Giving a child prescribed or over the counter oral medications can be a stressful experience for both the child and the parent or caregiver. Emily Kirby, a pharmacist from Children’s of Alabama, shares her tried and true tips for improving this necessary, but sometimes challenging, task.
- Use the “chocolate syrup sandwich” method. Coat the tongue with chocolate syrup (or peanut butter), then give the medication, then give chocolate syrup (or peanut butter) again.
- Have the child suck on ice or a popsicle prior to giving the medication.
- Allow the child to drink the medication through a straw, or aim an oral syringe toward the cheek, away from the tongue to avoid taste buds.
- Confirm with your pharmacist or physician that the tablet is safe to crush. If it is safe, crush the tablet and mix medication with applesauce, pudding or other room temperature soft food. Only mix with one to two bites of food (not an entire serving) to make sure that all the medication is taken.
- Request a flavoring for the medication. Many pharmacies can add flavoring agents to liquid medications to improve palatability.
- Liquid medications should only be measured with a syringe, dosing cup or medication spoon. Spoons used for eating and serving food are not accurate for measuring medication doses.
It’s important to take all doses of your child’s medication(s), so keep these tips in mind for your child’s next dose.
If your child accidentally takes more than the prescribed amount of oral medication, call the Alabama Poison Information Center for assistance at 1-800-222-1222. The poison specialist can determine if further treatment is needed.