Giving a child medicine.
Discussion
The above at the moment is akin to getting a cat to take a pill.
I'm at a loss. We have a 2 and a bit year old that requires an iron supplement. So far lacing her drinks with it isn't working as she knows it tastes funny and refuses it.
Any tips? If we can't get it done the next step is a drip - and I really want to avoid that.
Apologies if this is the wrong section. the doc seems to think it's as easy as rocking up to her and squirting it down her throat.
Thanks in advance,
David.
I'm at a loss. We have a 2 and a bit year old that requires an iron supplement. So far lacing her drinks with it isn't working as she knows it tastes funny and refuses it.
Any tips? If we can't get it done the next step is a drip - and I really want to avoid that.
Apologies if this is the wrong section. the doc seems to think it's as easy as rocking up to her and squirting it down her throat.
Thanks in advance,
David.
I'd avoid putting it in her food, as this may put her off eating. I would take the approach that this is medicine, no it doesn't taste nice but she needs to have it and that the less fuss she makes the better it will be for her.
Then I'd put a reward system in place, so 5 stars on a chart and she gets to do something she wants, cinema, zoo etc I would not make the reward a sweet treat.
Why does she need the supplement, is there something else going on with her?
Then I'd put a reward system in place, so 5 stars on a chart and she gets to do something she wants, cinema, zoo etc I would not make the reward a sweet treat.
Why does she need the supplement, is there something else going on with her?
We've tried the syringe and she just refuses point blank, and if we do manage to get some in she either spits it out, or in the very rare case of actually getting any down she is sick.
She's only 2 and a bit so i'm not sure she is able to understand that although it tasted horrid, it is good for her. She tastes it and is almost sick.
I don't want to put her off her food or anything else as she isn't a great eater in the first place.
She is slightly anaemic - the medicine is an iron supplement. She's had a course before and for a while was doing great from a syringe - but this time it seems impossible.
David.
She's only 2 and a bit so i'm not sure she is able to understand that although it tasted horrid, it is good for her. She tastes it and is almost sick.
I don't want to put her off her food or anything else as she isn't a great eater in the first place.
She is slightly anaemic - the medicine is an iron supplement. She's had a course before and for a while was doing great from a syringe - but this time it seems impossible.
David.
Thanks - that's my next step.
Apparently it's caused by her diet, which is another challenge. She is very much a grazer, she never eats when she's 'supposed' to but we try to get the good stuff into her such as leavy greens, red meat etc but it's hard work. How she isn't very weak is a mystery.
she is a ball of energy every day, so i'm not overly worried. But worried none the less. I'm usually very placid with these things and posting on a forum is a last resort. But i am worried about the long term.
Perenthood eh, what a game.
Apparently it's caused by her diet, which is another challenge. She is very much a grazer, she never eats when she's 'supposed' to but we try to get the good stuff into her such as leavy greens, red meat etc but it's hard work. How she isn't very weak is a mystery.
she is a ball of energy every day, so i'm not overly worried. But worried none the less. I'm usually very placid with these things and posting on a forum is a last resort. But i am worried about the long term.
Perenthood eh, what a game.
Two and a bit - definitely the most difficult age. You can't reason with them or bribe them with trips to the cinema.
The bribe or reward needs to be instantly recognizable.
Try a distraction technique, TV, new toy etc. get her really engrossed, then shoot it in with a syringe, a small quantity at a time perhaps so she can't easily spit it out. If you shoot it in correctly it will be halfway down before she realises.
You will need SAS levels of distraction techniques and stealth.
Good luck.
pp
The bribe or reward needs to be instantly recognizable.
Try a distraction technique, TV, new toy etc. get her really engrossed, then shoot it in with a syringe, a small quantity at a time perhaps so she can't easily spit it out. If you shoot it in correctly it will be halfway down before she realises.
You will need SAS levels of distraction techniques and stealth.
Good luck.
pp
Speak to your pharmacist - you can get lots of different varieties/types of vitamins/supplements aimed specifically at younger children that come in different flavours (even tasteless) and forms (tablet/liquid, etc). Giving any kind of medication to children can be a nightmare but I'm sure your pharmacist will have the solution.
even at two she will respond well to 'treats' and rewards, never under estimate the understanding of a two year old, they will follow a pattern of reward behaviour...a bit like clapping your hands when they are potty training.
How was she weaned? Do you have family meal times?
I'd look at boosting her diet naturally, odd things contain iron, rosemary and thyme, Ready Brek is fortified, even things like apricots, a quick google should give you a fairly good list, don't forget that she needs Vitamin C to help her absorb the iron.
How was she weaned? Do you have family meal times?
I'd look at boosting her diet naturally, odd things contain iron, rosemary and thyme, Ready Brek is fortified, even things like apricots, a quick google should give you a fairly good list, don't forget that she needs Vitamin C to help her absorb the iron.
Edited by Tumbler on Wednesday 27th October 13:03
Thanks all, one of the other issues we may have is that she isn't a great eater in general. so getting her to sit down and eat enough of something to make a difference is sometimes a challenge.
