You Can Do It: Giving Meds to Your Kids

Tip One: Give them choice. If a child has to take medication, they do not want to be forced into it, rather they want to have some say. Most medicine for kids these days is actually fairly child friendly, and tasty. Most of the time, when someone does not want to take it, it is more a matter of not liking their choice to be taken from them, then of not wanting the medicine. So, give them a chance to make some choices concerning their medication. For one, let them choose the flavor. Most medication comes in a variety of flavors. For another, allow your child to have a little say in when they take their medicine. For example, you can ask them if they want it before breakfast or after. They still have to take it, but this way they get to choose some of it.

Tip Two: Make it easy to take. First, make it a flavor that is appealing. Second, make it a form that they can easily swallow. If the child is young, then use an eyedropper or syringe to get the medication in. If the child is over six months, and is eating solid foods, consider giving them a chewable tablet.

Tip Three: Lead by example. It can be hard for a child to take medication when they thing they are the only one who has to do so. Instead of making them do it, ask them if they want to do it together, then you take something at the same time. For example, you could take a multi-vitamin or chewable form of mineral or something to aid your health, that seems to be medication so that they can see you doing it.

Tip Four: If it does not taste very good, find ways to make it taste better. Sometimes there are ways to reduce the bad taste in medicine. A few simple tricks make it far more palatable for your child.
1. Have them plug their nose while taking it.
2. Have them suck on an ice cube for a few minutes before to numb the taste buds.
3. Have them drink or eat something that tastes good right after taking the medicine.
4. Mix the medicine with yogurt, smoothie, etc. if the medicine is allowed to be mixed with food.
5. Have them drink a lot of water before and after to reduce the taste.

Tip Five: Don’t lie! One of the most important things you can do when giving meds to kids is to teach them why they should be taking it, and let them know what it is that they are taking. If you tell them that it is candy, or something else, you are asking for problems, especially if they discover you have lied. Instead, explain to them that medicine will help them feel better and that they should take it.