10 Ways to Get Kids to Take Medicine – Kids’ Health Center

3. Get help from your doctor.

“Some medications taste better than others, and some can be given twice a day instead of four times a day,” Giuliano says. Your doctor may be able to choose medicines that taste better or are more concentrated and need to be taken less often. If you are having trouble, ask for help, Giuliano advises.

4. Improve the flavor.

There may be flavor options for some types of medicines. Pharmacists can use a product called FLAVORx to make medicines taste better. If your children are having trouble taking their medicine, ask your doctor about this option.

5. Add medicine to food.

In most cases, it is safe to crush a pill or open a capsule and disguise the medicine in a favorite food, Giuliano says. But, she warns, always ask your doctor first: Some pills, such as a time-release medicine, may be altered if you open or crush them. You also need to make sure your children eat all the food so they get the full dose of medicine.

6. Fool the tongue.

Some taste-deflection tips include coating the tongue with syrup or giving the child something cold, like a Popsicle, before they take medicine, or washing away the taste quickly with something sweet after they take medicine. “I often suggest dipping a spoon in chocolate syrup before filling it with medicine,” Giuliano says. “The chocolate coats the tongue before the medicine goes down.”

7. Bypass the tongue.

“That’s the tip that worked best for us,” McMaster says. “We put Connor in his high chair, pinched his cheeks, used a medicine dispenser to get the medicine into Connor’s mouth, and then stroked under his chin to get him to swallow before he could spit it back out at us.”

Giuliano agrees that that’s a tried-and-true method. Parents can use a dropper or a syringe to get the medicines to the back or side of the tongue. But with this method you need to make sure the child is firmly supported and upright to prevent choking, Giuliano warns. “Another way to get kids to swallow is to blow gently in their face.”

8. Give a visual reward.

Older kids will often respond to a reward system. “In addition to verbal praise, give kids a sticker and put it on a calendar after they take the medicine,” Giuliano suggests. “They will feel rewarded, and they will also be able to follow their progress visually on the calendar.”

9. Teach kids to swallow pills.

“Kids as young as 4 can be taught to swallow pills,” Giuliano says. She suggests starting by teaching them to swallow tiny pieces of candy. Some tips for swallowing include dipping capsules in cold water to make them slippery, breaking pills up into smaller pieces, and putting a pill in a lump of Jell-O.

10. When all else fails.

“Sometimes, especially with kids who need to take medicine for a long time, parents just run out of options,” Giuliano says. In these cases, kids can be restrained with the help of an extra caregiver, she suggests. One gentle way to do this is a hugging restraint with the child wrapped in a blanket. Another option is getting someone other than a parent involved. “Kids may be more willing to take medicine from someone other than a parent,” Giuliano says.

All told, getting kids to take medicine can be a frustrating experience for parents. But as kids get a little older, they start to understand the importance of taking medicine and may learn to swallow pills. Until then, parents will have to find the option that works best for their child.

Connor is now 6 and thankfully has no issues taking his meds. “He is over his ear infections now, and he is back to tearing around the house,” McMaster says.

Keep a positive attitude and talk to your pediatrician if you need help.

Nine Stress-Free Tips for Giving Your Child Medicine

I still remember the awful taste of a thick, chalky, white medication that my pediatrician would routinely prescribe when I had strep throat as a child. Simply looking at the bottle of the banana-favored medication made me want to run and hide. Fortunately for my parents (and my health), I begrudgingly took my antibiotics after several minutes of pleading. As a nurse practitioner at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, I am familiar with the stress that parents (and kids) endure when it’s time to give medication, particularly with an unwilling child. Over the years I have learned some tricks that will help get that medication “down the hatch” both safely and effectively.

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Nine Tips for Helping a Picky Child Take Their Medicine

1. Give choices. When kids feel sick, they lose their sense of control, so it’s helpful to give them choices. While taking medication is not a choice, you can give them simple options:

• How they take it (from a syringe or a cup)
• When they take it (before or after they get dressed)
• Where they take it (at the kitchen table or sitting on the couch while watching TV)

Your child may prefer to take the medicine all by themselves, or may want you help. Regardless of their choice, always make sure your child is supervised.

2. Avoid choking. Be mindful of how much your child can swallow at once to avoid choking. Sometimes, a dose should be divided into smaller parts.

