One of the hardest tasks parents need to do occasionally is to give children medicines. Children hide, run, struggle or even fight back physically when it’s time for their medication. As a result, many parents have to resort to force, threats and bribery to ensure their kids take their prescriptions.
Parents who yearn for stress-free medicine-giving sessions could try the following tips to make children more cooperative.
Educate Children about Drugs
Parents should educate children about drugs as soon as they can talk. Teach them that these remedies may not taste very nice but they are essential to help sick children get better. Taking medication is something that all people, young and old, do when they fall ill.
Allow Children to Give Parents Prescriptions
A good way of showing children that taking medicine isn’t a bad thing is to let children give prescriptions to their parents when their parents need them. By not making a big fuss over the issue, parents are showing kids that it is something that people do to get better.
Give Children Choices
To make children more cooperative, give them some choices about taking their doses – who gives the medicine, where and when to take the medicine (within reason, of course), what treats they can have afterwards, etc. This gives them some kind of control and makes them feel less helpless dealing with something they dread.
Keep Liquid Prescriptions Chilled
Cold temperatures not only help maintain the condition of liquid prescriptions, they also mask their unpleasant flavors. To mask the smell and taste further, try mixing cold liquid prescriptions with other cold foods such as ice cream, yoghurt, cold jam, applesauce or honey. However, do not add liquid medicine to a drink as it will sink into the bottom of the glass or stick to the side, resulting in the child not having the entire dose.
Hold the Nose when Taking Medicine
Suggest that the child hold or pinch his nose when taking the medicine as this will reduce the effect of the bitter taste. Refrain from forcibly hold the child’s nose, though, as this can cause him to inhale some of the medicine, choking him in the process.
Use a Syringe
If the child has real difficulty swallowing the liquid prescription from the spoon, use a syringe instead. Before squirting the liquid into the child’s mouth, aim for the back of the cheek. That way, it’s harder for the child to spit out the liquid and easier for it to slide down the throat.
Wash the Taste of Medicine Away
Water alone is often not enough to wash the taste of medicine away, not for kids anyway. So allow the child to have his favorite drink right after he has had his dosage. Having a small bite of chocolate, rinsing the mouth and brushing teeth can eliminate the aftertaste of bitter and smelly remedies too.
Parents can help kids get used to the idea of taking medicine by educating children about medication from young and allowing children to give parents prescriptions. Parents can also keep liquid prescriptions chilled, ask the child to hold his nose, use a syringe and wash the taste of medicine away to make the task easier.
Found this article useful? Read also Getting Children to See the Doctor, When to Take a Child to the Doctor and Choosing a Family Doctor.
References:
Dr. Stoppard, Miriam. Family Health Guide. London: Dorling Kindersley, 2005
Borgenicht, David and Grace, James. How to Con Your Kid. Philadelphia: Quirk Books, 2005.
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