Tips for children swallowing pills

"I read some of your tips for toddlers, but I was wondering - do you have any tips for getting preschoolers to swallow pills?  There are some medications that don't come in liquid form."
Sure...try these...

1.  Let your child practice swallowing pills by using the tiny M&M's.  If it gets stuck, it will melt within seconds.  I've also tried this with small pieces of ice.  It's best to practice this "before" you child gets sick.

2.  You can help pills slide down a little easier if you use a baby spoonful of applesauce, whipped cream, ice cream or yogurt.  I've also wrapped the pill with something fun to eat like a soft piece of donut, toast coated with jelly, or a pinch of peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

3.  As long as your preschooler isn't one to suck on things first, you can try coating the pill with a little butter or oil or pudding in order to make them more slippery.  My mom is 83 and she still takes her nightly pills with a small bite of banana.  She says it helps it slide down easier.

4.  As long as it's okay to crush the pill (ask your pharmacist), you can mix it with food or drink.  Just be sure crushing it doesn't release a bad taste that will destroy the taste of the food.

5.  For chewable tablets, have your child chew a piece of bread before brushing his teeth.  This will remove all the medicine that may be stuck on his teeth. 

Hope this helps.  Let me know if you have any more suggestions.

Seeking His Wisdom,

Debbie

Tips for giving medicine to toddlers

There is nothing harder than wrestling with a toddler while trying to give medicine.  I've tried everything!  Of my three children, Ken was the worst.  He would squirm and toss his head.  He could get out of any hold I had on him.  I quickly learned that distraction was the best policy.  Having 8 children at a time in my home daycare during cold season provided many chances to practice giving medicine to toddlers.  Distraction seemed to work the best.  Here's a few tips you might try.

1.  If the medicine can be taken with food, feed your child crackers or part of his meal to make him thirsty, then offer the medicine mixed with a small amount of something to drink.  You could also try mixing the medicine into spoonfuls of food.  I suggest that you mix up the flavors or even try using something that isn't a part of your regular diet.  If the medicine taste overpowers the food or drink, your child may refuse that item when he's well.

2.  If he's especially squirmy, give liquid medicine to your child in the tub.  He'll be more relaxed and you can easily wash away the dribbles.

3.  Have your child suck on a Popsicle first.  The cold will dull the taste of the medicine.  Sometimes we froze the medicine into a fruit cube of ice or made it a small Popsicle. 

4.  Try a spoonful of maple syrup or honey before giving him medicine.

5.  Act matter-of-fact about giving your child medicine.  Don't give subtle clues that you expect him to dislike or reject the medicine.  Place it in his mouth and change the subject.

6.  Find a fun special loopy straw that's designated as the "medicine" straw.  Sipping medicine through this may be enough distraction to help it go down easily.

7.  Serve it in a clean teacup from a play set.  Girls will especially love playing tea time first and during.

8.  Make it an event, with applause and lots of laughing.

9.  Make it a fun game.  "Take this and mommy will do this."  Something like dance around the room, put pudding on your nose, paint your fingernails blue or stand on your head (if that's still possible). 

I would love to hear your ideas.  What do you do when your child is grumpy, sick and uncooperative about medicine?

Seeking His Wisdom,

Debbie

Tips for giving medication to infants

Cold and flu season is approaching.  No matter how we protect our infants, colds or other problems may surface.  Perhaps you tried a natural approach but the problem got worse and now you have to give your little one some bad tasting medicine.  How can you safely administer medication?

Please remember that the teaspoon we use for our hot tea is not a proper measurement for medication.  Measure your child's dose with a syringe, oral dropper, round dosing spoon, or plastic medicine cup. 

For Infants: 

1.  Use a medicine dropper.  If he resists, measure the medicine into a clean bottle nipple.  Wet the nipple so not much medicine will stick to it.  Coat the outside of the nipple with a little honey so the infant will continue to suck.  Or...use the following link to purchase a pacifier designed to give medicine - just remember the honey.




2.  I used this trick several times.  If you place medicine near a baby's mouth and gently blow in their face - they will naturally take a breath and the medicine is sucked into the back of the mouth.

3.  When using a syringe, give your child a little at a time - this will cut down on spit up.  Be sure and sterilize the syringe after. 

(Never heard this one...but sounds good)
4.  When giving liquid medicine or vitamins place your baby on his back and dangle a toy above his head.  When he looks back and his mouth opens, quickly squirt the liquid toward the back of his cheek.

5.  Lay your child on his back and put eye drops inside the corner of his eyes.  When he opens his eyes the medication will gently drop into the eye.

Check back tomorrow for more tips.  I have some fun ways to help toddlers take medication.

Do you have another idea for mother's of infants?

Seeking His Wisdom,

Debbie