For infants and smaller children, always squirt medication into the lower cheek rather than the back of the throat to prevent choking. Let your baby swallow before squirting in more. Medication should always be given in an upright or seated position to prevent choking.

3. Explain why medicine helps. If your child is old enough to understand, explain why he or she needs to take the medication. I recently babysat for my 4-year-old nephew, who was on a course of antibiotics for an ear infection. When I took out the bottle of pink medication, he told me, “No, that’s yucky.” I asked him if he knew why he needed to take the medicine and he shrugged his shoulders. We talked about the medicine helping his ears to feel better so he could go back to preschool and play with his friends, which was just the ticket to get him on board with taking the yucky pink medicine.

4. Be positive. Approach the situation with a positive attitude. Don’t forget to praise children when they take their medication without a struggle. It’s important that your child realizes that taking medication is not a punishment. Never threaten to give children a “shot” if they don’t take their medication.

5. Reward your child. School-aged children can be motivated by incentives. Make your child a star chart so that each time they take their medication they get a sticker. You can decide how many stickers they need to earn to get a prize of their choice. You can also make a “treasure chest” with fun little toys and stickers so they can pick one thing after taking their medication each day.

6. Add flavoring. Before picking up your child’s prescription from the pharmacy, check to see if the pharmacist is able to add flavoring to the medication, like cherry, grape or watermelon. If possible, let your child pick the flavor. This also helps with the “control” issue.

7. Choose liquid, capsule or chewable options. Talk to your child’s doctor or pharmacist about the formulations available for a particular medication. Sometimes medications come in chewable tablets, capsules that can be opened and sprinkled over food or pills that can be cut into small pieces and easily swallowed.

8. Make taking medication fun and creative. Get creative! You will need to measure up the correct dose in a syringe or clear plastic medicine cup, but it doesn’t mean that children need to take it from that device. Perhaps they will prefer to take it from a tea set cup, a cool action hero spoon or their favorite small cup. You may also want to role-play and have your child practice giving the medicine to a favorite stuffed animal or dolly.

9. Mix your child’s meds with regular food (if possible). It’s helpful to disguise a medication’s taste by mixing it with chocolate syrup, pancake syrup, pudding, applesauce or yogurt. Instead of mixing, you can also put a small quantity of the medication on a spoon and then cover it with yogurt, chocolate sauce or a dollop of ice cream, so the first thing your child tastes is what’s on top—a yummy snack!

Some medications cannot be given during meals or with particular foods, so it’s important to ask your pharmacist or child’s doctor if there are any restrictions with particular medications. Other mixing suggestions include:

• Follow little bits of medicine with a “chaser.” For older kids, use something sweet like juice and for infants, alternate with a minute or so on the breast or a few sips of their bottle. Only attempt this if your child’s doctor says it’s okay.
• Alternate between medicine and something your child likes to eat or drink. For example, give your child a small volume of the medication and follow it with a ripe strawberry, chocolate morsel, spoonful of fruity yogurt or a sip of juice, and then repeat until the entire dose is finished.

Do not mix your child’s medication with a full bottle or large cup of liquid. You want to make sure that children take the entire dose of medication, and if it’s mixed in a large quantity of liquid, they will need to drink the entire thing, which may not be realistic.

Your child spit out their medicine. Now what?

We’ve all been there. You’ve squirted some medication in your toddler’s mouth and her or she immediately spits it out or vomits a few minutes later. If this happens, call your child’s doctor before giving any more or repeating a dose. Some medications can be repeated without any issue, but others can be harmful if your child gets a little extra.

When it’s time to give a dose of medication, remember these tips to make the experience easier and less stressful for you and your child.

Top Tricks to Get Your Child to Take Medicine – Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

When your little one isn’t feeling well, they will sometimes put up a fight about taking their medicine — even if they know it will make them feel better. Liquid medicine can taste bad (not all come in grape or bubble gum), and pills can be particularly difficult for them to swallow. One study found that 50% of children have problems swallowing standard-size pills.

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Pediatrician Jason Sherman, DO, shares some advice to help you get your child to take their medicine.

1. Start young

Dr. Sherman says it’s easier to teach younger children to swallow pills before they have the chance to develop a fear of them.

“Children who are afraid of taking pills fear they will choke on the pill,” he says. if your child is fearful, remind them that their throat is able to swallow much larger things, like food.

