How do I get a super picky 7y/o to take FCLO?

[bohemama]

Ok so I just received our first bottle of FCLO (our first bottle of CLO period) and while I don't mind shooting it to the back of my throat and thankfully DH is willing to do it too, neither of my girls are willing to take it straight. Well, dd2 isn't I haven't offered it to DD1 because I know she will refuse and I don't really want her to know it's even in the house iykwim? This morning I tried to blend it into her smoothie but that isn't going to work...she could smell it before she even tasted the smoothie and I only put 1/8 tsp in. I have no idea how I'm going to sneak it into her, but she needs it so bad as does dd2 but she seems to not mind it in the smoothie. I tasted the smoothie and I can definitely detect the FCLO. Is there something else that I can put it in? Should I just make her take it straight no matter what? I'm really at a loss. DD1 has a super sensitive nose (she gets it from me) and it's very hard to sneak anything that has any sort of smell past her

[Chicky2]

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[krankedyann]

OK, I know this likely isn't going to be popular, but if the child needs it for health reasons like bad teeth, I normally use the 'it's unpleasant but it's necessary for you to get better' approach. I treat it like any other health measure, like if they were really sick and needed antibiotics- it just isn't optional. I view it as no different- mama knows best on this and there are just some things you have to do that are unpleasant, that's part of growing up. That normally ends the drama over the taste or another ick factor in about 2 days around here. My kids will tell you up front they don't like the flavor, but they aren't going to get better without it so they take it anyway. It's part of teaching maturity.

However, if you won't go that route, I recommend bribery with the 'it isn't optional' attitude behind it. Either way, they've got to take it for their own health.

[neveryoumindthere]

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[Nan'sMom]

I'd say keep trying different things. Maybe in molasses? We had to try a LOT before my 4.5 y.o. would take it. She has it in shakes now (sorry...did you say that doesn't work for you?). I also explain what I think about nutrition to her, never force her and she is taking an interest in nutrition (and working with us to help her teeth remineralize). She knows from baking with me that individual ingredients often taste awful but they taste great together and she knows I put stuff for "extra goodness" into her shakes. I think there are a lot of good reasons not to force it (this post has to be short--sleeping baby about to wake from typing) but as you can see, opinions differ. Best of luck with it!

[Mirzam]

I'm with KerryAnn, my 9 year old very fussy eater just has to suck it up and take it, its non-negotiable. I use the medicine syringe and squirt it into his mouth, he follows it up with a chaser of raw milk. It is over is seconds.

[tinuviel_k]

I'm no help here. I am 30 years old and I can't get myself to take the stuff.

[Nan'sMom]

Originally Posted by tinuviel_k

I'm no help here. I am 30 years old and I can't get myself to take the stuff.

Can you swallow the capsules? I did that mostly while pregnant.

[WuWei]

What about with chocolate syrup, lemonade, on fish cakes, on tuna sandwich, with other seafood, with strong cheese, on toast, mint flavor covers a lot, add cinnamon.

In a tea cup, in a medicine dropper that she does herself, in a medicine cup, in OJ, in a straw, ask her opinion, offer choices, brush teeth afterward, have a sour drop chaser, in maple syrup, in honey, on salad with vinegar, with something salty, in hummus, with sour cream, with cream cheese, peppermint essential oil added, lemon extract added, vanilla added, chocolate milk shooter, in a shot glass, in different colored cups, make it fun, make faces, take photos of the funny faces daily, in front of a mirror, take videos and post on YouTube, take it outside, in the tub, in the shower, in the rain, make it FUN ...


Pat

[WuWei]

Could she swallow the capsule? Add the capsule to a marshmallow, peanut butter, in bread...


Pat

[pampered_mom]

Originally Posted by WuWei

What about with chocolate syrup, lemonade, on fish cakes, on tuna sandwich, with other seafood, with strong cheese, on toast, mint flavor covers a lot, add cinnamon. :snip:

I love your list!

[4evermom]

I've given up on CLO for ds, though the berry flavored kind wasn't bad mixed into smoothies or strawberry yogurt. Honestly, I'd have to sit on him and he'd undoubtedly punch me in the face in protest. We're not going the "mama says" route.

BUT, he will eat flax seed oil if I puncture the capsule and squeeze the oil into his mac and cheese. It is slightly bitter flavored like walnuts but doesn't bother him in small quantities like CLO.

Pat's suggestions remind me how well video taping worked for getting ds' teeth brushed when that was a problem at age 3. I don't know why that worked so well but it did.

[quietserena]

perhaps in orange juice?

