Getting Kids to Take Their Medicine

Taking medicine isn’t fun for anybody even though we know it will help us feel better. Most children’s medications come as a syrup with a spoon, dropper, or syringe to use in giving your child the medicine. As your child gets older more and more of his medications may come as pills.

Some children are very resistant about taking medicine while others may take it without complaint. We’ve got some suggestions for helping the medicine go down a little more easily.

Liquids

Helping your child take medication:

• Use a medicine syringe for liquid; it will be easier to give the medicine.
• Using a calm voice, say something like “It’s time for your medicine.” Expect that your child will take the medicine without a fight.
• Cradle your child on your lap, tilt him back a little and squirt small amounts of medicine into his mouth. Be careful not to squirt the medicine forcefully into the back of his throat or you will cause choking.

Giving Medicines That Taste Bad

Infants:

• Refrigerate the medicine to hide the taste.

Children older than 1 year:

• After giving the medicine, give formula or juice.
• Refrigerate the medicine to hide the taste.
• Let your child suck something cold like a Popsicle to numb his mouth before you give him the medicine.
• Some (but not all) medicine can be mixed with food; check with your doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist to see if this is possible.
• Have a glass of your child’s favorite cold drink ready right after the medicine.
• Praise and hug your child for cooperating.

Pills

When your child has trouble swallowing pills:

• Ask your doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist if the pill can be crushed or if the medicine comes in a chewable or liquid form.

If the pill can be crushed:

• Place the pill between two spoons, add a few drops of water to soften, let stand for a few minutes, then crush.
• Mix the crushed pill in something soft and with lots of flavor like pudding, applesauce, ice cream, jelly, chocolate syrup or maple syrup.
• Have your child practice swallowing one small spoonful of the food without the medicine. Make sure your child can swallow without chewing. Chewing will bring out the bad taste of the pill.
• Give your child the mixture of medicine and food.

Helping your older child learn to swallow pills

• When your child is feeling well, practice swallowing one Tic-Tac™ or M&M™. Have your child swallow a large mouthful of water with the pretend pill.

When Your Child Won’t Cooperate

• Be honest but sympathetic, “I’m sorry it tastes bad.”
• Be firm and give a reason, for example: “You have to take it or you won’t get well.”
• If your child is older than two, give your child a break, and in five minutes, attempt to give the medicine again.
• Avoid saying things like: “You’re acting like a baby.”
• Do not punish with spanking or yelling.

Using Medicines Safely

Medicines work best when given the right way. Always read the label. Check with your doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist if you have any questions.

• Avoid calling the medicine candy.
• Right amount: measure liquid medication with a syringe or medicine spoon. Do not use a kitchen spoon. Give the correct dosage of pills.
• Right time of day.
• Right child.
• Right number of days.
• Right place: store the medicine as directed.
• If your child vomits the medicine once, wait 10 minutes and repeat the dose.
• Do not give your child leftover medicine. Call your doctor or nurse practitioner if you think your child needs a new prescription.

When to Call Your Child’s Doctor?

• Your child vomits the medicine more than once.
• You are unable to get your child to take a needed medicine.
• You think your child is having an allergic reaction to the medicine – he develops a rash, has trouble breathing or his face becomes swollen.