What are the most effective ways that you have found to give your little ones medicine when they're sick. When they're just fussy, cranky, and they just plain down right don't want to take it?
**This is for any age. I'm aiming for around the age of 5, but I'm curious about any age as well. Just to see how y'all have done it. What worked, what didn't. Just suggestions
Syringe for liquids, flavored in the kid's favorite flavor. Have favorite drink or something with a strong taste to drink/eat in case it tastes nasty. Don't lie about the taste.
My son LOVES to give himself the medicine, so I hold the bottle and he will insert and fill the syringe and then give himself the medicine. I think having some control over the process makes a big difference for some kids.
Depending on the age, I have successfully reasoned with my son and used the logic that taking the medicine would make him feel better.
When he was very small--deception was the best route. :)
(That included disguising it on something else, when possible, and bribery with a rest immediately after taking the medicine.)
Luckily, mine has always been pretty cooperative.
He actually liked the "pink stuff" when he was at the liquid phase.
Honestly, all children are so different. As soon as my toddler is old enough for chewables (if we're just talking tylenol, etc) I think she might...MIGHT do it. For now, I have to measure a dose, and then suck it up with the baby tylenol dropper, because she liked the taste of baby tylenol and I can still trick her this way.
However, whenever she needs antibiotics (so far, only twice) she has to have shots because we absolutely cannot get her to take medicine...can't even force it on her.
My oldest child was never a problem...I said "Here we go!" and she took it. A lot of it is personality and temperament. Beyond the age of 4 or 5, regardless of that, they ought to do it simply because you tell them it will help them feel better and they have no choice.
If your wee one is age four or above, offer a very tangy/tart treat to follow. Skittles, starburst, chewy sprees, gummy worms, etc will take any yucky flavor/consistency away. I hate to offer sugar rewards but sometimes one just has to get the job done. For an infant, use a nipple from bottle that has a sip of juice mixed with medicine. Chase with water and brush teeth as applicable to rinse sugar away from little teeth. Babies under 4 months may still have their "dive" reflex- basically causes them to swallow quickly. This is elicited by blowing gently across their little faces. If you have put medicine in their mouths at the very back of the throat and gently blow.....success! They will startle, swallow and the medicine is down!
If all else fails..medicine is needed and must be given even if this makes your child upset with you. Sometimes you need to place them across your lap, head back with gentle incline and putting medicine in to mouth at back of throat and rubbing throat until swallowed. If it is spit out, wait a few and try again when everyone is calmer....and maybe sleepier!! It is not easy out there in Mommy land, but it surely is the most rewarding thing in the universe. Good luck! A. M
Mix into juice. Applaud when they make gurgling noise that drink is gone.
My son loves medicine, so fortunately, that's not a problem. (of course, he will ask for it when nothing's wrong, so we have become very savvy to that! and keep it out of access)
In the past, with kids I've cared for who fought it, I often tried to make it easier for them. Sometimes a little pre-measured tylenol/ibuprofen in some juice in a regular cup instead of that teeny measuring cup does the trick. I am careful to read the directions on prescriptions regarding what *not* to take it with, but usually we can find some way--usually a liquid of similar nature to mute the taste. I think packaging is 'everything' for some kids-- if you put it in something they aren't suspecting (like juice or a small portion of a smoothie, etc.) they don't get their hackles up. Instead, it's a treat. if you put it in that little measuring spoon, the jig is up! Esp. with toddlers, who were my hardest med takers.
Just so you know, if it's a flavor thing, talk to the pharmacist. Some will remix the formula if your kid hates the taste (like amoxicillan-- you can ask for a banana flavor or a bubble gum flavor or cherry). It's worth a call.
I wonder, too, if letting them have a small spoonful of honey before (to coat the tongue) and after might be a small panacea.
Guess I've been lucky with it cause I've never had a problem. Don't know the age you're talking about but if they're 4 or older they should do as told. Time for your medicine, this will help make you feel better.
Your answers are great. Love anna's
I use a medicine syringe to give any liquids to my youngest, he's 6. He will occasionally drink out of the cup that accompanies the medication but more often than not when done that way right out the mouth it comes. My son protests but seeing as it's easy to push the medicine to the inside of his cheek while he's clenching his jaw he still has to take it. My daughter who is 9 will take it outright but of course whine and complain about the taste.
Depending on type of med :
Liquid : Do syringe and on side of cheek followed by small glass of warm water.
Pill: If I can crush, I do and put in spoonful of chocolate pudding or applesauce then follow it by glass of warm water or cold milk.
Pill that can't be crushed- I have them stick out their tongue and I drop pill in the corner of their mouth at the back and then have them swallow with warm water. Goes down much easier and they don't gag.
For the fussy times, we play a game and make silly faces and I am all about rewards. If someone will take their med without fighting, we read an extra book, color before bed or some other fun activity. I don't fuss about I just tell them its time and we do it. The less fuss I make, the better they take it.
I threaten to use the medicine syringe. Usually that does the trick. But if they still don't take it, I use it!
As an infant I used either straight liquid meds, or liquid in hot chocolate that was heavy on the syrup.
Big problem with liquid meds is that if they get spit out, no idea as to how much they've ingested.
As a toddler, my son preferred swlowing pills. No fuss, no muss.
There's lots of ways to make various meds more palatable for kids who won't swallow pills
- karo syrup
- pudding
- applesauce
- chocolate syrup
- etc.
When you've got sensory issues, that gag reflex is no joke.
And if all else fails, IV antibiotics rock.
My son is 5 and hates taking medicine. I don't lie, I tell him its medicine. I use a syring and let him eat gummies after he has taking his medicine (and allowed to yell that he hates it a couple times!).
using a nose clip ( the ones used for swimming) i keep it in my medicine cabinet so im not looking for it at 2am.
i always used explanations: if you don't take this, you will not get better, then we will have to go to the doctor again and they will do another swab. my kids hated the trout/nose swabs. i have never had a child refuse medicine since age 3. prior to age 3, i would put the medicine dispenser on the side of the mouth (inside). but really, age 4 and more i just explain. i find that kids are afraid of the unknown so as long as i explain what's going on they feel they are in charge of things.
I have never been a believer in mixing medicine with foods/drinks because I always felt worried about them getting the proper dosing to get better.
I always made taking medicine a matter of fact with my kids. Something that had to be done. BUT, when they didn't want to take it, these are things I offered them. A small drink of water after taking the medicine. Or I've also given a couple m&m's after taking the meds too.