“It’s best to teach your children to take pills early, like when they are 4 or 5 years old — before they develop a fear of swallowing things. Waiting until they are 8 or 9 may be too late,” he says.

2. Lead by example

Kids tend to mimic their parents when it comes to the ways in which they act and speak – and taking pills is no different. Showing your children how to swallow pills and emphasizing that it isn’t hard to do will reassure them.

It’s important to take an upbeat, positive approach. “When your child is ready, place the pill around your child’s teeth, or toward the back of the tongue, and adjust the chin so the head is tilted back,” says Dr. Sherman. “Tell them to pretend the pill is a piece of food and to swallow it.”

3. Mask the taste

Often children will put a pill in their mouth but won’t swallow it right away. Then the pill coating dissolves and they experience a horrible taste, so they spit the pill out. We’ve all experienced this bitter taste, and it’s no wonder kids are reluctant to take a pill if they’ve experienced this. Unfortunately, many liquid medicines don’t taste great either.

One time-honored solution is to mask the task of medicine with food. Dr. Sherman recommends ice cream or applesauce or any thick food that you can hide the pill in. “Or you can give your kids a popsicle first, which puts a good flavor in their mouth and numbs their tongue, too,” suggests Dr. Sherman. Also, when the tongue is cold, it can’t sense flavor as well.

But what do you do if the medicine is in liquid form?

If you don’t have a popsicle handy, you can put a spoon in the freezer for a few minutes, place it on your child’s tongue, then remove the spoon and give your child the medicine. The cold spoon on the tongue does the same thing as a popsicle – lessening your child’s ability to taste and numbs it a bit.

After your child swallows the liquid medicine, give them something to drink. That will drown out the taste.

You also can ask for a syringe at your local pharmacy and use it to inject liquid medicine into candy, like a peanut butter cup. “The peanut butter and chocolate will disguise the taste without affecting the medicine, and your child will get a little treat,” says Dr. Sherman.

He says almost any food that has a thick consistency will work to hide the medicine. For some kids, orange juice will do the trick, especially if it’s the pulpy kind of juice. But it can be anything with a strong flavor that your child likes.

Gelatin, however, is not a good choice – it’s not as flavorful or cold as other foods, he notes.​

Getting Toddlers to Take Medicine: 8 Tricks to Try

When your toddler is sick, you want to do whatever you can to make her feel better — like giving her extra hugs and kisses, cuddling up with her in bed, or letting her watch her favorite video. But battling with her to try to get her to take her medicine is probably not one of your favorite feel-better strategies. So what can you do when your hot-tempered tot refuses to take the medication you know she needs? While Mary Poppins may have resorted to a spoonful of sugar, you’d like to find another way to make the medicine go down. To the rescue, these tricky tactics for coaxing your stubborn toddler to take medicine:

Try a different delivery. Delivery can make all the difference. So if your toddler has already turned up her nose at the medicine spoon, try giving her the medication in a medicine dropper. You might also ask the pharmacist for a plastic syringe (sans the needle!) that squirts out liquid meds, or a small cup (make sure it offers exact measurements so you can dose properly) — or another measuring device you think your child might be willing to try. Any variation in your approach may distract her enough to get a dose in.

Break it up. Give your toddler small amounts of medicine over several minutes instead of all at once. It may be easier to swallow if she doesn’t have to down it all in one gulp. Of course, if your kid feels that this strategy is merely prolonging the agony, this option isn’t for you.

Hide it. Ask your doctor if it’s okay to sneak the particular medicine into foods or drinks. If you get the thumbs-up on that, stir the medicine into a small amount of applesauce, ice cream, or fruit juice. (Applesauce à la penicillin isn’t half bad.) But remember, if you do mix the meds into something else, your toddler needs to eat or drink the whole thing in order to get the full dosage.

Take the right aim. Taste buds are concentrated on the front and center of the tongue, so bypass those finicky taste zones by placing the medicine near the back of her tongue. Or try dropping it between the rear gum and the inside of her cheek, where it will easily glide down her throat with minimal contact with taste buds. (Yes, this requires a bit of skill, and maybe an extra set of hands to keep your toddler still while you perfect your dunk shot.)

Offer a treat. A little bribery can go a long way in this instance. Promise your child a small but special prize in return for taking her medicine. Stickers or a little trinket might inspire her to open wide.

