How do you gently do medicine?

[seren]

Or do all rules go out the window with that? We are having such a rough time. Ds has a massive sinus infection that is causing migraines. He's on antibiotics. He hates them. It's a fight, but he's been getting better. Especially if it's the time he gets the nasal spray afterwards. He loves that stuff, weird child.

Dd1 flat out refuses. She had a fever 103.4 today. So I tried to give her some tylenol. I tried to put it in a drink, I tried reasoning, bribing, nothing. I was at my parents and they didn't have a medicine syringe, so my dad tried to help. He tried forcing her mouth open and pouring it in. SHe bit him. She ended up with most of it all over her face. I have held her down. I have done everything I can to try to get her tot ake meds. Nothing works.

So how do you fit medicine into ap? Or do you just do what you have to do to get it down?

[Ruthla]

I rarely give medicine (this is not about being AP, it's more about being NFL and not wanting to put potentially toxic substances into my children.)

Fever is not something to be feared. Fever is a tool that your child's body is using to "clean up" toxins and germs and, in general, return itself to health. Suppressing the fever will only slow down the healing process. My advice is to stop trying to give her medicine.

I've never needed to give antibiotics to any of my children when they were very young (I think my girls have had them only once or twice total in their lives, and it was while we weren't getting regular chiropractic care.) Since your DS already has a sinus infection, and you already started antibiotic treatment, I wouldn't stop that in the middle- it can just create antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Maybe "bribe" him with something he enjoys after he takes his medicine? A sticker or something like that?

[seren]

I am not big on antibiotics for my kids. But ds complained of headaches for a while, we went to the dr. And he wanted a ct scan because of past head injuries (I have a very clumsy boy). The ct scan was what picked up the sinus infection. By the time we met with the dr again it had been three weeks of ds having migraines because of it. So we are doing the antibiotics. The ped said they might not work the first time so gave us a refill. If they don't I will definitely be taking him to the chiro.

On the fever thing. Do I just do nothing? I did give her a lukewarm bath and it brought it down for awhile. But it's coming back up. What if it gets really high? At what point should i be concerned?

[Ruthla]

On the fever thing, yup, I would just do nothing- keep her comfortable, offer her as many liquids as she's willing to drink, cover her if she gets cold, uncover her if she gets hot, etc, and not worry about her unless she gets listless or dehydrated.

[seren]

She just wanted to be cuddled or lay down and watch a movie. But she wasn't listless. What should I do if that were to happen? In my mind if I ask, it won't happen, if I don't it will and i won't know what to do. I know, I'm weird. You would think I should know this by now.

[abimommy]

Did you try letting her give it to herself?

Put it in the thingie and give it to her..she might drink it.

[FreeThinkinMama]

I don't have a problem with giving medicine but I try to avoid giving ibuprofen unless the fever is serious because as the pp said it helps fight the infection and suppressing the fever can prolong the illness. Here's a page about fevers and medication:

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/fever.html

It basically says you don't need to worry about an older child unless the fever is 104 or more. Babies it's 100.4

That said I've given dd antiobiotics and ibuprofen before. I never had a problem, I usually act like it's yummy and she just takes it off the spoon. If she still refuses I would put it in a sippy cup. I don't like giving antibiotics unless I have to though, I know that if you give them too much when they really get sick and need them they won't work. So I've used them as a last resort, one time she had a double ear infection that would just not go away in example.

I do have a HUGE problem when I go to brush her teeth though. I've tried everything, modeling, distracting, and nothing works. She freaks out when it comes time to do it. She'll brush her teeth a little on her own but since she's 2 1/2 obviously she can't get it well enough to prevent cavities so I have to take over. I figure this is just like when she freaks out about being in the car seat sometimes. There comes a point where there's just no choice, it has to be done. I can't have her crawling around in the back of the car and it will be much worse if she gets a cavity and has to see the dentist for it. I cuddle with her a lot and talk or sing the entire time and after it's over I give her a lot of hugs and kisses. But just because she's crying that doesn't mean I can just give up on brushing her teeth or putting her in the car seat KWIM?