She was bottle fed all through her baby life, this was alluded to perhaps be one of the reasons she has a deficiency in the first place.
I did not know that Vit C was required to absorb iron.
She's at an awkward age into the bargain, trying to see just how far she can push everyone. But we're managing this fine. But if she decides that she doesn't want something what are you supposed to do? Shot of pinning her down i don't know.
I'm making this all sound very harsh, but she's a delight 99% of the time.
David.
She was bottle fed all through her baby life, this was alluded to perhaps be one of the reasons she has a deficiency in the first place.
I did not know that Vit C was required to absorb iron.
She's at an awkward age into the bargain, trying to see just how far she can push everyone. But we're managing this fine. But if she decides that she doesn't want something what are you supposed to do? Shot of pinning her down i don't know.
I'm making this all sound very harsh, but she's a delight 99% of the time.
David.
Forcing a child to eat is the worst thing you could do, you're more likely to give them 'issues' with food.
I would say just serve her whatever you're having to eat. Let her pick and choose what she wants to eat and leave her to do it at her own pace. Offer more of the types of foods that she should have (dried apricots contain a lot of iron and are nice to eat). My daughter loves nuts and pumpkin seeds contain a lot of iron.
I would say just serve her whatever you're having to eat. Let her pick and choose what she wants to eat and leave her to do it at her own pace. Offer more of the types of foods that she should have (dried apricots contain a lot of iron and are nice to eat). My daughter loves nuts and pumpkin seeds contain a lot of iron.
Apricots is very interesting. I think i'll pick some up on the way home.
We try not to force her to eat, as like you say i don't want it to become a chore.
Intravenous treatment has to be the VERY last resort surely. Should our GP be recommending this so soon? Or is it up to me / us?
David.
We try not to force her to eat, as like you say i don't want it to become a chore.
Intravenous treatment has to be the VERY last resort surely. Should our GP be recommending this so soon? Or is it up to me / us?
David.
Btw, bottle feeding doesn't necessarily have anything to do with it. I recall reading up on how breastfed babies are at risk of developing anaemia after about 4 months.
My daughter who is almost 2 is also a grazer and I find it very hard to determine whether she has eaten enough or of the right things but she seems ok.
What has happened for this to come up? Was she having problems or was it a routine check?
My daughter who is almost 2 is also a grazer and I find it very hard to determine whether she has eaten enough or of the right things but she seems ok.
What has happened for this to come up? Was she having problems or was it a routine check?
http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_det...
I've just read up on it and apparently the dosage for 2-4 year old is 1/5 the dosage of an adult. From personal experience I can tell you that it tastes absolutely lovely and if it wasn't a bad idea I would probably drink it all in one go!
I've just read up on it and apparently the dosage for 2-4 year old is 1/5 the dosage of an adult. From personal experience I can tell you that it tastes absolutely lovely and if it wasn't a bad idea I would probably drink it all in one go!
Cut out all processed foods, give her fresh meat and fish and lightly steamed veg and small amounts of fresh orange juice. Allow her to 'choose' from these on her plate, but do not offer her an alternative.
Yoghurt...lots of good and very bad out there, many of the ones marketed at children are stuffed with sugar, so pick one based on its nutritional content.
Dried mixed fruit in little boxes can be used for 'sweets' try and do 3 weeks with no chocolate, crisps or sweets.
Brown bread solidiers and egg is really good, as can be beans on toast....watch the salt content.
Get her involved in cooking, it makes a huge difference, wholemeal banana muffins would be a good sweet treat http://www.nibbledish.com/people/sideshowjo/recipe...
Bread is often fortified, but I'm not a big fan of white it needs to be grainy or not at all, colour on the plate is very important a mix of greens, orange and the bland colours. what's she like with texture?
Yoghurt...lots of good and very bad out there, many of the ones marketed at children are stuffed with sugar, so pick one based on its nutritional content.
Dried mixed fruit in little boxes can be used for 'sweets' try and do 3 weeks with no chocolate, crisps or sweets.
Brown bread solidiers and egg is really good, as can be beans on toast....watch the salt content.
Get her involved in cooking, it makes a huge difference, wholemeal banana muffins would be a good sweet treat http://www.nibbledish.com/people/sideshowjo/recipe...
Bread is often fortified, but I'm not a big fan of white it needs to be grainy or not at all, colour on the plate is very important a mix of greens, orange and the bland colours. what's she like with texture?
I use an iron supplement called spatone. If you put it in a glass of fruit juice you can't taste it. Is there an alternative you can give her other than what they have prescribed? Maybe go back to the doctors and ask for something like that? Also as someone else mentioned - fruit flavours etc are available.
@Gusanita - We took her to the docs as she is very pale, the doc noticed this and did blood tests which confirmed it.
@TUmbler - Great info, i think there is an element of discipline that we need to get better at here.
@nixy - i'll read up on your alternative and see what we come up with.
@TUmbler - Great info, i think there is an element of discipline that we need to get better at here.
@nixy - i'll read up on your alternative and see what we come up with.
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