Does anyone have any magical tricks to get their toddler to take medicine?

I am at the end of my rope here. DD is pretty sick. Been running very high fevers. We have been to the doctor and they gave us antibiotics. I CAN NOT get anything into her. I have tried everything under the sun. Dipped lollipops in the meds, dipped a binky in the meds. The doctor gave me a new script for the same meds in a capsule and I have mixed it with ice cream, even soda, and nothing, she knows immediately and will not take it. We have held her down and tried holding her nose and massaging her throat to get her to swallow and she still manages to spit it out. I bought ice cream and tried to mix it and nope. The doctor is telling me I have to get motrin in her to bring the fever down and I can't. I have bought motrin chewables, every liquid flavor they make, all the tylenol chewables in every flavor, liquid tylenol in every flavor and can not get anything in her. I finally resorted to tylenol suppositories, which took forever and a special order to find. I with many tears and guilt finally got the suppository in her. I just do not know what to do. Doctor is telling me that we are going to have to take her to the hospital if we can not get it in her. I am pleading with her, offering her anything and everything to take something, but 2 year olds don't seem to get the whole bargaining thing. Sorry this is so long. I am running out of ideas here. Anybody have any magical trick to get something in this super stubborn child of mine. Thanks!!!

Re: Does anyone have any magical tricks to get their toddler to take medicine?

The two things that work for us are slurpees and Wendy's frosties.

Re: Does anyone have any magical tricks to get their toddler to take medicine?

I had the same problem last week when DD had pneumonia. Believe it or not what worked was giving it to her on a "big girl" spoon and holding her nose and giving her a juice chaser.

Good luck! we tried everything and was really surprised THIS worked! I would have never thought...

Re: Does anyone have any magical tricks to get their toddler to take medicine?

Do you have anyone else around that can help you. Someone that she would see as an authority (not that she dosent see you that way). From very early on DS thougt of my Dad as the Boss of everything and he would always, always do what Grandpa said.

Re: Does anyone have any magical tricks to get their toddler to take medicine?

Thank you for all the suggestions. I tried the big girl spoon, crushed it into ice cream, applesauce, everything and she is too smart for me. And she is not even seeing me do this. Thankfully, I just got some antibiotic in her. sprinkled it into pepsi, I know not great, but I am desperate. Looks like it shall be pepsi for breakfast in the morning too. I guess for fever reducer, the suppositories it shall be. There is just no way I can get anything else in her. Hopefully we can keep the pneumonia away and enough antibiotic gets in. Thankfully she is doing amazingly well with the nebulizer treatments, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. It is so frustrating. I swear this kid is smarter than me, she knows all the tricks. Thank You!!

Re: Does anyone have any magical tricks to get their toddler to take medicine?

Have you tried Yogurt drinks? I get the medicine flavored to match the yogurt and he doesnt even know it's in there.

Re: Does anyone have any magical tricks to get their toddler to take medicine?

I hold him down...pin him under my legs and arms and get the medicine in by the cheek. I do not hurt him but his crying does help get the medicine in.

He needs it and I got very tired of begging him to take it and dealing with missed doses.

Re: Does anyone have any magical tricks to get their toddler to take medicine?

My daughter was and still is the same way about medicine.

I have to use suppositories when it comes to fever reducers/pain relievers.

As for liquid or powder medicine, I used to mix it in chocolate pudding. That seemed to be the only thing that was able to disguise any taste or consistency.

Re: Does anyone have any magical tricks to get their toddler to take medicine?

My DD (2 1/2) has taken an antibiotic every morning for the past YEAR (she has kidney/bladder reflux, so it's the preventative type). So, needless to say, I have had to use every trick in the book. Basically, you can put it in anything at all she will eat.
We have done:
-applesauce
-yogurt drink
-banana (cut a whole, pour it in, recap the whole)
-apple juice
-cracker (yes, some have holes you can pour it in!)
-mac & cheese
-apple
-grapes

Probably some others, too, but that's all I can think of now! Good luck!

ETA: Thank GOD, DD's antibiotic is tasteless. I imagine one with a gross taste is a lot worse!

Message edited 1/29/2010 8:45:34 PM.