Most kids are averse to taking medications, even when they are aware that doing so will make their sickness go away. It is common for parents to struggle with giving their children medicine, particularly if they suffer from a chronic condition.
But if your child is sick, you have to do all that you possibly can to get them to take their medicine. Here are some tips to help you out.
Get Your Attitude in Check
You have to make your kid feel calm and positive because while you can certainly encourage and reason with an older child, a younger kid would take cues from the emotions you send out.
Consider Adding the Medicine to Your Child’s Favorite Food
In most instances, it is perfectly fine to disguise the taste of the medicine by opening a capsule or crushing a tablet and adding it to your kid’s favorite food. But it is best to ask your pediatrician first since some medicines, like time-release capsules, might be changed when you crush or open them. You also have to make sure that your kid finishes the food to ensure that they get the full dosage.
Ask Your Pediatrician for Help
Some meds have more tolerable tastes than others, and some are taken twice daily rather than four times daily. Your pediatrician might be able to recommend a better-tasting medicine and one that could be taken less often. So visit your pediatric clinic in Salem and ask for help if you are having difficulty giving your child the prescribed medicine.
better-tasting medicine and one that could be taken less often. So visit your pediatric clinic in Salem and ask for help if you are having difficulty giving your child the prescribed medicine.
Give Your Child Some Semblance of Control
Preparation is key. If your child is old enough, you can explain why they have to take medicine. You can also consider allowing your child to pick the medicine’s flavor if applicable. If you have a younger kid, let them play doctor or nurse while pretending to give medicine to her doll or stuffed toy.
Ask Your Pharmacist for Help
If flavor is mainly the issue, you can ask your pharmacist if they can put FLAVORx or a similar product to make the medicine taste more palatable.
Get Around the Tongue
You can use a syringe or dropper to administer the medicine to the side or back of your child’s tongue. You can also blow gently on your child’s face or pinch their nose lightly to make them swallow the medicine.
The Last Resort
If all else fails, consider restraining your kid. A gentle and way to accomplish this is through employing the hugging restraint. You can also get another person to give your child the medicine aside from you and the other parent.
Yes, trying to get your child to take medication could be an intense and trying experience. Do not worry though; as children get older, they will begin to understand the importance of taking medications and how to take medicine without anyone bribing or forcing them. Until then, however, you might need to take cues from above to help you when medicine time comes.