[seren]

Did you try letting her give it to herself?

Put it in the thingie and give it to her..she might drink it.

Yup, she even tasted a tiny bit on her finger, said it was good, but she didn't want it.

[abimommy]

Yup, she even tasted a tiny bit on her finger, said it was good, but she didn't want it.


:lol

I have no idea then. My dd will just take stuff.

I would even give my mom raised eyebrows over Flinstone vitamins ("Is this drugs?" "What? No it isn't drugs..its Barney!"

[IamCoupongirl]

Well, first I ask. Sometimes that works. Then I bribe (using mini M&M's). If that doesn't work for a particular medicine or a particular child (!), and the meds are absolutely necessary (versus an optional cough syrup or tylenol), then I say "You will take this, because you need it to get better. You can do it yourself, or I will have to make you." If the meds are "optional" and I've asked and they say no, then I just put them away. Save the big guns for when it really matters. :)

[USAmma]

Get a very thin medicine syringe that has 1-3 cc capacity. Make her lie down and turn on a video for her. Then squirt no more than 1 cc into the inside of her cheek at a time, let her swallow that, squirt another 1 cc until it's done.

You may have to "sit" on her. Have her lie so that her feet face away from you and her head is nested between your thighs. Put your thighs over her upper arms, then put the syringe to her inner cheek and administer meds. Be calm and gentle and praise her even if she fights.

I have had to do this with both kids and it's NOT fun but it works most of the time. For dd2 we are "lucky" that she has a stomach tube so we give her meds that way. I still had to brush her teeth b/c of acid reflux and that's how I did it until she accepted teeth brushing. Now she opens wide and seems to enjoy it.

I only did this method if all else failed. I would not do it for anything but a high fever, pain, or if meds are really, really needed. But sometimes my job as a mommy is to do things that are necessary even if she doesn't like it. Sounds like that sinus infection is pretty nasty for your dd!

[famousmockngbrd]

I mix it with ice cream. :bag:

[Emilie]

get a "shooter" just a regular medicine syringe- ds loves to shoot his acidopholous!

[Marsupialmom]

bribery.....Yes, I have stooped to it in medical situations.

[WuWei]

We don't treat fevers. There is an informative Mothering article about fevers being beneficial. I'll try to find it. http://www.jrussellshealth.com/fever.html And we don't force ds to anything against his will. He is 4.5. And medicine hasn't been an issue for us. We have just discussed the benefits and addressed any objections with alternate solutions. I have heard that chocolate pudding or chocolate milk (or chocolate syrup) disguises most medicine. And most pharmacy formularies are able to alter the taste by adding mint flavor. For prescription meds, I'd seek alternate flavors or an alternative medication prescription that is more palatable. Mint ice cream also helps, I have heard.

Trying again later, or when less tired helps. Bedtime meds seem to be the most opposed by children. So, giving it earlier or when they wake up in the middle of the night, or missing a dose isn't generally worth the fight. The next dose doesn't go in easier if the preceding dose was a battle. I am of the theory of 'If you make it an issue, it becomes an issue.' I am an RN and people miss very important medication doses all the time, it is just given as soon as possible thereafter.

Pat

[MsChatsAlot]

I have always allowed my children to use their intuition. When they have flat out refused medication, I believe it is their internal knowing that it is not right for their body. I do not force it. Sometimes that means that I have to re-group and get out of "fear" to allow them to know what is best for their body.

For the migraines, have you looked into alternative medicine? Maybe your child would respond better to something natural.

[Clarinet]

My older daughter does better with chewables than liquid. As far as the antibiotics goes, I don't think those come as chewables, so I'm of the "sit on the kid" persuasion. (SORRY!!!)

Tooth brushing hasn't been a problem because I let her do hers while I do mine and then I tell her I'm going to go over hers one more time to make sure she got it all. And I've let her choose the brush and toothpaste so she likes to use it.

[Jen123]

With meds that they have to have I hide it in food. If that doesn't work I force it. It's no fun and it feels very punitive and wrong to hold down a child , but it's for something they need to get better. I praise them while I'm doing it using calm slow motions.

