Troubles Taking Medicine

I got my son to take medicine by having him give it to himself in the syringe. And for the nasty stuff, I told him it would taste yucky, but we would have his juice in a cup in my hand right next to him so he could drink REAL fast and make the taste go away. Having control of the medicine to some degree made a BIG difference. Let him pick the juice or whatever drink to rinse the taste away.

I have never put my kids' medicines (any kind) in their drink or bottle (when they were babies). Two reasons:
1) the practical-- if they didn't finish it, I wouldn't have known how much medication they actually consumed, or didn't consume.
2) the psychological-- I always felt like that was sneaking something past them, a lie of sorts. And I don't like lying to my kids---sort of like I never "snuck out" when leaving them with a sitter. I always told them I was going, with a hug and kiss, and that I would be back.

What I DID do, was have a preferred drink and/or snack RIGHT THERE ready for them the nano-second they had swallowed the medication. A chaser. My son always was the one who would bite the bullet and gulp it down, chase with the milk, or water or whatever and be done with it. Wanted just to get it over with. My daughter always needed a few minutes to screw up her courage, have a moment of drama, and then sip it. Followed as fast as she could with the water or gatorade or whatever after.

The "trick" to it, in my opinion, is that the kids need a sense of control. Everyone knows that they WILL be taking the medicine, that is not within their control. But letting them have a little power in how they get it down does give them a little control. And I think they appreciate that.

Be straightforward ("Here is the medicine you have to take. I know you don't want to, and I'm sorry if you don't like it, but it has to be done so it can help your body get well."), offer them a way to ease the yuck factor ("Sometimes drinking some cold water right after helps get rid of the taste."), and let them have some power ("Do you want me to set the cup on the counter so you can pick it up after you drink the medicine, or do you want me to hold it?").

I have never had problems with my kids refusing any medicines. They didn't always like them, but they never refused. Even when they were so little I had to use the little syringe squirter thingee. I think there is a lot to be said for the "presentation" about what is going to happen.

Good luck.

Unless it is essential like an antibiotic, I do not force the issue. If you feel the coughing is so bad it will keep him up then for my son, bribery is the only thing that works for my son. Have a good tasting beverage to have after and don't wait until it's too late and they are really tired and cranky. I tried "forcing" my son once and he threw up all over the bed.

Have you tried letting him fall asleep then squirting it into his cheek while he is sleeping or in that sleepy state? My daughter will kind of suck the medicine out of the dropper in her sleep. Or I sit her up a little and squirt it into her cheek adn she swallows. Then I give her a sip from her sippy cup to wash it down. It hasn't been with bad tasting medicine though (I don't think) just when i need to give it to her every 8 hours and a dose fall while she is sleeping.

You might not like my answer, Mom, but for what it's worth, I'll give it. I was Darth Vadar about my kids' medicines. I was NOT willing to have to take them to the hospital for antibiotics IV's because they didn't like the taste. Same thing would have applied to cough syrup or anything else, for that matter.

I had one of the long dispensers that had lines to tell how much medicine there was - I think they held up to 2 teaspoons. I put the medicine in it, had a short glass (heavy) cup at hand to stand the dispenser in, and a towel. I'd have a small cup of juice at hand as a chaser too. I laid the towel in the floor, got my child, laid HIM in the floor with the towel under his head and neck, and straddled his cheeks with my legs. That way he could not move his head from side to side. I'd hold his cheeks open with my left hand and pour the medicine down his mouth with the other, drop the dispenser on the towel and keep his mouth closed with both hands. He would have to swallow, and then I'd give him his chaser. No, he didn't like it. Yes, he'd cry like a banshee. Yes, I'd give him a hug and tell him that when he learned to take his medicine like a big boy, I wouldn't lay him down anymore. Bottom line - he'd get well.

My ped's nurse told me this trick. Thank God for that nurse.

One of the things doing this helps with is showing your son that YOU are the boss. NOT him. He needs to know that. He also needs to get well.

Good luck,
Dawn

Is it Rx or OTC? if doc prescribed it, you can get the pharmacy to flavour it. If OTC, perhaps they don't like a certain flavour?

My son will take orange or lemon, but hates grape or cherry. For pain relievers, he has orange, bubblegum or it it's advil, raspberry.

For the ones I can't get him to enjoy, I bargained with him. I had a banana for him to eat shortly after taking it. I also give him all his medicines in an oral syringe. If it's nasty, we try to position it towards the back, so he can quick gulp it, then have a bite of banana to wash it down after 30 seconds to a minute.

You don't want to give them fluids after a cough remedy, as the syrup needs to coat the passageways so that it soothes the irritations(this came from his pediatrician, who has also been my doc for over 20 years, and gave me the same advice as a young teen).

He said a bit of banana will help to eliminate the aftertaste, but to wait 30 seconds to a minute if possible.

Hope this helps.

I agree with the moms who say not to try to slip it past him, but you could try to be very open about mixing it in something good - like pudding or yogurt - and seeing if he will willingly eat it.
Also, spoonful of honey is supposed to be great for easing kids' coughs, so you might want to add that as the "chaser" to the medicine.

After drinking the medicine, give him like 3 Cheetos.
It kills, the taste and after taste of the medicine.
Worked for my son, who is VERY hard to give medicine to.
I learned this tip, from our Pediatrician. And it worked, for my son.

We use an enclosed measuring spoon provided from the pharmacy and let them hold that themselves so that they can drink it themselves. Even the "bad" stuff seems to go down if they can drink it themselves. We also keep a little water handy to wash it down.

Other than that, no brillant ideas. Looking forward to other Moms' tidbits on this one!