How to get a toddler to take her meds

[anonymous]

April doesn't have CF but she was put on meds for a sinus infection. I figured this would be a good place to ask for suggestions on how to get her to take her medicine. She was on liquid form the last time and she would get it half way down and then throw everything up. If she did get it all the way down she would gag until it came up. This time we got her chewables. I know she doesn't mind the taste because the first pill she held in her mouth for an hour until it was so disolved that she had to swallow it. Now she won't take them at all. We mention it to her and she throws up. I don't know what to do with her anymore!!! Does anyone want a suborn 2 1/2 year old ; ). We tried bribery we tried hiding it in food or crushing them into her milk. She doesn't see us do it but she can taste it and she refuses to take more than one bite. Any suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.


Beth

 

[anonymous]

April doesn't have CF but she was put on meds for a sinus infection. I figured this would be a good place to ask for suggestions on how to get her to take her medicine. She was on liquid form the last time and she would get it half way down and then throw everything up. If she did get it all the way down she would gag until it came up. This time we got her chewables. I know she doesn't mind the taste because the first pill she held in her mouth for an hour until it was so disolved that she had to swallow it. Now she won't take them at all. We mention it to her and she throws up. I don't know what to do with her anymore!!! Does anyone want a suborn 2 1/2 year old ; ). We tried bribery we tried hiding it in food or crushing them into her milk. She doesn't see us do it but she can taste it and she refuses to take more than one bite. Any suggestions will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.


Beth

 

[anonymous]

Like most liquid medications, must have a nasty taste. I'm constantly amazed at the nasty stuff DS swallows -- zantac syrup, bile salts (actigall -- tastes like cherry vomit), zithromax, augmentin.... But I just put stuff in an oral syringe and squirt it in. But DS is used to it, he's been doing this for over 2 1/2 years, since birth.

Maybe the pharmacy can give it a different flavor? How much does she need to take and what is it? Some people try to hide stuff in chocolate syrup, others put some in a baby bottle nipple with a little juice. For ds's vitamin K I put the tablet in a pill crusher and sprinkle it on baby food bananas or regular applesauce, cover it up with a little bit more and he swallows it pretty easily.

 

[anonymous]

Like most liquid medications, must have a nasty taste. I'm constantly amazed at the nasty stuff DS swallows -- zantac syrup, bile salts (actigall -- tastes like cherry vomit), zithromax, augmentin.... But I just put stuff in an oral syringe and squirt it in. But DS is used to it, he's been doing this for over 2 1/2 years, since birth.

Maybe the pharmacy can give it a different flavor? How much does she need to take and what is it? Some people try to hide stuff in chocolate syrup, others put some in a baby bottle nipple with a little juice. For ds's vitamin K I put the tablet in a pill crusher and sprinkle it on baby food bananas or regular applesauce, cover it up with a little bit more and he swallows it pretty easily.

 

[Beth]

I can't remember the name of the med right now. It is cherry flavored. She has to take two pills twice a day and the pills are the size of a sweet tart candy. We had her convinced that they were vitamins and she was excited to take them until at the pharmacy they asked her if she would like to try the medicine because some kids don't like the taste. That is when she kept it in her mouth for over an hour so she must not mind the taste.

Beth

 

[Beth]

I can't remember the name of the med right now. It is cherry flavored. She has to take two pills twice a day and the pills are the size of a sweet tart candy. We had her convinced that they were vitamins and she was excited to take them until at the pharmacy they asked her if she would like to try the medicine because some kids don't like the taste. That is when she kept it in her mouth for over an hour so she must not mind the taste.

Beth

 

[skh]

Since you are talking about my granddaughter - she isn't any more stubborn than you were at her age!! I wish I had new suggestions for you but I don't. Did you try to tell her that she's taking medicine like Abby - do you think that would work?

Sue

 

[skh]

Since you are talking about my granddaughter - she isn't any more stubborn than you were at her age!! I wish I had new suggestions for you but I don't. Did you try to tell her that she's taking medicine like Abby - do you think that would work?

Sue

 

[Beth]

Tried that to and I told her it would make her grandmother very happy if she would take them and that just made her worse; ). And she gets her stuborn side from you!

Beth

 

[Beth]

Tried that to and I told her it would make her grandmother very happy if she would take them and that just made her worse; ). And she gets her stuborn side from you!

Beth

 

[anonymous]

Bribery. Works wonders. Using it to assist with potty training right now. Is there anything she really really wants?

 

[anonymous]

Bribery. Works wonders. Using it to assist with potty training right now. Is there anything she really really wants?