[midstreammama]

I have always allowed my children to use their intuition. When they have flat out refused medication, I believe it is their internal knowing that it is not right for their body. I do not force it. Sometimes that means that I have to re-group and get out of "fear" to allow them to know what is best for their body.


I was thinking this same thing. It's pretty much what we do here too.

I also don't do tylenol for ANY fever. Dd was about 7 months old and had a 103 degree fever. Scariest time in my life. But, I also know that fever is the bodies natural reaction to infection, if I tamper with that it screws that process up. I don't want to do that, I just want them to get better. As hard as that is, I know that my mind has been programmed by society(and the way I was raised) to reach for the medicine bottle as soon as anything goes south. Luckily, I have been able to fight that urge back.

The fever didn't last long, Almost a day. I just use any non-medicinal routes to keep them confortable.

[sunnysideup]

My kids have always liked chewables more than liquid. You can ask the Dr. to write the Rx for chewables for the antibiotics. That said, I wouldn't ever force my child to take medicine. Studies have shown that ear and sinus infections get better in the same amount of time, whether you take antibiotics or not.

[johub]

I think a sinus infection that has already lasted 3 weeks has not resolved itself in the "usual amount of time" and it is probably a good idea to treat it.
That said, I give my kids medication mostly for teethign pain. (dd is miserable from teething) And they are usually more than happy to take it. (the hard part is refusing to give it to the ones who dont need it) but sometimes in the middle of the night when she is in a lot of pain and is drowsy she really resists taking meds. I know it is because she is uncomfortable and she will be MORE comfortable sooner if I can get the meds inside her. So I just do it despite her protests.
As a rule I try every creative route I can think of before really forcing issues. But when it comes down to it I am not afraid of drawing the line and making it happen.

[thorn]

I sadly use the sit on the child method as well. I try to just get it over with as quickly as possible, and then hold her and rock her or nurse her and tell her how much I love her and that I want her to get better!!

once she is older, maybe reasoning will work. but for right now I just have to do what works and try to make it as quick and easy as possible.

[srain]

Be calm and gentle and praise her even if she fights.
What is the benefit of the praise?

[mysticmomma]

I would suggest more sneakiness.
1. Snowballs-shred some ice, then add your flavoring, then add her medicine does.
2. Ice cube tray- put a dose in each "cube" then fill with water/juice and freeze over night. Give her the cube in a drink.
3. Put it in her dessert. Make her cupcakes and put one dose in each's icing.
4. Mix it with ice cream/sherbert
5. Pay her. For every dose you take, I'll give you a quarter. If you get x# of quarters, we can go buy ______ (whatever she's been bugging for or you think will enjoy).

P.S. I think if after reading/weighing/treating you think your kids need antibiotics, than you are doing the right thing. I also think that while "fever" isn't bad, it can be uncomfortable, and if I think my kid is uncomfortable, regardless of a fever being present, I'll give tylenol or motrin. However, I think if she's old enough to tell you she dosn't want it, you should consider respecting that. Have you asked her why she doesn't like it? DOes it make her feel funny, upset stomcch, wahtever. Just some thoughts... I hope you and she feel better soon.

[USAmma]

What is the benefit of the praise?

Maybe I didn't use the right word. Just basically saying "yeah you are taking it, thanks for swallowing that, almost done now" that kind of thing. It's less scary for a kid to have mom have a calm, even friendly voice instead of being just as upset as the kid is. After the meds are given there are lots of hugs and cuddles.

I will say again ONLY do this if absolutely necessary. It's not that gentle compared to putting it in a drink or food or bribing, but sometimes I've been in situations where she had to take her meds. My kids get febrile seizures at 102.5-104 so I watch for signs they are about to seize. If I see the signs I give meds to lower the fevers. Luckily I think my 5yo is finally outgrowing it.

[seren]

Thanks everyone one. I decided not too worry too much about the fever. I did end up giving her a chewable Tylenol (we borrowed some from my sister) in the middle of the night because she said her head hurt. She did pretty well with it.

