Some children are simply angels when it comes to taking medicine.
There’s no fight, no excuses, no whining, nothing.
But if you have a toddler like mine, oh Lord, have mercy on me.
Every time she gets sick, I wish there was another way to cure her other than forcing medicine down her throat.
Even when she sees me holding the paracetamol bottle and an oral syringe, she bursts into tears!
Fortunately, this isn’t the first time this has happened to me; my first two children were also crybabies when it came to taking medicine.
Phew, I’m just relieved that my ‘war’ with them is over.
However, compared to my No. 1 and No. 2, this little No. 3 is the most dramatic and difficult to console.
I ended up having to search and ask around to find out what I could do to make medicine time more comfortable for her.
If you have a child who hates taking medicine, you may be wondering how you can minimise or stop the crying when getting them to take the liquid potion.
Just remember, it’s not the end of the world, so don’t let it get to you.
Your child will eventually grow out of it (the moment I’m looking forward to).
But for the time being, let’s see what we can do to help our picky children.
Before that, I’d like to share a quick reminder I found on KidsHealth about how to use medicine safely.
- Don’t give cough or cold medicines to your child unless your doctor prescribes you to, especially if he or she is under the age of six
- Always consult your doctor to ensure that an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine is safe for your child
- Never give aspirin to children, especially during viral infections—taking aspirin during a viral illness (such as the flu, chickenpox, or an upper respiratory infection) can result in Reye syndrome
- Never use leftover medicines—if you have any leftover liquid medicine, throw it away
- Keep an eye on the expiration date for medicines taken as needed to ensure you don’t give an out-of-date medication
- Never give your child medicines that have been prescribed to someone else, whether an adult or a child
- Always check with your doctor if you’re unsure whether symptoms require medical attention
- Always read and follow the medication’s instructions
Here 5 Ways to Get Kids to Take Medicine
1. A task for two adults
This is the method I usually use if the others don’t work.
If your child refuses to eat their liquid medicine, Seattle Children’s recommends having two adults hold the baby and give the medicine.
This is how the technique works:
- One adult will keep the child sitting on their lap from moving by holding the child’s hands and head
- The other adult will hold the medication syringe in one hand while opening your child’s mouth with the other
- Insert the syringe between your child’s teeth and drip the medication onto the back of his or her tongue
- Keep the mouth closed until your child swallows—make sure your child is in an upright position or at least the head is not bent backward
If you’re forced to use this method, don’t forget to apologise after you’re done.
Tell your child that you’re not doing it on purpose and that you just want them to get better as soon as possible.
2. Get help from distraction
You first have to figure out what might divert your toddler’s attention.
Maybe allow them to watch a video on YouTube Kids, turn on a cartoon channel, take them outside or play with their favourite toy.
Sadly, this didn’t work for me.
The only time this technique worked with my toddler was when my mother-in-law tried it.
She took her out to the backyard and distracted her by pointing out birds flying in the sky.
Then, making a funny flying sound, she flew the syringe into her mouth and squirted the medicine little by little. (It’s a shame I didn’t get a chance to photograph that rare occurrence.)
3. Offer choices to ease your child
When children are ill, they don’t feel good about themselves.
So, when you’re trying to give medicine, which your child hates in the first place, they’ll simply refuse because they don’t want to be controlled.
You may try giving them the following options:
- Do they want to take the medicine using an oral syringe, a spoon or a cup?
- Where do they prefer to seat in the living room or at the kitchen table?
- Would they like to take the medicine before or after showering?
- Do they want to take their own medicine?
Any type of question that gives your child control over taking the medication will work just fine.
The most important thing is that you keep an eye on your child regardless of his or her decision.
4. Reward your child
Every kid loves a little bit of reward, especially when they have accomplished something outside of their comfort zone.
There are plenty of good reward systems that you can come up with or choose from.
I prefer the idea of preparing a jar full of mini treats and allowing them to choose one after successfully taking the medicine.
When they realise their efforts have been rewarded, hopefully, they’ll be calmer when the time comes for the next medicine.
But we have to be mindful not to get them too used to the idea.
Otherwise, this option may backfire in the future and they may only be proactive when there’s a reward involved.
5. Make medicine time enjoyable
It’s time to put on your creative hat, mummies!
I once saw a video of a mother putting the medicine, which had been measured to the correct dose, in a clear plastic container, which was then placed in a sipper cup.
This might work if your child is a first-time medicine eater.
If not, they’ll recognise the taste of medicine right from the first sip!
But that’s just one idea,
You could also lay out a few stuffed animals next to your child and pretend to give each of them medicine in turn. Imaginative doctor-patient role play might work too.
What Not to Do When Giving Your Child Medicine
- Don’t give unapproved or unauthorised medicine to your kids (or anyone)
- Don’t force a struggling child to take any medicine to avoid vomiting or choking
- Don’t squirt medicine directly at the back of your child’s throat
- Don’t mix medicines with other substances like milk or juice
- Don’t give your child medicine on a full stomach or right after eating, unless instructed to
- Don’t place your child lying down but leaning back
- Don’t give too little or too much of what’s prescribed
- Don’t double dipped used syringe into the medicine bottle
Patience Is a Virtue
Dealing with children of all ages generally requires a great deal of patience.
The same goes for when giving medicine to picky toddlers.
If your child refuses to cooperate or dislikes the taste of medicine, you must be patient to tackle the situation.
Sometimes it’s better to pause and give them some space before attempting to give the medicine again.
When the time comes, keep these tips in mind to ensure that your children are taking their medicine when needed.
Good luck, my fellow mummies!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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