Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Earache and Giraffes

Grace has an ear infection. I'm not sure what is worse for her - the pain or having to take her medicine. We have tried everything to get her to take it. Bribery, disguising it in a drink, syringing it into her mouth, but she is so stubborn and I know we have a few more days of this. Any suggestions on how to get a three year old to take antibiotics?
Finally photographed these giraffes for the shop.

19 comments:

Ali said...

Go back to the Pharmacy and beg for them to give you a version of the medication in a different flavour syrup. There was no way on earth my son could tolerate the banana flavour original (he's banana phobic), but strawberry went down fine.

Poor Grace - good luck.

Michelle said...

antibiotics are horrid for any child and it doesn't really matter what age...
my 11 year old has had to take medication all of his life and all of the liquid ones he would spit back up...
we are very lucky that he learnt to take tablets it is so much easier.
but most antibiotics do come in powder form and they mix it at the chemist.see if you can get it made up again in powder form that they can measure the daily dose out for you, and hide small amounts during the day in food and drinks etc.even if it takes all day to get the required dose it's better than no dose.
or try really small amounts over the course of the day in flavoured milk. hope this helps a little
anyway...ear infections are really painfull hope she feels better soon...

raining sheep said...

Oh man, that is a drag...you mean, they don't give children the banana flavored kind any more? My one son had horrible issues with ear infections when he was little (he ended up getting tubes) but, he used to love the banana flavored amoxil. Those giraffes are so cute. I love the one on the left.

Anya said...

My 19-y.o. sister had a painful ear infection couple of months ago. Even though she is a big girl (age-wise) taking medications was very unpleasant for her. I would have to agree with Michelle and propose giving tiny dosage of medicine over the course of the day. I also remember that when I was a child my mom would powder down the tablets and mix it with my favorite jam or honey (Nutella would work well too).
I really hope Grace will feel better soon.

BTW those giraffes are SO cute!!!

Mette (Mettuska) said...

Hugs to Grace! Hope she´ll be better soon!

ezeldabeth said...

i would check with with your pediatrician about spreading it out over the day, i was told the medicine would be ineffective unless taken within a certain time period. mixing it with or alternating it with choc. syrup is supposed to work. all it takes for us is to give the older brother his meds first, then little sis doesnt want to miss out. the other thing that we've done is to get a kitkat and let them alternate bites with the syringed meds (unless its a small enough amount to get in one dose)

periwinkle said...

poor grace , hope she is better soon. I've never had a problem with giving medicine in a syringe so don't have any other suggestions -sorry
lisa x

tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.com said...

I agree with the post above about the med.Hope she feels better soon.I love the giraffes!Thanks to you & Becky from yellow jacket ridge angora goat ranch I`m spinning.Her computer has been away for repairs & I thank the dear Lord that I found you,blessings,phylliso

Anonymous said...

We had major issues with this last year and it was so awful to force it into her. I don't think you can mix it in something either but depends on the medicine (whether it renders it ineffective in juice or milk for example)/ I would try a different flavor and if it doesn't work then call the dr. I think there's the option of a shot too but I am not really sure. I was at the point where I thought that would be better than having her gag on it. Hope she feels better soon!

Anonymous said...

I hope she gets better soon, I have no suggestions for willing her to take the medicins...
and yes, lovely giraffes!!

Sue said...

Oh no poor Grace. My children have always been great with taking medication for some reason. I always make sure I have flavoured milk on standby to take straight after, especially if they taste disgusting. She must be in so much pain. I suffered with 5 ear infections last year, never having any before that and they are very painful. I can stand pain but ear infections just make you feel off balance, nauseaus and sore. I do hope you find a good solution for her. I love the giraffes, just so cute.

EmBelISH said...

Best of luck with the speedy recovery of your Daughter, my son has been suffering bad ear infections since the beggining of May and has been on and off antibiotics since then!! he doesnt mind the strawberry one tho, we are getting surgery next week for him to get grommets.
Em

Blossom said...

Wish I could give you some helpful advice on medicine taking, but unfortunately we STILL have just as much trouble trying to get Chloe (8yoa) to take anything other than panadol. I suffered from horrendous earaches as a child/teenager and I don't recall anything working other than letting it run it's course...SORRY...obviously this was NOT the news you wanted to here. How about a major distraction from the pain like....chocolate!!!

Philigry said...

wish i could help!
I love the animals.

Anonymous said...

my kids always took any medicine as long as they had a straw. i don't know why, but thank goodness!! hope she feels better!

our shabby cottage said...

Oh, Kate, you poor thing! It is really hard getting antibiotics down especially if they hate it. We went through months of ear infections with our eldest when he was 12 months old. It was awful. I can only suggest mixing it with something really yummy or offer chocolate as a reward for taking it. Bribery is everything!!
I do hope Grace gets better soon. Kathryn.

Michelle said...

Poor little Grace...ear infections are the pits...hope you find a way with the medicine, I know how stubborn my 1 yr old is - I can only imagine a 3 yr old!! Great giraffes by the way as well!

Michelle said...

have looked into it and asked a few friends who are nurses and they have said the same thing as"ezeldabeth" that staggering the dose would render it less affective.i would have thought something would be better than nothing personally.but there you go.sorry that will not make it any easier for you guys...

Abby and Stephanie said...

DARLING giraffe. How I love them. My daughter, now 22, was the world's worst medicine taker. I understand they have flavors now...everything was nasty cherry or grape flavored then. I'm sure my daughter would still find a way to spit it out even if we had different flavors! Good luck.