How to get Ty to take medicine

The other day I was getting ready to take Nick to the doctor for his four month check.  Ty had fallen asleep on the couch (which he hardly ever does), so I woke him up. He seemed a little warm, had flushed cheeks and was a little shaky. It was odd, because he'd seemed fine all day.

So, we went to the doctor for Nick's wellcheck and found out that Ty had a double ear infection. It was convenient, since I didn't have to pay anything extra for another doctor visit. :)

But, ear infections = medicine. This three year old does not like to take medicine.

There's no way he'll just drink medicine straight. I've tried squirting into his mouth, but that just makes a mess and a lot of tears. I've tried to hide it in his favorite drink, hot chocolate. Sometimes he wouldn't finish drinking it and I'd have no idea how much medicine he actually drank.

I needed to think of a new medicine hiding idea...

While we were at the grocery store getting the prescription I remembered that I had some root beer at home. I got some free root beer since I bought ice cream. Nice! I love free things!

When we got home I gave Ty his medicine in a little cup of root beer. He slurped it up and then asked if he had anymore medicine to take. So, I gave him some tylenol to help with his fever. And he slurped that up.

I know it's not the heathiest idea to let your three year old drink root beer twice a day. But, hey, I'm picking my battles. And it's getting the medicine down happily. Hopefully some day he'll just drink the medicine like his older siblings. But until then we'll be washing it down with a sugary drink.