I'm struggling with two sick kiddoes- we picked up a nasty cold and have been running fevers since Saturday. We mostly use herbal, homeopathic & natural remedies- but our children are prone to Febrile Seizures so we do use fever reducers when it is high as much as we hate to (I.e. Fever is a good sign that body is fighting infection! For more info, visit: AskDrSears.com). Anyway, my 2.5 y.o. suddenly does not want to take fever reducer in any form- YES, we have tried the new Meltaways. We don't want to force him to take medicine (and it doesn't work anyway). We have tried letting him give it to himself (like big brother does), bribing him with ice cream (sorbet), and promising him stickers and everything else we could think of- nothing swayed him a bit! Tonight he was spitting it out and then clenching his teeth so we couldn't even get the syringe in his mouth- and I was worried that even if we could have, he may have choked from being upset. What else can we do? His temp was 104+ so I stripped him down and put him in lukewarm bath which he really hated but I had to do what I could. We maybe got half a dose of liquid acetaminophen in him, most of it is on my clothing. :>( Any magic mamas out there with some ideas?? I am totally at a loss here, and about to cry myself to sleep.
Thanks for all of the advice- especially the herbal/homeo suggestions! I don't like to give our kids sugar- especially when they are sick since sugar really disrupts the immune system- but I will keep some of your disguising tips in mind for urgent needs! I ended up not forcing the issue (and yes, we had tried all of the fever remedies- we have the Hyland's home kit of 90? remedies) and my son spiked a fever but did not have a seizure even though his older brother had that morning. As is usually the case, once the fever broke, he got better very quickly! Of course, by the time I got them both to the doctor on Friday, they were both practically well. In fact, on the way to the office they were running down the hall and squealing with joy, as I was thinking I may as well have thrown $40 out the window. We RARELY go to the doctor but after 5.5 days of fever I was worried that they may have had a bacterial infection e.g. ear or sinus infection, but they didn't, YAY! This was just a really nasty cold and their Pediatrician said it is going around. She said she has had many calls from and visits with parents who were worried when a fever persisted much longer than usual. So watch out, wash those hands, use your sanitizer, eat your fruits and veggies and double up on that vitamin C! We did all of the above plus probiotics & more yogurt, and our kids take Child Bright which I think normally helps a great deal. I also just got a new supplement from the new "Dr. Sears Approved" line of products called Go Fish Omega 3 Fish Oil- my 4 y.o. gobbled the recommended serving of five gel capsules up; my 2.5 y.o. chewed one, sucked the "orange syrup" out of it and spit the crushed gel into my hand, LOL. We'll see if it helps us get through the rest of the Winter without another cold. OH! And I almost forgot: we did go out and get the grape Tylenol and he does seem to prefer it over Cherry! Good to know! It is definitely better than the berry flavored Motrin that is the non-staining kind. I tasted it myself and it was horrid. I would rather get a stain on their jammies- no big deal. Thanks again, Mamas! I will definitely look to Mamasource for more advice whenever needed. Be well and take care! Naturally, J.
When my kids get stubborn about it and it's absolutely necessary i use Feverall - it's a suppository and you can buy it over the counter just about anywhere. Hope this helps!
Try rectal suppository. For age 1 to 3 years you give 80 mg rectally every 4 h. Good luck.
I would recommend getting the purple flavor of tylenol and putting it in a small glass of grape kool-aid. Don't let him know you've put it in there. This will work especially well if you don't usually let him drink kool-aid but it's a "special treat" because he's sick.
My 4 yr. old son will not take any meds and if we do manage to get them in, they come right back out. Either by spit or throw up because he knows the meds are there. I finally found something I could put a small amount of liquid Tylenol in at a time. "Tiki punch" It covers the color and the taste, good luck!
This is no fun either, but have you tried the suppository (I think it's called FeverAll)? Had to do this with my first a few years ago but cannot remember how old he was...probably not 2.5 and I have a 2.5 yo right now...not sure he would not try to dig it out or something...
The joys of parenting!
J.,
Have you tried having someone else give the fever reducer to him? I was just thinking about this in terms of when we try to get my daughter to take a bottle...she won't take one from me but she'll take it from her dad. If he won't take it from you or your husband, will he take it from another trusted friend or relative? It might not work but it's something to try.
B.
Hi J.,
I have a 2.5 year old too and we always put his herbs, homeopathy, fever reducer in the food/drink he likes. He never knows the difference. Our two favorites are applesauce with cinnamon or hot tea. Even if he has a fever and doesn't want to eat or drink, we can usually get him to take a few bites/sips and that all that's needed to hide the remedy in there. Best of luck!
Wishing your family wellness!
Hello,
Here are a few suggestions.
Vit. C Supports immune system and has mild inflammatory effects. The type with Bioflavavonoids is preferable Dosage the childs age in years times 50 milligrams.You can even try liquid if that would work better mixed in juice diluted w/water.
Calcium May help to prevent febrile seizures Give 250 to 500 milligrams a day.
Echinacea- Has fever reducing properties and helps stimulate immune cells to fight an infection
Yarrow, chamomile or elder flowers or a combo of these herbs in a tea or tincture helps to reduce fever and make a child more comfortable also peppermint is coolings and adds a better taste.
Homeopathy- Sounds like you have tried this avenue which ones have you tried if they don't work try another one they either work or don't. There are over 10 different ones for fever.
Make sure your child is getting plenty of fluids. Emergen C has a great Electrolyte drink you can give by the dropper full if need be. Soups and brothes are good.
Hope this gives you some other ideas to try!
Blessings
Hi! I hate the fever reducers because its the only time my son gets sugar and sick time is the worst time for it. I give him tylenol in a rectal suppository. It's a little uncomfortable for us Americans but the french take most of their medications this way I'm told. If you dip them in water they get slippery and my son doesn't complain about it at all. I don't think he even notices. They are easy to get. Most pharmacies have them, even my local grocery store one carries them. They keep them refigerated and often the pharmacists don't know they are there because they don't get a lot of requests for them. I had to ask them to look and they found them. I cut them and remove a third because my son is younger than the recomended dose. The hardest part about using them once you get past your own "ick factor" is convincing your other loved ones its not too weird. I ues them and watch his fever go down in about 20 mins. If you've never used suppositories the best way to insert them is either on their tummy oh you read DR. Sears he has good advice on how to insert them. But I do it while I'm changing his diaper and just hold his legs against his chest and push it in. If you don't push it far enough it comes back out. Hope I haven't freaked anybody out. good luck!
Add suger to the meds. Let him watch you do it.
Mix it with apple sauce. Try cherry tylenol with strawberry applesauce works everytime.
my 2 1/2 year old was in the hospital this last fall for two weeks with pneumonia, and after we got home, he started refusing the medicine that was vital. i didnt blame him, after all he was on antibiotics for 28 days, among fever reducers. what i had to resort to, was "pinning" him down, getting the medicine in his mouth with a dropper, and blowing on his face to make him swallow it (before he can breath, he has to swallow the medicine)
i know it sounds harsh, and it feels really mean, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. considering the fact that a fever that isnt treated can cause brain damage, this little bit of "torture" is well worth it!
Try FeverALL rectal acetaminophen.
