In order for your children to be receptive to medications, you must teach them that taking them is normal. However, when little ones find this process daunting, it's hard to convince them otherwise. Luckily, parents on duty have a few tricks up their sleeves.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Motivate the child
Step 1. Start on a positive note
If you make something sound bad, the child will think the same thing. When administering the first dose of a new medication, say something like "Here it is, take the medication." If the child refuses, give the medication in question a fun name, such as "strength pills" or something like that.
Tell young children that their favorite character (from a movie or book) took medicine to get strong, smart, or fast
Step 2. Clarify the medicine's function
Tell the little one that taking it will do him good. Study the details and try to explain them. Use photos to engage the patient's interest.
This usually works best with older children, but it can also work with younger children who are "rational"
Step 3. Pretend you like taking the medicine
Show the child what to do; to do this, bring the medicine close to your mouth and pretend to take it. Say "hmmm!" and smile. While this strategy is not as effective, it is a way to make young patients more comforted.
- If you like, pretend to give the medicine to a stuffed animal.
- For older children, have a cup of juice and tell them it's the medicine.
Step 4. Offer a reward
Choose something the little one likes to encourage him. Create a "scale" of rewards that start with candy and figurines to something bigger. For some children, verbal praise may be enough.
- Older children can stay accommodated, expecting rewards every time - or asking for more.
- You can reward them with kisses and hugs, but don't offer them in advance. If the child is uncooperative and you refuse to hug him or her, he may become stubborn and develop negative feelings.
Step 5. Only punish the child on rare occasions
Punishments often generate power struggles, making the little ones increasingly stubborn. Only use this strategy when the patient exhibits extremely negative behaviors or when the medication is essential and cannot be taken. Tell the child that if she doesn't cooperate, you will forbid her to do her favorite activities.
Part 2 of 3: Improve the taste of medicines
Step 1. Mix the medicine with a smoothie or chilled fruit juice
The colder and sweeter this drink is, the less the child will notice the bad taste of the medicine. If it is liquid, just mix both substances. If it is a pill, the patient must take it first.
Read the medicine package insert beforehand to see if there are contraindicated substances that may reduce its effectiveness. For example, grapefruit juice affects many medicines, while milk affects some antibiotics
Step 2. Disguise the medicine in food
Crush the tablet and mix it with "food" or crushed fruit. The child will not be able to complain if he does not understand what he is eating! However, if she notices the difference in taste, admit what you did and say you just wanted to make the medicine more palatable.
Read the medicine's package insert to see if it can be taken with food
Step 3. Add flavorings to liquid medicine doses
They make the medicine sweeter and, in some cases, lessen its sourness. Let the child choose the taste.
Step 4. Close the child's nostrils
This can alleviate the bad taste of liquid medicines.
Step 5. Try giving the child a medicine of another taste
If it's cheap and over-the-counter, buy another box of the drug at a pharmacy. There are usually several flavor options.
- Some children like "adult" medicines, which do not contain sugar. Stick to infant doses only.
- Ask the pharmacist if he has a prescription for the flavored medicine.
Part 3 of 3: Give the drug to a resistant child
Step 1. Use this Method as a last resort (when all other strategies fail) and only with important medications such as antibiotics
You may have to resort to this when the child is very young to understand why they need to take the medicine.
Step 2. Explain to the child what you are going to do
Say you will have to hold it tight during the process. Clarify why this is so important and give the little patient one last chance to cooperate.
Step 3. Ask another family member to gently hold the child's arms
Step 4. Give the child the medicine calmly
If necessary, close her nostrils so that she opens her mouth and give the medicine little by little so she doesn't choke.
Use a plastic syringe to give the medicine to young children. Aim for the cheeks so they don't choke
Tips
- If you have to take some medicine, show them how it's done. Say this is normal and not scary.
- If your teenager refuses to take the medication, ask him to talk to a doctor privately.
Notices
- Do not call remedies by other names, such as "sweets"; this is dangerous. If you do, the child may be confused and, when encountering a medication in other situations, think they can take it.
- Explain to the child that he or she should never take medication that is not administered by you or another trusted adult.
- Only administer medicine in child doses! Read the package insert and prescription carefully. If in doubt, consult your doctor.
- Never give medication to a baby (or a child up to two years old) who is lying on their back; he might choke.
- Don't get frustrated and yell at the little patient or he might think he's being punished.