Search Threads

quicksales Specific

Category Specific

Social Chatting

Posted by boyce84 on 11-Jul-2011 17:45 Report
How to give a child medicine
Hello everyone,

Does anyone have any advice on how to give a child medicine? I need to give my 20month old daughter 5ml of antbiotics! She has only just started on them but has never had medicine before other than panadol which is only 1.5ml. My husband is at work tonight so no help there, today I held her arms while her shot it in her mouth :(

Any advice would be great!

Thanks,
Sarah
 
Replied by goldswan-lake on 11-Jul-2011 17:55 (Ref 2303619) Report
Oh, that sounds drastic, Sarah.  I thought antibiotic medicines tasted nice.  It might be hard to convince her now that it's a good thing.  Have you tried telling her it's yummy, and will help her to feel better - when she's finished it all.   Perhaps a bribe or reward would help.
Replied by boyce84 on 11-Jul-2011 18:01 (Ref 2303620) Report
Thanks. Yes it smells very sweet, the only problem is I have never given her sweets before so she pull that 'yuck' face. I am going to bribe her, probably with some grapes as she loves those, but she is so stubborn, the doctor said she is one strong willed little girl, he sure is right.

She also got admitted to hospital yesterday, she was discharged today, but was wuite upset about it all and I know she is going to get upset all over again, although I think I was more upset about it all then she was. Right, well I can hear her stirring so I will give her some dinner and try, hopefully she swallows some of it! Thanks for your reply! :) Sarah
Replied by yobbo1 on 11-Jul-2011 18:13 (Ref 2303621) Report
G'day Sarah,

Can you diguise the medicine in her drink or food..?
The other thing I thought of was don't let her see you preparing the medicine to give to her as she will rebel as soon as she sees it.
Tough job mate....good luck....Lily
Replied by marian-48 on 11-Jul-2011 18:20 (Ref 2303623) Report
Sarah, check first if the medicine is taken before or after meals, then use a syringe, its the easiest way. Marian
Replied by lvnkermit on 11-Jul-2011 18:41 (Ref 2303632) Report
Poor little mite!

Sometimes, you just have to take the mean way and force them. I have had to put my 2yo in a "Bear Hug" grip (facing outwards from me, arms down by his side with my arms wrapped around him- not to hurt, just to hold) while Daddy has administered the medicine.

It is ideal that it is done calmly and without struggle, but it doesnt always happed like that. If you can mix it,put it in her water, if not, get her to open her mouth and just shoot it in :/
Replied by bratsnthings on 11-Jul-2011 19:38 (Ref 2303642) Report
Hey there, putting it in a syringe (medicine one for kids - you buy them at the chemist) is best and very accurate. cheers marie
Replied by missdaisy on 11-Jul-2011 20:05 (Ref 2303650) Report
Can you not use the little medecine cup you can buy at the chemist? 
Replied by bratsnthings on 11-Jul-2011 20:13 (Ref 2303654) Report
Miss daisy, the best way to give medicine is via a syringe as its accurate, easy to use, and you dont leave anything in the syringe,  like you do in the cup..I used it till my daughter was 5ish.. cheers marie
Replied by pashmina on 11-Jul-2011 21:02 (Ref 2303662) Report
Syringe isthe very  best....

A good tip, if they have a habit of spitting it out or gagging...the way to by-pass this, is very gently pinching the nose closed....and hand under the chin ...they have to swallow in order to breath from their mouth. 

it sounds drastic...but if they can't or wont take their medicine normally, and end up critically ill, then the only other alternative is going to hospital and having it administered through cannula (a drip),  or rectally ...which is not very nice
Replied by boyce84 on 11-Jul-2011 21:02 (Ref 2303663) Report

Thanks everyone for your replies. I managed to give it to her...well most of it anyway!

Yes I use a syringe, like with the panadol, I've never heard of the medicine cups?

