Tips on Giving Oral Medications to Children

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When giving medicines, give children choices whenever possible.
 

FOR EXAMPLE:

"Do you want me to do your left ear or your right ear first?" or
 "Which ear would you like to be used first?"
 "Do you want orange or apple juice to drink with your pill?" or
 "What type of juice would you like with your medicine?"

 

Do not give a choice when there isn't one, such as, "Will you take your medicine?"

Instead, say, "Yes, it is time for your medicine".

 

Be honest.  Never refer to medicine as candy or associate it with food.

 

Check with your pharmacist before mixing medicines with food or drink, some medicines should not be given with food.

 

Always remember to praise your child after taking the medicine.  Reward systems may work for some children, for example; a sticker if they take their medicine well.

 

For LIQUID medicines:

  • Use a clear oral syringe or a specially marked medicine cup provided by the pharmacy to measure the dose.   Ordinary silverware can be inaccurate.
  • Remember:       1 teaspoonful = 5 mL                           1 Tablespoonful = 15 mL (1/2 ounce) 

When using an oral syringe, pour a small amount of medicine into a medicine cup.  Push all of the air out of the syringe.  Place the tip of the syringe into the medicine and pull the plunger back to draw up the medicine. First, gently draw back and forth several times to eliminate air bubbles from the syringe. Then, draw up a bit more than the prescribed amount.  Point the tip of the syringe upward to move air bubbles to top.  Push any air bubbles out, then turn down and push extra medicine from syringe into cup until you have the right amount left in the syringe.

 

Note: The line on the black rubber stopper closest to medicine must line up with correct volume (mL) to be given.

 

When using a medicine cup, pour the medicine into the clean, specially-marked cup and “read” at eye level.  It's safer to use an oral syringe if you are measuring amounts smaller than 1 tsp or for “odd” amounts.  For example, 6.5 ml is not easy to measure in a medicine cup.

 

If the child is small, cradle him/her in a feeding position and squirt a small amount of the medicine into the side and back of the mouth.  Allow the child to swallow, and then squirt in a bit more.  REMEMBER, a child takes smaller swallows than an adult.  To encourage swallowing, gently stroke throat or briefly hold mouth closed.  Rinse the syringe well inside and out (the plunger may be removed for cleaning) with a brisk stream of warm water after each use.

 

If the medicine is pleasant tasting, an infant may suck on a nipple into which the medicine is squirted.  Do not put the dose into a bottle of liquid.  If the bottle is not finished, the child will not get the whole dose.

 

The medicine may be diluted into a small amount of food to mask the taste--applesauce, ice cream, or fruit juices.  Do not use more than a tablespoonful of the food because the child may refuse to finish a large quantity, leaving part of the dose behind.  Give a little extra food or drink after the medicine to clear the taste from the child's mouth.

 

Sometimes children able to eat with a spoon can have the measured dose transferred to a spoon, or take it from the medicine cup.

 

For CAPSULES: 
 You can pull the capsule apart and mix the powder or beads in a small amount of food to mask the taste.  Depending on the child's food preferences, you might try honey, applesauce, ice cream, chocolate sauce, maple syrup or mashed potatoes.

 

  For TABLETS: 
 Check with your pharmacist to make sure that the tablet is crushable.  Some extended release or specially-coated tablets should not be crushed.  If crushable, sandwich the tablet between two spoons and press.

 

Empty gel caps and a tablet cutter may provide an alternative to larger tablets or a liquid with an objectionable flavor or for the child who will take capsules but not tablets.  The parent may section the tablet and place the pieces inside the gel cap.

 

KEEP ALL MEDICINE OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. 
 Keep measuring syringe out of reach of children - rubber stopper may be removed and swallowed. This is general information.  Your case may be special.  If you have any further questions concerning this medication contact your physician or call this pharmacy.

 

For accidental overdose call poison control or go to the closest emergency room with the medicine container.