And dh and I discussed giving ds the antibiotics. But we figured if the sinus infection hadn't cleared up in three weeks that it was pretty bad. The dr felt like ds is too little (weight wise) for the chewables. He takes it, as long as we tell him to swallow he does good. And if it's not better after this round I will look into something else instead of repeating it.

[TEAK's Mom]

For meds that are absolutely essential (and some just are) it is also possible to work with a compounding pharmacist to get a dose that your child will take. I have a friend whose dd had to have a certain medication three times every day for a life-threatening illness. The problem was that she had allergic reactions to the dye in it and it tasted foul. So, my friend sat down with the pharmacist (they have to work at a compounding pharmacy to have the tools they need) and they worked up a recipe. It not only tasted much better, but was lower in sugar, free from dyes, and all around healthier. Most pharmacists are happy to work with you.

[USAmma]

Thanks everyone one. I decided not too worry too much about the fever. I did end up giving her a chewable Tylenol (we borrowed some from my sister) in the middle of the night because she said her head hurt. She did pretty well with it.

And dh and I discussed giving ds the antibiotics. But we figured if the sinus infection hadn't cleared up in three weeks that it was pretty bad. The dr felt like ds is too little (weight wise) for the chewables. He takes it, as long as we tell him to swallow he does good. And if it's not better after this round I will look into something else instead of repeating it.

That's great that he took the chewable! You can buy a pill crusher/slicer and often crush the pills and feed it with applesauce or something. My dd will take powdered claritin sprinkled on cinnamon toast. That med has no flaver so she happily takes it. :)

[lilyka]

if it is absolutely nessecary we do what we have to do.

we start with finding the right medicine. there are al sorts of creative ways for delivery. from better flavors or flavorless (dd#2 hates anything that is not a normal color or has too much sugar) to chewables to strips. as infants i had a paci that had a medicine cup attatched. For antibiotices my dds Dr. twice has just given her options when she has been uncooperative. You can chew this pill or get a shot, which would you like?(antibiotics for pnumonia). You can drink some water or we will put a needle in your arm and give you water that way. w hich would you like? (I have never seen a kid slug down so much liquid so fast). For some reason she gets it when it comes from a Dr, that this is nessecary. Irts not mommy wants youto take this. Its here are your options and your Dr. will do what it takes to make you well. If you are to that point and a shot of antibiotics is needed it is not always such a bad choice. just one quick jab and it is over. (more or less) but it has to be prety badfor that to be an option.

then once we have established the most effective way to get it in (cough strips rock my world and I am sure Tylenol and such will follow suit soon) we offer treats for compliance. Usually it involves chasing the medicine down with a swig of coke or kool-aid. Coke is best because it covers the taste of just about anything and is easily mixed with syrups. I don't do it to trick them. I am up frnt and say "this will make it tase better or this will get rid of the taste. or ince youhave to swalow it might as wel swollow it with something yummy. Spoon full of sugar . . . . luckily we don't do a lot of medicine. also giving some things with a vit. C tablet helps. ours are yummy and also are familiar "medicine". and you can't go wrong giving them vit C when they are sick.

and if all else fails I force the best I can. but really you can't be sure that any is actualy getting in that way so it is only in desperate circumstances. and quick disolve tablets and strips work best for this. crush etc before putting them in. they disolve before the child has a chance to spit them out.

[talk de jour]

My older daughter does better with chewables than liquid. As far as the antibiotics goes, I don't think those come as chewables, so I'm of the "sit on the kid" persuasion. (SORRY!!!)


Actually, they do! SO has to take pre-dental antibiotics due to a heart valve problem, and when he was vegan he took chewables due to the gelatin in the capsules.

[chann96]

Just wanted to say first that Tylenol now comes in meltaway strips I believe.

My daughter has medicine to take 3 times a day for a chronic condition. She does well taking it. She will sometimes say "no" and I acknowledge to her that I know she doesn't want to take it, but it's necessary and she takes it with no problem. I think she's sort of used to the flavor at this point too.

