6 Tricks For Giving Medicine To Children
Giving children medicine is often one of the most difficult tasks parents have to face, and that’s because, when they’re very young, children are very intolerant of strong tastes.
The issue of giving pills and medicine to children is a kind of lottery. There are children very disciplined with the ingestion of syrups and pills, but most cannot stand the taste and there are products that obviously don’t help either.
However, we can use some strategies to fulfill this fundamental mission for the health of our little ones.
1. Make sure the medicine is cold
Sometimes it’s not just the taste that bothers children, but also the consistency of the product. There are many remedies that, at room temperature, have their taste enhanced. In these cases, cooling will be beneficial.
However, not all formulas can be cooled as they can lose their integrity and effects. Therefore, it is essential to ask the pediatrician which products you will be able to cool and which ones you cannot.
This will work even for children who can’t even stand syrups, despite their sweetness. Feeling something cold on your tongue can create a pleasant sensation that will facilitate the process.
2. Test different methods
All medical products have meters. We usually see little cups, needleless syringes and even spoons. Sometimes the choice of method of administration can play an important role.
It may be that a child can taste the medicine if it is given with a small cup or spoon. In these cases, it is possible to use a syringe, if they are liquid medicines. The injector will deliver the substance quickly without the child even feeling it.
The most important thing is to test the methods and determine which one the child finds most tolerable. That way it will be easier to convince her, because she will feel that the feeling is not so unpleasant.
3. Metering pacifier: an invention that can work
One of the inventions most welcomed by children to eliminate the traumatic nature of medicines is the pacifier. Basically, this object contains a compartment where the medicine can be placed. When the child starts to suck, the substance goes down through the beak.
There are even bottles that allow you to place a small injector to administer the medicine. If the concentration of the medicine is low, the child will not even notice that there is something extra in your milk.
4. Mix with food
This can be done with the bottle, as seen above, but also with solid foods. In fact, this trick is quite effective for administering pills that taste bitter or sour.
It is much better to hide pills in desserts and sweet foods, as they are children’s favorites. The chocolate flavor will mask any children’s medicine very well, which by itself is usually quite sweet.
By cutting the pill into very small pieces, you will also prevent the sensation of swallowing a pill from being traumatic. However, always ask your doctor about the feasibility of this mode of administration.
5. Awards for good behavior
Much better than cheating is rewarding the child for doing what is necessary. If you want to combine taking medications with learning, recognizing good behavior can be helpful.
The positive side of this method is that children become aware of the role played by the ingested medicine. With the prize, you will basically reinforce the child’s interest in staying healthy.
You can even invent a general prize that the child will win when he finishes treatment. The more creative you are, the easier it will be to achieve the expected results. Patience will be a key element.
6. Grant both control and options
One of the problems with giving medicine to children is that it becomes an imposition. So if we offer alternatives for the child to choose from, they can take responsibility for taking their medication.
Thus, having the power of decision is an idea that can be attractive to any child. This way, the child will be able to choose the method of administration or if the medication will be mixed with some food, for example. This creates a commitment in the child to complete the treatment.