 

[anonymous]

I find my daughter to have no problem taking meds but again she's been taking lots for 3 years. The antibiotics which can be really gross, I would put in a syringe and just squirt it in, kind of tuck the syringe in the side of the cheek(sounds awful) so they don't have a choice but to swallow. Honestly, my daughter swallows nasty stuff now, I think she feels she has so much stuff to take and do she doesn't want to waste her time with fussing. My son who does not have CF HATES to take medicine. So bribery works, also, just telling the child they have no choice and it's best just to get it over with. Now that there's all that valentine candy half price I picked up a stash just for the purpose of bribery if there is a really yucky medicine one of my children has to take.

Good luck!
Rebecca(mom to SAmmy 7 no CF and Maggie 3 with CF)

 

[anonymous]

I find my daughter to have no problem taking meds but again she's been taking lots for 3 years. The antibiotics which can be really gross, I would put in a syringe and just squirt it in, kind of tuck the syringe in the side of the cheek(sounds awful) so they don't have a choice but to swallow. Honestly, my daughter swallows nasty stuff now, I think she feels she has so much stuff to take and do she doesn't want to waste her time with fussing. My son who does not have CF HATES to take medicine. So bribery works, also, just telling the child they have no choice and it's best just to get it over with. Now that there's all that valentine candy half price I picked up a stash just for the purpose of bribery if there is a really yucky medicine one of my children has to take.

Good luck!
Rebecca(mom to SAmmy 7 no CF and Maggie 3 with CF)

 

[Rokiss12]

umm when i was younger the big thing for enzymes/pills you can crush and not have them taste REALLY nasty...i would crush them up and sprinkle it in applesauce... (u can use yogurt, pudding, etc. )

and then for syrup (ask your pharmacy, at mine now, they flavor them for the little kids) i used to mix it with chocolate syrup and a really little bit of milk... like really chocolaty chocolate milk... oh yummy.

make it a contest too (hehe i was a comptetitive little kid)

that seemed to work...but now i just swallow everything

hope this helps!
Kate

 

[Rokiss12]

umm when i was younger the big thing for enzymes/pills you can crush and not have them taste REALLY nasty...i would crush them up and sprinkle it in applesauce... (u can use yogurt, pudding, etc. )

and then for syrup (ask your pharmacy, at mine now, they flavor them for the little kids) i used to mix it with chocolate syrup and a really little bit of milk... like really chocolaty chocolate milk... oh yummy.

make it a contest too (hehe i was a comptetitive little kid)

that seemed to work...but now i just swallow everything

hope this helps!
Kate

 

[JazzysMom]

My daughter (no CF) has terible gag reflexes so when she was a baby & got sick it was tough. Her doctor (who was my pediatrician before my dx....aint that cool) said to put it in the baby medicine syringe & squit it towards the side of her mouth. Not only does it force them to swallow, but it by passes most of the tatebuds easing the gagging. Now my little one can swallow pills better than her Dad & she has been able to for almost 4 years. So instead of having problems with her taking liquids, our problem is not always being able to get the med she needs in a pill form.Tho I have to say her doctor has been great about coming up with something even if I have to cut it. I dont have much else to offer...Sorry!

 

[JazzysMom]

My daughter (no CF) has terible gag reflexes so when she was a baby & got sick it was tough. Her doctor (who was my pediatrician before my dx....aint that cool) said to put it in the baby medicine syringe & squit it towards the side of her mouth. Not only does it force them to swallow, but it by passes most of the tatebuds easing the gagging. Now my little one can swallow pills better than her Dad & she has been able to for almost 4 years. So instead of having problems with her taking liquids, our problem is not always being able to get the med she needs in a pill form.Tho I have to say her doctor has been great about coming up with something even if I have to cut it. I dont have much else to offer...Sorry!

 

[dansnprincess]

you could try crushing it then mixing it in a pudduing cup or yogurt. My son also has bipolar and has had to take meds since he was 4 years old, I learned a few tricks. There is always the one where you buy jarred cherries and use the sweet cherry juice right from the jar and let the meds dissolve in the juice and the juice masks the nasty med flavor. when my son got older he learned to swallow pills by practicing swallowing m&m's. it worked. just a few tricks that worked for me I hope it helps.

 

[dansnprincess]

you could try crushing it then mixing it in a pudduing cup or yogurt. My son also has bipolar and has had to take meds since he was 4 years old, I learned a few tricks. There is always the one where you buy jarred cherries and use the sweet cherry juice right from the jar and let the meds dissolve in the juice and the juice masks the nasty med flavor. when my son got older he learned to swallow pills by practicing swallowing m&m's. it worked. just a few tricks that worked for me I hope it helps.