Now in the past she's had to take antibiotics (5 ml at a time) for UTIs and that was terrible. We would usually have to hold her down and slowly give her the medicine (she is very adept at using her tongue to block the medicine if she doesn't want it). One good trick is that most pharmacies will now flavor children's medicine for you. It cost like $3 or something and is well worth it. They have tons of flavors and you just need to mention it to the pharmacy when you drop off the prescription or call them after your doctor's office calls in the prescription.

I'm sorry your son is in such pain. I don't like to give medication, but when I realize my daughter is in pain (from teeth usually) I give her Tylenol which she takes with no problem. I don't think it's very gentle really to let your child remain in pain if a medication can help relieve it.

[Dar]

Chewables usually taste better than liquids, IMO. If you adjust the dosage it's the same thing, so I don't see why the doctor would say that.

Rain learned to swallow pills pretty young, and that was easier. We also used the ice cream thing a lot :)

Dar

[*Erin*]

i just posted to an older thread about this :)
my dd, 3.5, is on abx for a very pernicious sinus/ear infection, and she HATES the way they taste. so, after sitting on her, threatening iv's, and such failed miserably (besides making ME feel awful) i devised a method, relying heavily on her chosen flavor of ben and jerrys :) i call the "ahhhh! ewwww!" method. i tell her it's time to take her meds, and offer her a bite of ice cream, "ahhhhh!" we both say, and then the medicine, "EWWW!!! gah! YUCK!!swallow it fast! ewwewewew!!!" and then follow with some more ice cream, "ahhhh!"

good luck!
xoxo
so far it's working great :D

[eilonwy]

With my niece, I would offer her a choice of 6 oz of *anything* that was in the house to drink after she took the medicine. Soda, juice, chocolate milk... anything at all. I would ask her what she wanted to drink, and as long as it was in the house I would pour it into a cup for her and put it on the counter. Then she got the medicine and as soon as she finished it, she could drink what was in the cup. :shrug If the medicine was something especially yucky (have you ever had to take pen-vee-k? :gross Gagfest!!) I would make an effort to bring home especially yummy treat-drinks, the kinds of things that she *never* got ordinarily (like strawberry milk).

When she turned 4 and was forced to give up her pacifier, I would offer her the choice of anything she wanted to drink or 15 minutes with the pacifier.

BooBah had to take antibiotics until she was a year old. She didn't care for them, but she was too young to make a deal with. :guilty I just put her in the sling or held her close and squirted the medicine into her cheek, and then offered her a nursie right away.

I've never had this problem with BeanBean; he loves taking medicine, and I actually bought him some vitamins because he was jealous that BooBah got to take medicine every day and he didn't. :o I've got the opposite problem with him-- he asks for medicine when he's not sick! :nut Mike says that it's because he doesn't get a lot of candy or sweet stuff, so things like Children's Motrin are really yummy, sweet treats to him. :shrug I dunno what it is, I just know that if I don't keep the Flintstones on top of the fridge, BeanBean would sit and eat them like candy out of the bottle! :yikes: We ran out of vitamin C chewables and he's been asking for them every day since. :nut :lol

[sunnysideup]

When my daughter had to take a liquid medicine that she didn't like it helped her to plug her nose while taking it.

[PancakeGoddess]

My 23mo just got over a fever (no other symptoms) and he was SO MISERABLE. I wasn't so much trying to bring down the fever as give him some relief. He hates medicine. If he was reasonably happy I'd use a bit of force and be quick.

If he was extremely miserable, I used acetaminophen suppositories - a life saver. They're available over the counter. Not as effective as ibuprofen but still quite helpful.

For us, there are some appropriate times for medicine.

[Jish]

My ds2 has wicked seasonal allergies and is often up coughing terribly all night. He keeps everyone in the house up. We tried everything to try to take care of the cough because you can only go so many days without sleep. The only thing that works for him is Phenergan with Codine. Let me tell you, that is nasty stuff. The only thing that worked for disguising that was chocolate ice cream. The chocolate was the key, because the medicine just flavored over the vanilla and made the ice cream gross.

The key with mixing meds with anything is to keep the amount of whatever you mix it with small. I use only a couple tablespoons of ice cream. If you use too much juice, applesauce, ice cream and the child decides they don't want it all, then you are stuck not knowing how much of the mecication they received.

