquid medication to tooth decay
    highly dubious.  My two kids practically lived on the pink goo for
    extended periods, yet neither has ever had the hint of a cavity.  More
    important, sugars in liquids are generally much less hazordous than
    those in sticky solids (except those retained in the mouth for long
    periods, such as nighttime bottles).  And for most kids, sugar from
    other sources would overwhelm total medicine intake.  Presence of
    cavities probably reflects absence of brushing and floride, more than
    anything else.
    
    			- Bruce

    re: sweet medicine and cavities
    
    Don't forget to brush after the nighttime dose!  Lots of kids medicines
    have sugar in them and no one (labelers) ever remind you.
    
    As far as cavities being a result of bad/no brushing, that's only part
    of the picture.  Like hereditary elasticity of the skin contributes to
    stretch marks (another topic in progress), hereditary soft teeth
    contribute to cavities!  Excuse the tangent (from medicine-taking) but
    it's not fair to those kids/parents to blame all those cavities on
    their techniques and practices in brushing!
    
    Jane (with hard teeth and a lifetime record of no cavities)

    My boys like mini-cups, like the one on top of Tylenol's children's
    elixir.  So I measure the "pink goo" into one of those, or a jigger 
    if I can't find one.  :-)  They drink it right down.  I also have a 
    glass of the drink-of-choice waiting for when they're done.  Ever
    since they were very young I've explained that some medicine tastes
    good, some doesn't, but they have to take it when they're sick so they
    will get better.  *Period*.
    
    Amoxillin comes in chewable tablets, as has been mentioned, but they 
    didn't like them.  Penicillin only comes in the pink goo or in huge
    horse pills.  My oldest had to use the horse pills for a day, so I
    crushed 'em, stuck the gritty stuff in the middle of a spoonful of
    chocolate ice cream, and he had no trouble.

    Try as many chewables a spossible
    
    Try letting him hold a cup of juice to take a drink immediately after
    	given the medication. He can't have the juice if he spits it out.
    	Tell him it will help it go down.
    
    Definitely hold his nose until he swallows.
    
    Squirk it far back into his mouth.
    
    Try squirking it in 2 or 3 squirts rather than one big one. It many
	 mean more fussing but it will get more in.
    
    Good luck!!!

    Chewable tablets are the way to go!!!  But usually you DO have to ask
    the pediatrician for them at the time of prescription, tho'
    occasionally the pharmacist can be persuaded to substitute chewables
    for liquid if requested by you.
    
    But aside from that, you must set up the good habit of willingly taking
    medicine.  It should not have to be an ordeal everytime, and that is
    what you want to achieve.  A few things that have worked off and on
    with my four -
    
    Don't rule out bribery.  Find the child's favorite edible bribe, be it
    a Hershey's kiss or a bowful of Coco puffs, sit it out where he can see
    it, hand him the medicine spoon full of medicine.  Let him know that as
    soon as he gives himself his medicine he may have his reward.  Then let
    him take it BY HIMSELF.  You may want to watch so that he doesn't spill
    it or drop it, and it may take 20 minutes.  But as soon as it is gone,
    and no sooner, he may have his reward.  Two and a half is not too young
    for this, in fact it's a good age to have him start administering his
    own medicine.  I characteristically have my child sitting on the
    kitchen counter, with the bottle of medicine out, and the "prize" out
    so he can see it.  Pour the stuff into a medicine spoon, hand it to
    him, and wait.  He's not allowed off the counter till he's done, and I
    stand there with him.  Yes, it may take awhile, but they feel more in
    control of what's going into them.  Yet they know they can't go back to
    playing or any other distraction until they take their medicine.
    
    My three oldest take medicine with no hassle now, and no, they no
    longer have to have a Hershey's kiss as a reward.  That part has been
    phased out.  They are 5, 5 and 4, and we've  been giving them stuff for
    many years of ear infections.
    
    By the way, one way of forcing medication when it comes to that i've
    seen done and used on occasion with my 1 year old is this - When they
    are lying down, as on a bed, hold your hand under their chin with
    fingers on one side and thumb on the other, placed between upper and
    lower teeth on their cheeks.  If you gently squeeze their mouth will be
    forced open, insert medicine slowly if liquid and release enough on
    your fingers so they can swallow.  If you don't release entirely they
    have a difficult time spitting it back out at you, and are forced to
    swallow it.  It works well with babies, but 2 1/2 may be a bit too big
    for this.
    
    If your friend can back off, slow it down, and not make medicine taking
    such a battle of wills.  Realize it may take a half hour to get him to
    take his medicine at this age.  We all go through it in some manner.
    
    Best.
    