Watch your reaction. Even if you’re feeling bad about forcing your tot to drink something she detests, don’t apologize for it. Be matter of fact about it, or even cheerful (if you can pull it off) because this will signal to your toddler that taking medicine isn’t a hardship. And don’t let your facial expressions give you away either. Trying to get your toddler to take medicine with a grimace on your face will clue her in to the fact that she’s in for something unpleasant.

Give her a say. Empower your child by lettering her choose between different flavors or colors of medicine if you have the option. That way she’ll feel like she has some control over the situation.

Add a flavorful twist. Ask your pharmacist if she can mask the taste of the yucky-tasting liquid with a better-tasting flavoring such as FLAVORx. The flavorings (ranging from root beer to tangerine) are FDA-approved and medically designed to combat the bad taste and smell of liquid medicines. It may be the answer to your medicine-taking troubles.

See all toddler health and safety tips.

How to Get Toddler to Take Medicine – Happiest Baby

Tips in this article were adapted from The Happiest Toddler on the Block ®

Lots of children resist taking their medicine. Some toddlers even spit their medicine out! And trying to force them to swallow it down can lead to power struggles, wasted medicine, and a stressed-out family.

But here’s one little trick for getting toddlers to take their medicine…even though it’s a tiny bit sneaky and involves giving a smidge of soda. 

The Best Trick to Get Your Toddler to Take Medicine

Before giving your toddler his medicine, pour about an ounce of decaffeinated, dark-colored soda (like root beer) into each of two small glasses. Next, mix a dose of medicine into one of the glasses. (You can also try dark grape juice, but a strong-flavored fizzy soda works best to hide bitterness.)

Now call your toddler, and while he watches put his medicine in a spoon and say, “Take this, sweetie, then you can have a little soda. Some soda for you and some for me.” If he willingly takes his medicine, give him the plain soda…and a pat on the back. (A little later, gossip to his teddy about how he swallowed all of his medicine and made you happy.)

What to Do If Your Toddler Won’t Take Medicine

If your child refuses to take the medicine, repeat your offer: “Take this really fast, sweetheart, then you can have your yummy soda.” Play the boob by begging a little (ham it up): “Please take it. P-l-e-a-s-e!!!” If he refuses again, pout and say, “Okay, you win! You always win! I never get to win! Here’s your soda,” but hand him the glass that’s mixed with the medicine. Your toddler will guzzle the soda—and medicine—fast. He’ll be in such a hurry to drink it down before you change your mind, he’ll never realize he’s been hoodwinked!

Don’t gloat or say, “Gotcha!” when it’s over. That may make your little one feel tricked and cause him to refuse the soda when the next dose is due. After the soda/medicine combo is taken, show your child that you’re pouring the spoon of medicine back into the bottle and set him free again.

More Ideas for Getting Your Toddler to Take Medicine

If this method didn’t work for your toddler, or you want to add more ideas to your arsenal in order to get your child to take medicine, here are some additional tricks to have up your sleeve…

Get Your Toddler to Take Liquid Medicine With a Different Delivery

How do you get your child to take liquid medicine? If your child won’t take liquid medicine from a spoon, then opt for a medicine dropper or plastic syringe. Use these to squirt the medicine into your child’s throat or into their cheek, so less of the yucky stuff tortures their little taste buds.

Give Smaller Doses of Medicine to Get Your Child to Take it

Try breaking the medicine up into smaller doses over several minutes, rather than all at once. This baby-steps approach to medicine, might make it easier for them to get it all down. 

Get Your Toddler to Take Medicine By Hiding it

Put a twist on my trick for getting toddlers to take their medicine, and use food instead of soda or juice. Try mixing it in apple sauces, yogurt, or whatever else your tot likes to eat. Just remember that your child needs to finish all of the food you’ve mixed the medicine into in order to get the full dosage.

Final Thoughts on How to Get Your Toddler to Take Medicine

For Mary Poppins, getting a child to take medicine may have been as easy as using a spoonful of sugar, but for many parents, getting a toddler to take medicine is a struggle. Fortunately, the above tips should make it easier to get through flus, fevers, and cold season. If you’re looking for additional advice about coping with colds, check out our list of baby cold treatments, and tips for how to protect your child from germs. 

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Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to help! Connect with us at [email protected].

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.

How to Give by Mouth

Giving medicine to infants and young children can be very difficult. Here are some suggestions and safety tips that may make giving medicine easier.