The one think I do is make sure that I tell him that the medicine is in there, and he is the only one that gets ice cream. I make no bones about the fact that the medicine is gross and the ice cream makes it taste better, and what makes it really cool is the child that is taking the medicine is the only one who gets it.

As for my ds, last fall he was so miserable that we finally resorted to Claritin and it made a world of difference -- and didn't need to be disguised by anything. I've made him suffer for three years because I didn't want to have to medicate him for weeks at a time, but now I feel bad because it was like a miracle for him and he was so happy to feel good finally. Plus, we rarely had to resort to the Phenergan with Codine last fall.

[boongirl]

bribery.....Yes, I have stooped to it in medical situations.

My dd has never been sick enough to the point that medication was required, so if she refuses tylenol or acidophilous or whatever else we are to trying to get her to take it is no big deal. But, I have a friend who has a strick: When her son gets sick, she bribes him with chocolate sauce. If he takes the meds, he get a tsp of hershey's syrup afterwards. She swears this always works.

[OakBerry]

i just posted to an older thread about this :)
my dd, 3.5, is on abx for a very pernicious sinus/ear infection, and she HATES the way they taste. so, after sitting on her, threatening iv's, and such failed miserably (besides making ME feel awful) i devised a method, relying heavily on her chosen flavor of ben and jerrys :) i call the "ahhhh! ewwww!" method. i tell her it's time to take her meds, and offer her a bite of ice cream, "ahhhhh!" we both say, and then the medicine, "EWWW!!! gah! YUCK!!swallow it fast! ewwewewew!!!" and then follow with some more ice cream, "ahhhh!"

good luck!
xoxo
so far it's working great :D

This works well for us. Ds will even take yucky tasting meds if I have a cup of juice or water for him to "wash his mouth out" with after each sip of medicine.
I couldn't swallow pills as an older child, and they didn't have all the wonderful alternatives they have now (like meltaways). So she'd put a crushed up pill in a spoon full of sugar, and add a bit of water to give to me. I remember still tasting the medicine but it went down fast and follow it up with a drink.

Ds was on an antibiotic once in his life, at about 18 months. It was 3 times a day and after the second day he didn't want it anymore, no way, no how.
Dh held him while I forced it in. Then I would comfort him. It was the only way, he was just too young to understand.

[OakBerry]

"The key with mixing meds with anything is to keep the amount of whatever you mix it with small. I use only a couple tablespoons of ice cream. If you use too much juice, applesauce, ice cream and the child decides they don't want it all, then you are stuck not knowing how much of the mecication they received."

Jish, you are right, this is very important to consider!

[USAmma]

"The key with mixing meds with anything is to keep the amount of whatever you mix it with small. I use only a couple tablespoons of ice cream. If you use too much juice, applesauce, ice cream and the child decides they don't want it all, then you are stuck not knowing how much of the mecication they received."

Jish, you are right, this is very important to consider!

That's why I prefer giving it directly with a med syringe unless I know she's going to eat the food it's been mixed with for sure. My dd needs every bit of her meds.

The feeding tube has been helpful, I must admit. :(

[lilyka]

When her son gets sick, she bribes him with chocolate sauce. If he takes the meds, he get a tsp of hershey's syrup afterwards. She swears this always works.

i would take it if she offered me a tsp of hersheys . . . :o

[Metasequoia]

I didn't read through this whole thread, but we recently went through this with Dd2 who just turned 3. She had a double ear infection that we were treating homeopathically with our doctor. Over the New Year one of her drums ruptured & while her fever dipped for a short period, when it went back up even higher than it had been our Dr. & I decided to go the abx route. I got her to take the gooey pink amox syrup the first few times by bribing her with chocolate but that didn't work for long. The last time I tried, with Dp holding her down, I ended up crying hysterically for at least two hours & called the Dr. I ended up getting the Amox in tablet form & I crushed it to a powder & mixed it with just a spoonful of chocolate pudding or applesauce or fruity yogurt & I'd give her that one spoonful & then the rest of the bowlful of non-spiked yummy treat & she'd eat it up - she took every dose that way - what a relief!

