I think we need to be very cautious in the way we give oral medications to
infants.  (I'm speaking from years of being a pediatric nurse in hospital
settings, though not recently.)  Shooting the liquid to the back of the
infant's
mouth could pose a risk of aspiration.  When using the oral syringe, it is
safer to put just a little at a time in the side of the mouth  so the
infant can handle it. Dr. Sears' method, already mentioned and described in
"The Baby Book," is a good reference, detailed and clear.  (p. 583-5).
Another consideration is being careful what you mix the medication with.
Avoid mixing it with a food that is important in your child's nutrition.
If the child comes to associate that food or drink with an aversive taste
or experience, you may have a hard time ever getting him/her to eat that
food with pleasure again.  With infants, I'd hesitate to associate a
bad-tasting medicine with breastfeeding.  In the hospital, with toddlers,
we would sometimes use a little applesauce or ice cream as a vehicle.  When
a bit older children had some role in taking charge (like choosing between
cup and syringe, or following the medicine with a cracker or juice) things
often went better. And of course role playing with a doll or stuffed animal
can help the child identify with the "aggressor" (you) rather than the
victim, as he/she gives the (pretend) medicine to his toy.
Getting infants or toddlers to take their bad-tasting medicines, especially
ones that need to be taken 3 or 4 times a day for many days, is a challenge
that can really be difficult.  Sometimes it is possible to give a longer
acting antibiotic in one injection at the doctor's office rather than
continue with 14 days of struggling at home with the 4 times a day oral
liquid.
Anne Altshuler, RN, MS, IBCLC in Madison, WI