Giving liquid medicine?

CarlaAndJames · April 2012

It had been a long time since I've had to give even liquid tylenol or anything, but now she's got a raging ear infection so I've been giving her some tylenol or ibuprofen and her amoxicillan for the last day. She hates taking it! Sitting up and squirting in her cheek a little at a time, she ends up spitting out what looks like about 75% of it. laying down with her limbs pinned I can do better, and if I have DH the two of us can hold her down and get her to swallow most of it.

Any tips for giving it, especially doing it by myself?

ElatedMom2B · April 2012

UGH - My DD is TERRIBLE at taking medicine - which was a huge shock to me cause my older daughter was always great. The couple times I've had to give antibiotic, I would squirt some on a spoon with a little of her favorite food (when she was eating purees). My ped also told me to put it in a bottle nipple with a little - yes - chocolate syrup. She didn't fall for that one, but it was interesting to hear.

Good luck - such a PITA when they fight you.

cassoppea · April 2012

I used to have to give sedative meds in residency - I know this sounds horrible but you have to get it down. Hold her nose when it's in her mouth. It forces her to swallow. Or you can mix it in with something you know she will drink all of.

jellybeanjean · April 2012

Does blowing in her face make her gasp/swallow anymore? I know it does for a lot of babies when they're smaller, and it will still make my DS2 swallow. He loves his Tylenol, though!

soontobe05 · April 2012

jellybeanjean:
Does blowing in her face make her gasp/swallow anymore? I know it does for a lot of babies when they're smaller, and it will still make my DS2 swallow. He loves his Tylenol, though!

Haha this is exactly what I was going to say! Both my kids are really good with medicine but I know blowing in the face makes them swallow.

nic5606 · April 2012

My lo hated meds too until I handed him the syring of tylenol one day and he put it to his mouth. Now, I put the syringe there and let him take and he actually takes it. Even antibiotics. Probably because he is in charge. Ha ha.

cassoppea · April 2012

soontobe05:
jellybeanjean:
Does blowing in her face make her gasp/swallow anymore? I know it does for a lot of babies when they're smaller, and it will still make my DS2 swallow. He loves his Tylenol, though!
Haha this is exactly what I was going to say! Both my kids are really good with medicine but I know blowing in the face makes them swallow.

This sounds much nicer. Luckily my DD loves taking medicine so it hasn't been an issue yet.

ajc0121 · April 2012

I just hold her down on the ground (like you told me to do for the frida) and put the thing in the very back of her mouth, kind of to the side. With one hand I squeeze her cheeks and the other holding the syringe. I break the dose into two or three squirts and squeeze her cheeks to where it cant come out after each squirt. It takes a couple minutes but she usually never has the chance to spit it back out.

Melissa2216 · April 2012

Here are my best strategies. Unfortunately, we've had tons of practice with giving meds (currently on another round of antibiotics for yet another ear infection)

1. Swaddle LO. I straddle him and kneel over him, and it makes the whole thing go quickly since he can't flail much. Then, squeeze LO's cheeks until his mouth opens and squirt a little, then release the cheeks and blow gently in his face (which makes him swallow).

2. Keep a sippy cup of water handy. Squirt a little inside LO's cheek, then have LO take a sip of water and swallow (thus swallowing the meds).

3. Have LO suck a paci. Pry up one side of the paci, squirt a little in the opening, then replace paci. I've found patting DS's chest immediately after replacing the paci gets him to swallow. This method works best with DH's help (especially if I hold DS and squirt, and DH lifts the paci and distracts DS with funny faces/voices).

Good luck!

amberpro · April 2012

Poor Lexi

I never had a problem giving antibiotics until 2 rounds ago. He must have hated the taste- he would spit it out every time. I just had to give it a very little bit at a time. I told the doctor and he switched up the prescription for us the next time. (For future reference). Hopefully, however, she's not going to be a Carter and get an ear infection every time she has the sniffles.

M&M227 · April 2012

DD loves medicine, but she's weird. I assume it's because she been taking previcid since she was tiny. when she sees the medicine syringe she opens right up, lol.

skrichar · April 2012

M&M227:
DD loves medicine, but she's weird. I assume it's because she been taking previcid since she was tiny. when she sees the medicine syringe she opens right up, lol.

Same for Myles - I call him my little crack baby - he's sees it coming and can't get it in his mouth fast enough, but he's been on multiple meds since he was born.

Have you tried the paci/nipple medicine cups? He had one med that he actually hated, and that was the best bet for getting most of it in his mouth and down his throat Good luck!

JuneBug0611 · April 2012

Thanks for the suggestion of squishing her cheeks and blowing on her face. We did both of those today to get DD to swallow her antibiotics for her ear infection and it worked! She usually starts gagging and throws up medicine immediately, so this was a huge success. (It's also helpful that the antibiotics are more liquid than the baby tylenol, which is what she always gags on... that's more syrupy and I think she can't stand the texture.)

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