Strangely, she didn't mind the liquid Motrin, but we only gave it to her a couple of times after we tried & failed of comforting her in other ways. We weren't really treating the fever so much as we felt bad that she was in such pain. HTH

[WuWei]

OT

Jish, my dh has had incredible benefits from classical homeopathy for his asthma induced seasonal allergies. He needed Benedryl and Proventil around the clock, every four hours all spring and fall before homeopathy. Now doesn't use either for over two years.

Ds has food intolerances and I am anti-dairy. :lol This is the root of many allergy symptoms, even seasonal ones may only exhibit because of the constant assault on the immune system that dairy causes many people. :blah :blah :blah

Pat

[CryPixie83]

Did you try letting her give it to herself?

Put it in the thingie and give it to her..she might drink it.
That always helped me when I was little (my parents were pretty mainstream and I was on antibiotics a LOT). If a grown-up was trying to make me take it, I felt cornered and would panic, not comfortable at all, I felt powerless. But once they figured out I could hold it,take my time and take my own medicine things went much better. I remember the consistency being as gross as the taste, so I would have to take little sips and drink water between each sip, but I would get it down. I think I was about 4 when they started letting me do it myself, but I think any child that is capable of feeding themself could be ok with administering their own medicine.

[Jish]

Pat, what does your dh take? Both my dh and ds have allergies to ragweed which is one of the major triggers in seasonal allergies. Neither of them can eat watermelon without getting a slight throat swell and fuzzy mouth either -- it's related to ragweed. Unfortunately, when you live in Iowa it is impossible to avoid. My guess is that cutting dairy wouldn't help the ragweed issue, but who knows. My dh went through the whole arm prick allergy testing as a child and had to have weekly allergy shots for months at a time for years. My mil keeps bugging me about when we are going to take ds in for the prick tests (no way am I letting them prick him with a bunch of little needles) and start him on allergy shots. :irked: I keep trying to explain that doctors rarely do allergy shots anymore because there are so many medications that work equally as well. She seems to find this unbelievable and asks me every time we see them. She asked me last week again and we are months away from allergy season.

Then she likes to bring up that the Frontline flea and tick protector that they used on their dogs used to make his face break out and maybe we should have him tested for that. No, perhaps you should stop treating them the day before we come to visit. :angry And keep the darned dogs away from him, they scare the heck out of him. :angry :irked:

But I digress. :o

[WuWei]

OT:

Pat, what does your dh take? Both my dh and ds have allergies to ragweed which is one of the major triggers in seasonal allergies.

Jish, we use classical homeopathy. It is different than acute homeopathy. I recommend that you have a professional homeopathist do a life history. Ours chose our constitutional remedies based upon more than acute symptomology. Our emotional, behavioral and physical characteristics are examined and an individual specific wholistic remedy is proscribed. The proscribing is very heavy on history narrative and addresses the underlying physiologic/psychologic issues which create symptomatic reactions. Homeopathy treates like with like. I was a critical care nurse for 17 years and can't exactly understand it from a scietific perspective except that I believe my own observations of its benefits. Our remedies have changed over time to address more deep seated emotional variables which become evident. Basically, it is along the lines of mind/body proscribing, in order to optimize one's overall health, rather than symptom relief of acute treatments/allopathy.

So, no one remedy is right for all allergenic responses/all people. I really don't have a concise reference site to which to direct you. I have read and learned a lot about homeopathy but seeing is believing, I guess. Homeopathy has changed our lives for the positive.

Sounds like a sales pitch. :lol

Personally, I don't recommend the allopathic route of allergy testing or allergy shots. I guess I have 'lost faith' in much of the mainstream medical paradigm. I align myself more with protection of the immune system, rather than assault or suppression of the immune system. But, certainly, there are benefits of therapy for acute life threatening issues.

Btw, there are neuro toxins in the flea killer which do affect little people more than big people. And the permetherin and methoprene last for months and months on surfaces. :irked:

Best wishes, Pat