Strange Machines

If he has a posse of stuffed animal friends already, have them line up enthused to take the meds to get better from (the same ailment your child has). Should your little one not bite the first time round, have the stuffed geniuses cheer about how much better they feel and go queue up for another round.

First time we tried this, it went on for 3 rounds before Jack finally jumped queue and wanted to take it too. We kindly told him to wait his turn or ask the animal friend if he could take his place. The kind friend said okay, and since that day, we’ve never had any trouble getting Jack to take his meds (with lots of cheering too).

These days, he picks out his fave friends to take meds before him! Cos they’re sick too. LOL!

Since Jack gathered a posse of stuffed animal friends, we’ve been gossiping with them on many levels. Gossip, a technique suggested by Dr Harvey Karp of Happiest Toddler on the Block fame (I highly recommend it for its practical and useful techniques!), involves you whispering within hearing limits to another person (or stuffed animal) exactly the thing you’d like your child to do. The premise is that gossip carries more weight than a direct mention since it was never mention for the hearer to hear.

It has worked since the first day we tried it.

Most often, I tell his Dad what sweet things he did that day and how lovely it would be if he did it every day. Positive stuff, you know. Things that reinforce good behaviour. Like picking up his toys, eating well at lunch, helping me tidy up, helping me get the newspaper, waking Mom up gently with a big smile in her face and a sweet “Good morning Mommy”, and treating things at stores and at home too, with respect. He’d be playing with something with one ear perked up, and lo and behold, the next day, he would, without prompting, do it!

Also useful is how to get your child to make medicine! I have had some experience getting my cats to take meds and I have to say, it is much easier with humans. With both species, the direct method of shoving spoon in mouth does not work. Nor does the syringe.

So here’s a bit of goss and peer pressure to publicise the fun of medicine taking.

Gossip part: the first time, I chatted with his (plush) friends about how sick children need to take meds to get better. We’ve all been down with some form of cold or flu for a while and so, even the friends have been down with it. They’d talk among each other (Gray would tell Biscuit how he got better taking the meds and Biscuit would be all, wow! I should too!).

Peer pressure part: The most effective of course, to get your kids to take medicine, is to have all his friends clamour for it. Jack had been resistant to taking medicine from day one.

So we didn’t make a big deal. Instead just announced it was time to take medicine. His stuffed friends would all cheer “Yay, it is medicine time! I love to take medicine when I am sick!” and run to queue beside me for their turn to take the meds and their Dad would be standing there cheerily giving each friend a sip.

Jack watched in amazement as all his buddies cried, “Yummy! Thanks Dad!” Or “I feel better already”, and joined the queue for a second round! Then he decided he wanted in too! He said, “baby too!” and jumped the queue.

During the first couple of time, he would make a face and run off after a taste. But watching his friends go on round after round taking imaginary sips, he’d go back one or two rounds to finish off the meds. There’d be a loud cheer from everyone after, and next time, a noticeable absence from some of the friends who were already well.

In our last two sessions yesterday and tonight, we incorporated a lesson in queuing too. Since Jack is now enthused about taking meds (and specifically said he preferred a particular colour over another) we stated that he has to queue and wait his turn. He did, and all the kids are now happy asleep and en route to recovery.

No doubt tomorrow will bring more goss and fun peer activities with Jack and his sweet stuffed buddies. May we all get well soon.

Jack just recovered from a bout of gastro he caught from his Dad. Three days and nights of fever and nasty poop but he smiled through the whole ordeal. Meanwhile I am so overdosed on caffeine that I can’t sleep now.

Since his first birthday, he’s been standing a lot and walking. He took 5 steps the other day and clapped in delight after.

One of the controversies about fever in babies is whether to sponge. Hubby reckons it is just to make the parents feel useful but it does bring down the temperature. I felt useful while sponging but Jack just got upset.

It is three days I would rather not revisit. In fact I’d rather go through labour again!