Get children to take medicine isn’t always simple, but there are ways you can encourage cooperation. Praise them when they do so and encourage them to keep track of their medications in a calendar or chart.
Glarum suggests giving their children choices when giving liquid medication. For instance, they could squirt it directly in their cheek (while keeping them upright to prevent choking) or use other methods (for instance: sucking it up quickly with their finger). Other possibilities could include:
Using a Syringe
Use of a syringe can be an effective way to ensure that sick kids take their medicine on time. With its precise measurements, syringes allow you to give your child exactly the amount of medication without them squirting out or throwing up; plus it helps you measure smaller doses of liquid medicine more precisely. They’re available without prescription from local pharmacies; just ask your pharmacist how you should be using them properly! After use always ensure it’s clean before reuse!
Syringes can be especially helpful for children who struggle to swallow pills or refuse to. If your child has difficulty with swallowing pills, consider getting them to consume cold food such as ice cream or popsicles prior to giving their medicine; the coldness will dull their taste buds and make swallowing easier. If the liquid medication can be mixed with soft foods such as applesauce – be sure to ask your pharmacist first so as not to reduce its effectiveness!
To make their medicine more tolerable for older children, giving it in small doses may help ease any aversion they might have towards its taste while making each dose feel accomplished and rewarding them with something they enjoy such as juice or water afterward may also be helpful.
If your child refuses to cooperate, you may need to physically hold them while giving medication. While this may be frustrating for both of you, it is essential that both parties remain calm. Never force a child into taking medicine; if this continues happening be sure to contact your physician.
Use of a syringe or medicine cup can provide older children with a sense of control and may encourage them to take their medication more willingly. You might consider allowing your child to hold onto their syringe or cup under supervision by you.
Using a Medication Cup
When your child needs to take liquid medication, giving them some freedom in how they take it can make the experience less stressful. Most medicines can be crushed up and mixed into applesauce, pudding, yogurt or ice cream as long as your pharmacist approves. If they’re having difficulty swallowing pills try disguising it in thick foods that they won’t mind chewing like gummy bears or ice cream or adding flavor like popsicles – they both add tasty treats while helping numb their tastebuds at the same time!
Your child may benefit from having something sweet to wash down the taste of medicine they need to take, such as an extra drink. A special cup or squirter might make taking their pills easier too. Alternatively, role playing could be helpful: pretending they’re giving their doll or stuffed animal medicine using their favorite spoon and cup.
Finally, many children do best when taking medication in a clear cup that makes the level of medicine easy to see. Many medicine cups also come equipped with dosing tools with markings in teaspoons, tablespoons, drams, cc’s and milliliters so you can ensure that they receive exactly the amount prescribed.
If you find yourself having to force your child to take his or her medication, take a moment and remind yourself why this step is essential for their wellbeing. Administering medication won’t be enjoyable, but it will help them feel better overall. Perhaps offer them an incentive after they have finished (iPad time or swimming lessons as an example)!
Stay positive, reassuring, but be ready to fight when necessary if necessary – find ways to make the process enjoyable for your child, but don’t allow them to use refusal as leverage against you!
Using a Popsicle
Parents need to devise creative methods of getting sick children to take their medicine without resistance, which means devising some clever schemes so as not to make things worse. Parents must devise creative tactics in order to coax them to take it without pushing or resisting.
One common strategy for getting children to take their medicine is bribery, but be careful that the reward doesn’t become an expectation of taking their medication each time. You could give stickers or small prizes as incentives; this will give them some power back over their situation and help them feel in charge.
Just before they take their medication, have them sucking on something cold like a popsicle or ice to help numb their taste buds and make swallowing easier. Or you can squirt some drops down their throat directly – but be mindful not to give too much at once as that could lead to choking!
Children often struggle to swallow medicine, making it hard for them to take. Making their medicine more palatable by adding candy or liquid may make a big difference – or having them suck on it while being held can also make a big difference!
Many medicines come in syrup form, making it simple to disguise their taste with food such as juice or milkshake. You could also give a spoonful of medication concealed inside an edible treat like lollipop or popsicle.
Drop the liquid medicine down their throat through their nipple or cheek. Children often find this more discreet, and you can reduce the risk of them trying to spit it out.
Depending on the age and temperament of your infant, special medicine droppers shaped like pacifiers may help. While more costly than standard medicine cups, these droppers tend to be much less fussy and easier to use; plus they are easier to clean, which will prevent potential bacteria build-up over time.
Using a Drink
Children who struggle to swallow pills or capsules should consult their doctor about whether the medicine is available in liquid form. Many medicines can be mixed with juice, milk or another liquid to disguise its taste; just be sure that all of it gets consumed to ensure you get your full dosage of medicine.
Liquid medicines can also be squirted directly into a child’s cheek to bypass their taste buds; just make sure they remain seated upright to avoid choking hazards.
If your child is of sufficient age to comprehend, explain why they need to take their medicine and how it will make them feel better – this will help them accept both its taste and process more readily.
Young children might benefit from distraction through play. Children enjoy pretending they are having tea or sipping from their favorite cup. If this isn’t possible, offer something exciting after taking their medication such as stickers, an outing, iPad time or trinkets as incentives; just make sure that you follow through on them as promised to reinforce positive behavior and increase success rates with medication compliance.
Parents often find that using some bribery is effective when it comes to convincing children to take medicine they do not like. When your child opens his or her mouth to swallow something nasty, offer something they really desire in return. Just be sure not to offer too many goodies in return, lest they become resistant later.
Use these tricks and tips to administer medicine to your child without tears or tantrums, without resorting to tears or tantrums yourself. If this fails, speak to a pharmacist or doctor for additional strategies to get their cooperation.