Remember

• Read the label each time before you give the medicine.
• If the medicine is a liquid, use a pediatric measuring device (available at the pharmacy), such as a measuring spoon or oral medicines in kitchen spoons. (Picture 1)
• Never measure liquid medicines in kitchen spoons.
• Give the exact amount of medicine that your doctor ordered.
• If you need to mix the medicine in food or liquids, ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist what foods can or cannot be used. Some food or drinks make the medicine not work well.
• Stay with your child until he or she has swallowed the dose of medicine.
• The doctor has prescribed this medicine only for your child. Do not give it to anyone else.
• Never call medicine “candy.”

A Positive Approach

Your approach to your child taking medicine is very important. A child can sense your feelings. If you say, “You will have to take your medicine,” but you feel sorry for the child or hesitate, he may get the idea that you don’t really mean what you say. Children usually respond to what they think you mean, not what you say. A matter-of-fact approach is usually best. This means you expect the child to take the medicine just as you expect him to put on his coat before going out in cold weather.

Safety Tips for Infants (Newborn to One Year Old)

• Do not squirt medicine directly at the back of the baby’s throat. This may cause your child to choke.
• Give small amounts of medicine at a time to avoid choking.
• Let the baby swallow all the medicine before you give more.

Tips for Giving Medicine to Infants

Here are some ways to give medicine to a baby. Choose the one that you think will work with your baby. If that method does not work, try another one.

• Draw up the correct amount of medicine into an oral syringe (a syringe without a needle). Let your infant suck the medicine out of the syringe.
• Give the medicine right before feeding the baby unless your doctor tells you not to. This way the baby is hungry and more likely to swallow the medicine.
• When giving medicine to an infant, use his natural reflexes (such as sucking) whenever possible.
• Stroke the infant’s cheek gently. This will usually get him to open his mouth. When he does open his mouth, put a small amount of medicine on either side of his tongue. Let him swallow, then repeat the process until the dose of medicine is gone. Hold the infant in a nearly upright position. If your infant struggles, gently hold one arm and place his other arm around your waist. Hold baby close to your body (Picture 2).
• Avoid mixing medicine with foods your child must have. The child may begin to dislike the foods he needs. Mix the medicine with a small amount (1 to 2 teaspoons) of applesauce or pears and give it with a spoon. This is a good way to give pills that have been crushed well. (To crush a pill, place it between two spoons and press the spoons together.)
• Some medicines can be put in a small amount of juice or sugar water. Follow the instructions from your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not put medicine in a full bottle or cup in case the infant does not drink very much.

Giving Medicine to a Child 1 Year and Older

Your attitude toward giving medicine is especially important with young children. These are some ways to give medicine. Try one that you think will work with your child. If that method does not work, try another one.

• Give the medicine straight from a pediatric measuring device (Picture 2). (Ask your pharmacist for one). Household spoons should not be used to measure medicine.
• Mix the medicine with a small amount (1 to 2 teaspoons) of juice or sweetened water. Give with a spoon or let your child drink it.
• Try mixing the medicine with a small amount of soft foods like ice cream, pudding, or jelly. Do not use foods your child must have, such as meat or vegetables.
• Try mixing the medicine with small amounts of food that have a strong flavor. This helps hide the taste of the medicine. Mixing with sweet or cold foods may also help.
• Explain to your child why he needs to take the medicine in words he can understand. (For example, “This medicine will make your tummy stop hurting.”)
• Whenever possible let the child choose how and when to take the medicine (or which one to take first). Let him hold the spoon, cup, or syringe and take it himself.
• Praise your child every time he takes the medicine without a struggle. (Giving a special sticker works well for some children.)
• Try to ignore your child’s behavior when he does not cooperate.
• Never give medicine right after disciplining your child. He may think the medicine is punishment.
• Never threaten your child with a “shot” if he does not take the medicine.
• Never call medicine “candy.” Call it medicine.
• Give a drink of water after your child takes the medicine.
• If you need to mix the medicine in food or liquids, ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist what foods can or cannot be used. Some food or drinks make the medicine not work well.