One thing to check on before you crush a pill and mix it with something is 
that you can't do that with everything.  Check with your doctor, pharmacist, 
or a reference guide.

Clay

    Boy, does this sound familiar! I entered a note in V2 about a year and
    a half ago when our son was just this age!!
    
    It doesn't help the situation now, but it really does get better!!!
    We ened up trying many of the suggestions listed here, but it really
    just took a lot of time and P A T I E N C E !!! The chewables didn't
    work then for us because they were still relatively bad tasting
    medicine to be taken and part of the power struggle problem. ALso, our
    pediatrician told us that sometimes chewables aren't appropriate for
    certain infections (eg. dosage and absorption rate). 
                      
    The only suggestion I have that's different from the others is to ask
    the dr. if you can change the number of dosages to two, we were able to
    reduce it to two, which limited the battles.  (different type of
    medicine strength).

    re .9, prescription medicine anitibiotics in particular, DO NOT have
    any sugar in the "goo".  This was my question to the pharmacist last
    year when my son was bouncing off the walls, then we discovered it was
    the drugs (for asthma) that was doing it.  Actually with the exception
    of a few cough syrups, most everything is artificially colored and
    flavored.
    
    Unfortunately from what I understand, the "cillin" type drugs are
    the only ones available in chewables, which eliminates most all
    chewables for us, AJ's is allergic to the "cillin" type antibiotics. 
    
    I guess this is where I get to flaunt my child, he takes medicine no
    matter how awful with out a major fuss.  He's objected only slightly
    and recently to store brand Nyquil, and is currently taking 4 teaspoons
    each night of mineral oil-yuuucck!!  I can't stand that myself!  He
    actually reminds us each morning to give him his vitamin (chewable) and
    we let him pick the color (flavor) since there's three to choose from.
    
    One thing we did learn through having a child, and cats is to put it
    into a syringe (minus the needle of course) and put it way back between
    the cheek and teeth near the throat then insert a little at a time. 
    That way if he spits it out, you haven't lost all of it.  Our
    pharmacist will give us a syringe, but I did notice one for sale with
    the other medicine dispensers and pill minders etc.  I prefer using the
    syringe simply because that way you're fairly sure you gave the right
    amount.  I also request the doses be adjusted for a twice a day
    administration, two battle a day would be easier than three.
    
    Here's my question:  have you perhaps left a feeling that "medicine" is
    "drugs"?  I witnessed a nurse struggle with a little girl in a
    emergency room, giving simple tylenol.  The girl was fighting because
    her mother had told her that medicine was bad, not "Drugs are bad,
    medicine is good for you."

    Not only can your child spit or vomit the medicine - but I have one
    that got so mad at my forcing her to take the stuff - she held her
    breath and passed out! (Had to sit her up real quick that time). Katy
    has never "enjoyed" taking medicine, but I have found that if I put it
    into a tiny glass and hand it to her, she will get it down eventually.
    
    By the way, when Kate was around 1 year, she was soooooo sick and WOULD
    NOT take anything. Her Doctor gave us two choices - hospitalization or
    shots.  So, for the next two days I brought Katy in every 4 hours
    between the hours of 7 am and 11 pm for a shot.  It was terrible.  But
    of course, it did get the sinus infection under control. 
    Interestingly, once she was feeling a better, I was able to get the
    medicine into her.  Maybe she was just too sick to her stomach to deal
    with any of of the liquids.
    
    Good luck
    Nanci
    
    

    For a time my daughter was fascinated with drinking through a straw. 
    More than once we've been able to coax her to take her medicine by
    letting her drink it out of the cup with a straw... I don't know how
    long this will last, but I'll try anything.
    
    Jeanne

    I was at the drugstore not long ago (my pharmacist say I'm the reason
    he's still in business!) and saw a gadget that I can only
    wonder if it might help any of the problems of pill taking.  It was a
    small plastic cup (about 3 or 4 ounces) that had a small "pocket" built
    into the lip of the cup.  The idea was to put the pill in the pocket,
    and by tipping the cup for a drink, the pill slides in with it.  I also
    seem to recall seeing something similar in a Spencers type Mail order
    catalog.  For around a dollar, might be worth looking into.
    
    I know myself, that some pills have a strong-enough-to-gag taste (like
    vitamins and some anitibiotics) and if I didn't have to have it sitting
    on my tongue, it wouldn't be so bad.
    
    Lyn

    Kat never used to like taking her antibiotics, though she was
    always brave and did it, so I asked her about it to see if she
    remembered anything helpful.  Her reply was, "Of course she
    doesn't like it.  That bubble gum stuff tastes like bird sh--" 
    Well, remember she's 16 now.
    
