I still remember the awful taste of a thick, milky, white medicine that my doctor would prescribe when I had strep throat as a child. Just taking a look at the container of the horribly-favored medicine made me want to run and hide
1. When children feel sick, they lose their feeling of control, so it’s handy to provide them with choices. While taking medicine is not an option, you can offer them straightforward choices:
- How they take it (from a cup or a syringe).
- When they take it (prior to or after they get dressed).
- Where they take it (at the kitchen area table or sitting on the couch while viewing their favorite cartoon).
Your child might choose to take medicine all by themselves, or might desire you assist. Despite their choice, constantly make sure your kid is monitored.
2. Be conscious of just how much your child can swallow to avoid choking. In some cases, a dose must be separated into smaller parts.
For infants as well as smaller sized children, always spray medicine right into the cheek as opposed to the back of the throat to prevent choking. Allow your child to swallow before spraying in much more. Medicine needs to be constantly given in an upright or seated placement to avoid choking.
3. If your child is old enough to recognize, clarify why he or she needs to take medicine. I asked him if he recognized why he needs to take medicine, he shrugged his shoulders. We talked concerning the medicine helping his ears to feel much better so he could go back to preschool and play with his friends, which was simply the ticket to get him on board with taking the unpleasant pink medicine.
4. Declare. WhiteSands Clearwater suggests the parents to come close to the scene with a favorable perspective. Do not forget to remember to applaud kids when they take their medicine without a struggle. It’s important that your kid realizes that taking medicine is not a penalty. Never intimidate to give kids a “shot” if they don’t take their drug.
5. Reward your kid. School-aged kids can be inspired by rewards. Make your kid a good- job chart so that each time they take their medicine, they get a sticker.
6. Add flavor. Before getting your kid’s prescription from the pharmacy, check to see if the pharmacologist has the ability to add flavor to the medicine, like cherry, grape or watermelon. Allow your kid to choose the flavor if feasible. This also aids with the “control” problem.
7. Pick liquid, pill or chewable alternatives. Speak with your child’s physician or pharmacist concerning the formulas readily available for a particular medicine. Often medicines can be found in chewable tablets or pills that can be opened up and poured over food.
8. Make taking the medicine enjoyable as well as imaginative. You will certainly need to measure the proper dose in a syringe or clear plastic medicine mug. This doesn’t indicate that kids require to take it from that gadget. You might try to role-play and also have your child provide the medicine to a preferred stuffed animal or dolly.
9. Mix your kid’s medicines with regular food (ideally). It’s practical to disguise a medicine by blending it with chocolate syrup, pancake syrup, applesauce, yogurt or pudding. Rather than blending, you can also place a tiny amount of the medicine on a spoon and then cover it with yogurt, chocolate sauce or a glob of ice cream, so the initial point your child preferences is what’s on top– a scrumptious snack!
Some medicines cannot be offered with foods, so it’s vital to ask your pharmacist or child’s physician if there are any constraints with specific medicines. Other blending pointers consist of:
Follow bits of medicine with a “chaser.” For older kids, make use of something sweet like juice and also for babies, alternative with a minute or two on the breast or a few sips of their bottle. If your kid’s doctor says, it’s okay, only attempt this.
- Alternate between medicine and also something your child likes to eat. As an example, offer your kid a little bit of the medicine and then follow it with a ripe strawberry, chocolate tidbit, spoonful of fruity yogurt or a sip of juice, and after that repeat up until the whole dose is finished.
Your child spits out their medicine. Now what?
If this occurs, call your kid’s doctor before providing any more or repeating a dose. Some drugs can be repeated without any problem, but others can be unsafe if your kid obtains more than the recommended dose.
Keep in mind these pointers to make the experience much easier as well as much less difficult for you and your child when it’s time to provide a dose of medicine.