Comparing Measuring Spoons to Metric Measurements

Measuring Spoon Metric (1 mL = 1 cc)
1/4 teaspoon = 1 1/4 mL
1/2 teaspoon = 2 1/2 mL
3/4 teaspoon = 3 3/4 mL
1 teaspoon = 5 mL
1 ½ teaspoons = 7.8 mL
2 teaspoons = 10 mL
1 tablespoon = 15 mL
1 ounce = 30 mL

Storage of Medicine

• Store all medicine out of sight and out of reach of children (Picture 4).
• Make sure medicines are stored with a childproof safety cap.
• Always keep medicine in the labeled container it came in.
• If your childcare provider needs to give the medicine, ask the pharmacist for 2 labeled containers.
• If you carry the medicine in your purse, keep it in its childproof container. Keep your purse out of the reach of children.
• Do not use any medicine after the expiration date printed on the container.
• If your doctor decides the medicine is no longer needed, get rid of the remaining medicine.
• Remind guests in your home to keep their medicines out of the reach of children.

Safety Tips and Other Advice

• If your child takes too much of the medicine, or if someone else takes his medicine, first call the Central Ohio Poison Center helpline at 1-800-222-1222 (TTY 1-866-688-0088). They will tell you what to do.
• Do not stop giving the medicine or change the amount without talking with your child’s doctor first.
• The doctor has prescribed the medicine for your child only. Do not give it to anyone else.
• If your child needs prescription medicines, do not give non-prescription medicines (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, antacids, or cold medicines) without checking with your child’s doctor or pharmacist first
• Learn the name, spelling, dosage and side effects of any medicine your child is taking.
• Take all your child’s medicines with you (in the original containers) whenever your child sees a doctor, goes to an emergency room, or is admitted to the hospital. This helps doctors take care of your child.
• Tell your child’s teacher, school nurse, school coach, baby-sitter, and others that your child is taking the medicine and what side effects to watch for.
• If the medicine looks different than usual, ask the pharmacist if it is the right medicine before giving it to your child.
• Mix leftover medicine with an unwanted material like coffee grounds or kitty litter. Place the mixture back in the pill container or in another container that will not leak. Throw the container away in the trash where children and pets cannot reach it.

Medicine: How to Give by Mouth (PDF)

HH-V-28 8/84, Revised 6/19 | Copyright 1984, Nationwide Children’s Hospital

How to Get Kids to Take Medicine: 7 Tricks to Know

It’s no surprise that children generally dislike medication, so what do you do when your child is sick? Try these 7 tricks to get kids to take medicine.

The struggle is real for many parents. Your child gets sick. After a visit to the pediatrician, you leave with a prescription for medicine that you know will make them feel better. You pick up the prescription and head home. Your anxiety sets in because you foresee the difficulty in getting your child to take medicine.

You try begging, pleading, and even bribery to get them to take it. After an hour of trying everything you know to do, you feel like giving up.

It does not have to be this way. There are numerous tricks to get kids to take medicine. Below are nine that have helped many parents with the same problem.

1. Get Help From Your Pharmacist

Pharmacists and doctors have been answering questions for years from parents just like you. They have even come up with ways to help. Pharmacists can compound children’s medications to meet your child’s specific needs.

Pharmacists can create medicines in liquid, pill, gummies, or powder forms. They can even add your child’s favorite flavorings to take away the bad taste of some medications. Finding the right children’s medication for your child is essential, and that’s where we come in! Pediatric compounding is the best way to get kids to take medicine as it caters to their individualized needs.

2. Add Medicine to Food

Ask your pharmacist to compound your child’s medication in a way that you can easily blend it with their favorite foods. Applesauce, soups, juices, and chocolate milk are easy foods and drinks for blending. If you get creative, other favorites like pizza and hotdogs can work too.

The key to mixing medicine with foods is to work with your pharmacist to make sure you are not altering the medication’s effects, like if they are supposed to be time-released. Also, put the medicine in smaller portions to ensure the full dose gets eaten.

One cool hack is to mix the medicine in a dollop of cool whip with sprinkles on top. Another hack is to combine the medicine with chocolate syrup to get kids to take medicine.

3. Let Your Kids Make Decisions

Depending on your child’s age, it’s essential to let them have some control over what goes into their bodies. They also need to understand why they need medicine, and it is vital to explain the reason for them in a way that matches their learning level.

Let your child ask questions and answer them honestly. Let your child pick the flavor they want and how they want to take it. You can also let them select a small reward after they complete taking medicine.

4. Give a Small Reward

To help to get kids to take medicine, each time your child takes their medication, praise them verbally. You may also want to let them pick a small reward like a sticker, lollipop, popsicle, or something else they enjoy to entice them to take their medicine.