    Anyway, she said that the only thing that tasted worse than the
    medicine was the juice after the medicine, because of the way the
    flavors interact.  Orange juice is the worst.  And water isn't
    strong enough to take the taste away. 
    
    She said we used to give her either a couple of crackers or a few
    M&M's after she finished the medicine.  A combined bribe and
    palate clearer . . . I had forgotten.
    
    --bonnie

    Thanks for all the helpful hints!  I have conveyed all of them to my
    sister.  She said holding his nose helped the most, but even then he
    was still able to spit some medicine back out!
    
    The bad news is that he went back for his re-check last night, and he
    still has an infection in one ear (probably since he wasn't getting
    enough medication!)  They switched him to a different antibiotic, and
    when my sister went to give it to him, he took it off a spoon with NO
    fuss, and swallowed all of it.  Kids!  Now if only this good behavior
    lasts....
    
    Lynne
    

    Another hint, this one from my neighbor:  her daughter prefers to
    have the dose divided into two or three small spoonfuls rather
    than one big one.  She takes them one, then swallows some juice,
    then another, then some juice, then the last one, then the rest of
    the juice.
    
    --bonnie

    I have a difficult (impossible) time giving my 3-1/2 year old
    Tylenol.  I try to give him the chewables, but he **refuses**
    to eat them, because he hates the taste.  I've tried other
    brands, too, to no avail.  I've tried crushing them and putting
    that in his drink, but it does not dissolve.  I've had some
    luck crushing them up and putting in his food, but when he's
    sick, he has no appetite, so that doesn't work too well,
    either.
    
    Any suggestions?  I get concerned when he has I high fever and
    I cannot get this stuff into him.
    
    Deb
    

    Doesn't it come in a liquid (Tempra does) and couldn't you put it in a
    drink he likes ?

We've had most success with ice cream.


Clay

    Boy have I been through this one.
    
    Tempra (like Tylenol) comes in Grape flavor, so my daughter liked that
    better.  I would put the medicine in one of those funky medicine spoons
    and let her take her own medicine.  She didn't like me giving it to
    her.
    
    Also, they have Tylenol suppositories too.  When Alyssa was too sick to
    take anything by mouth, I would use those.  
    
    Gail

    
    Ice cream always worked with me when I was growing up ;-).
    
    You could also try it in applesauce if the child has 
    a lactose allergy.
    
    Jeanne
    

    There are also Feverall sprinkle caps, which are tasteless and can be
    sprinkled into/onto any kind of food or liquid. We use these for our 8
    month old since he refuses Tylenol. 
    
    Feverall is the only tasteless acetaminophen alternative - I asked the
    pharmacist and she said even generic brands come in grape, fruit, or
    whatever-red-tastes-like.
    
    

    We've always had a certain amount of trouble getting Tobias,
    now almost 6, to take medicine.  However, it's no longer
    confrontational, but a game. In fact,
    certain medicines don't bother him at all.
    
    When he was quite young, but old enough to be reasoned with,
    we gave up both attempting to slip it to him unnoticed and
    arbitrarily forcing him to take it. We gave
    him a choice: either he took it voluntarily or we'd hold him
    and put it in his mouth.
    
    We decided taking medicine was an example of some of life's
    unpleasantries, and he might as well start dealing with such
    issues right up front.
    
    We made a point of telling him he had two choices: voluntarily
    or involuntarily.  But there was no way of escaping this
    fact of life.
    
    If he choose to take his medicine voluntarily he got
    a lot of additional options, such as juice or water or whatever
    to kill the taste; and we'd allow him LOTS of time to take it,
    sometimes a drop at a time. Sometimes it would take 20 minutes
    or more for him to take enough sips to get down a spoon of
    medicine.  I don't know about you, but watching a small child
    take something a drop at a time followed by a half-glass of
    juice each time requires a lot of patience.  And we'd have to
    continue to "encourage" him all the while.  But eventually he'd
    get through it and we'd make a point of praising him at the
    end. Finding a way to make medicine acceptable to a child can
    require a certain amount of ingenuity; my wife seems to have
    the upper hand in figuring it out right now. Tobias seems to take
    perverse delight in coming up with rituals for taking his
    medicine.
    
    In any case, if he refused to take it voluntarily he had no choice about
    how we administered it.
    
    I think we had to physically force him to take his medicine fewer
    than a dozen times. (He tended to forget his options between
    illnesses.)
    But at any rate he learned very quickly that he was going to take
    his medicine, and he had nothing to gain by trying to refuse.
    
    Right now, I think that he considers playing out all the
    options that he gets by taking his medicine voluntarily great
    fun.  It's certainly generally amusing to us.