[Jimibell]

I have a very specific routine, I do every day....CLO was pretty unbearable to me at first (dh does it straight with a chaser!)
I squeeze some lemon into 2 glasses (about 1 tsp or so), then I add CLO to one glass and add a little water to both, then I take the CLO one like a shot, to the back of the throat (holding my breath) and then use the other one as a chaser, quickly. I find the lemon neutralizes the taste pretty well.

My 3 yr old sips it in her kombucha, she doesn't seem to notice the taste.

My 7 yr old does it like I do but with diluted juice or cider.

[Jimibell]

Just did our new bottle of FCLO (switched from regular) and it was so much more mild than the regular.....even my 7 yr old said so.....

[bohemama]

Originally Posted by WuWei

What about with chocolate syrup, lemonade, on fish cakes, on tuna sandwich, with other seafood, with strong cheese, on toast, mint flavor covers a lot, add cinnamon.

In a tea cup, in a medicine dropper that she does herself, in a medicine cup, in OJ, in a straw, ask her opinion, offer choices, brush teeth afterward, have a sour drop chaser, in maple syrup, in honey, on salad with vinegar, with something salty, in hummus, with sour cream, with cream cheese, peppermint essential oil added, lemon extract added, vanilla added, chocolate milk shooter, in a shot glass, in different colored cups, make it fun, make faces, take photos of the funny faces daily, in front of a mirror, take videos and post on YouTube, take it outside, in the tub, in the shower, in the rain, make it FUN ...


Pat

Thanks for your list! Most of the things you have listed DD1 won't touch, but it's given my brain a good jumpstart into finding something she can take it with. I think I'm going to have to go the non-negotiable route but the way she takes it will be negotiable, if that makes sense. Both girls need it for their teeth...which breaks my heart because we've tried so hard to keep sugar and stuff out of their diets. They also just NEED it, iykwim

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!!

[krankedyann]

Originally Posted by bohemama

I think I'm going to have to go the non-negotiable route but the way she takes it will be negotiable, if that makes sense.

That was the route I took with my kids. It's non-negotiable, now how do you want it?

When we first started with my oldest, I gave her the option of one gummi bear, Sundrop, animal cracker or the like after she took it, but she had to take it. When the next one came along, he just fell into line mostly, because he saw it was something we just do, and by then the treats had been long gone. As I said, using bribery but not making it optional.

[bohemama]

Originally Posted by Nan'sMom

I'd say keep trying different things. Maybe in molasses? We had to try a LOT before my 4.5 y.o. would take it. She has it in shakes now (sorry...did you say that doesn't work for you?). I also explain what I think about nutrition to her, never force her and she is taking an interest in nutrition (and working with us to help her teeth remineralize). She knows from baking with me that individual ingredients often taste awful but they taste great together and she knows I put stuff for "extra goodness" into her shakes. I think there are a lot of good reasons not to force it (this post has to be short--sleeping baby about to wake from typing) but as you can see, opinions differ. Best of luck with it!

I did talk to DD1 about taking it today...instead of trying to hide it. Lately she's been so resistant to all the changes we've been making to our diet that I thought fish oil just might be too over the top for her. Show's me how much faith I have in DD1. When I explained to her why I wanted her to take the FCLO and that it wasn't negotiable but that I would work with her to find a way that she'll like she was fine with it. No arguments! But, we haven't actually taken it yet...so we'll see I think it'll go fine. We've decided to try a shot of chocolate milk right after for today

Thanks again mamas!!

[bohemama]

Yay! She took it without even the tiniest fight! DD2 spit the first dose out but took the second one like a champ.

I kind of feel like I'm defeating the purpose by adding chocolate sauce to the milk...but I think I'll keep it up for a couple more days and then wean off the choc sauce.

You don't know how happy it makes me to get that FCLO into their little bodies: Thankfully neither of them have noticed the BO I've been slipping them in their smoothies lol

[Nan'sMom]

Originally Posted by bohemama

Yay! She took it without even the tiniest fight! DD2 spit the first dose out but took the second one like a champ.

I kind of feel like I'm defeating the purpose by adding chocolate sauce to the milk...but I think I'll keep it up for a couple more days and then wean off the choc sauce.

You don't know how happy it makes me to get that FCLO into their little bodies: Thankfully neither of them have noticed the BO I've been slipping them in their smoothies lol

Great news! Did you mix the BO with anything or put it into the smoothie straight? I always worry it will ball up so I pre-mix with honey but I'd be glad not to have to (and if dd2 won't drink it the whole thing goes to waste--it tastes like fish soup to the rest of us, blech!)