Unfortunately, I had to kind of pin her down and as she started to cry, shot it bit by bit down her throat, I felt terrible. But I gave her a bowl of grapes and lots of hugs afterwards and she forgave me in an instant. I have just put her down to bed, fingers crossed she will get some more sleep tonight, Thanks again everyone!
Replied by missdaisy on 11-Jul-2011 22:28 (Ref 2303677) Report
wow, I hope you don't have that trouble every time you have to give her medecine.  It will get worse if you do.  I had no trouble with my two.  The little medecine cups are available from the chemist.  I used them and nothing was ever left behind.  Kids' medecine has been made palatable for years. My kids never balked at any of it.  My step daughter on the other hand was another kettle of fish.  But then I didn't raise her.  She had such a high temp one night that the doc said if she didn't take it she would have to go into hospital the next day and have it intravenously.  I thought, yeah, right, that would be interesting to see rofl. Two of us couldn't hold her down enough.  She got the better of us and never did have it.  She got better the next day anyway,. whew.   Only by the Grace of God.  We wuz saved!
Replied by chloecat on 12-Jul-2011 09:12 (Ref 2303723) Report
 I prefered to explain it to my kids - even at that age and younger - no problems once they knew why they were taking it.
Replied by boyce84 on 12-Jul-2011 11:25 (Ref 2303755) Report
Thanks everyone for your replies! I have had to give her another dose of it this morning and will have to at lunchtime again, but will have my husband to help this evening. I just can't get over how much I need to give her! Anyway she has now realsied that when she opens her mouth to cry I squirt a bit in so she has been trying not to do that. I am squirting it bit by bit into the side of the mouth and that seems to be working, she seems to be getting most of it. I have explained it to her but I really don't think she understands, I guess because this is her fist time with it, I definately don't want to be struggling like this always, but I'm sure once she is a little older she will understand more, I think it was worse as she spent the night in hospital and had doctors and nurses touching her and giving her medicine, maybe a little overwhelming for her. She's having a little nap now, was very clingy and miserable all morning so hopefully she will feel a little brighter this afternoon.
Thanks again :)
Replied by mela14 on 12-Jul-2011 17:04 (Ref 2303809) Report
My sister used to give her kids ice to suck on before giving the medicine. Helps to freeze the taste buds.
You could also use a iceblock.
Replied by missdaisy on 12-Jul-2011 22:49 (Ref 2303869) Report
I  hope you don't have to struggle with her forever too.  the more you struggle with her now, the more she will think there is reason to struggle.  Taste it yourself and see just how 'bad' it is. Then you might have more luck convincing her it's not.  good luck. 
Replied by chooky99 on 13-Jul-2011 07:12 (Ref 2303889) Report
My SIL kids would never take medicine. Then she tried rubbing an ice block on their tongue first, as Mela14 said. It worked a treat. Pity it's not the middle of summer and you could give her an icy pole first!!
Hope she gets better soon. Nothing worse than sick kids.
Replied by missdaisy on 13-Jul-2011 11:33 (Ref 2303916) Report

I don't mean to be disrespectful, but what would be the point of rubbing an iceblock on her tongue, when kids' medecine does not taste bad?  If a child sees it coming, and they're determined they're not going to take it, no iceblock is going to change their mind.  This little one has made up her mind.    Perhaps waving a piece of chocolate or some treat that she likes in front of her with the promise of it after, and only after, she has drunk the medecine.
Replied by missybbeauty on 04-Oct-2011 17:07 (Ref 2314282) Report
 My daughter hates medicine so I just add it to her bottle or cup of milk. It's the one way it's guaranteed to go down. Some times i've just handed her the seringe with the medicine in it and walked away letting her 'play' with it alleiviating the stress behind the situation. Sometimes she starts putting it in her mouth herself without all the stress and then I can start helping administer it. I've also started giving her her seringe with water in it during play and letting her suck that down. It's made it a game and am hoping that it may help next time I have to give her some medi...fingers crossed any how ;)
Go Back to Baby Care, Maternity forum
Back to top