Your child does not deserve a new bike, money, or other large rewards for merely taking their medicine. Make sure the prize fits the action.

5. Use Clever Tools

If your child uses a pacifier, invest in a medicine pacifier. Ask your pharmacist to show you how they work. You can also choose medicine droppers and medicine spoons rather than trying to force them to drink from a small cup.

Likely there are other tools like this to make it easier for you and your child.

6. Model the Behavior You Want to See

Your child is watching to see how you react. If you are stressed, they will feel stress and may resist the medication. If you are angry, they may act mad in response and reject your attempts. Choose behaviors that will encourage your child to take their medicine.

If you want it to be a fun experience, do fun things while giving them medicine. Play a game, sing a song, or create some new dance moves. Think outside the box and get creative. Let your child create the game or song and decide at which point during each they take medicine. Continue to have fun after the dose is ingested.

If you take medication, let your children see you taking it. Have a positive attitude about it.

7. Make It Cold

Medicines taste better when they are cold. Refrigerate the medicine or put it on ice, so it is more flavorful. Or, have a cold, great-tasting drink ready at medicine time. Before and after your child takes their dose, have them take a drink.

This also helps to numb the taste buds at the front of the tongue. Some parents find having their child suck on a popsicle before they take medicine is the best way to numb taste buds, so your child doesn’t want to spit the medicine out when they consume it.

8. Let Your Doctor Give the First Dose

Children find it easier to manipulate parents, even though they don’t even know what it means to manipulate. They know how to get what they want, like getting out of taking their medicine.

When children are being instructed by non-parents, like police officers, firefighters, and yes, doctors, they tend to respond better.

To get kids to take medicine better, ask your doctor to provide a mini-teaching session for your child. Have them explain why they need the medicine, how it will help, and how to take it. Your doctor can even give your child the first dose, helping both of you understand administration.

If your doctor cannot give the first dose, ask your pharmacist to provide the child’s mini-teaching session. Working with a professional in a white lab coat may convince your child to take their medicine.

9. Tag Team

Work with your spouse or another family member to help get kids to take medicine. Choose a team member that doesn’t give in to your child’s demands or tantrums if they should occur. Your child may feel outnumbered and follow orders.

If not, there may be a time where you and your partner need to administer the medicine together. In such cases, you must first ask your pharmacist to teach you how to do this so you avoid accidentally causing your child to choke.

With these suggestions, you can feel more confident in getting your child to take their medication.

90,000 How to give medicine to a child if he doesn’t want to? Tips

How to give medicine to a child if he flatly refuses to drink medicine and swallow pills? The answer is simple – you need to convince him that drugs are needed. If you are not very sure, the baby will immediately sense your doubts and refuse, no matter what you do. Be firm and specific, then your confidence will be passed on to your child.

How to properly give medicine to small children

• If the child is lying, lift him up, so that he does not choke .Older children are better off sitting up or standing up.

• Bring the spoon of medicine to the corner of the child’s mouth and ask him to open his mouth. Do not insert the spoon too deep to avoid gagging. The tablets must be placed on the back of the tongue, otherwise he will easily spit them out.

• If possible drown out the unpleasant taste of the medicine with something . For this, applesauce, yogurt, pudding, or jam are great. For the most difficult cases, you can try soft candy, ice cream, or chocolate syrup.If you mix medicine into juice, use a small amount, otherwise all medicine will remain on the sides of the cup or bottle.

• Use a measuring spoon. This will allow for more accurate dosing of drugs. The most convenient option is a plastic medical spoon with measuring marks.

• Medicine is not candy , you should not form a frivolous attitude towards pills and potions in children. This is fraught with dangerous consequences.You’d better explain it as it is.

• Young children should only take medication under adult supervision .

• Do not negotiate or use bribes. The child’s distrust will only increase from this. Plus, you will give the impression that medication can be avoided when in fact it is not. You can give the child a choice, for example, from which cup to drink the medicine or in which room to take it, but nothing more.

• If the child does not want to take the medicine, will not work and the punishments . Most drugs taste unpleasant, and humans are naturally programmed to avoid certain flavors – this is how our ancestors distinguished poisonous from edible plants. Just keep pushing for the remedy. When the mission is completed, do not forget to hug the child FIRMLY and say that you are great and have done an important and useful job!

How to give medicines to children of different ages

Here are some strategies and techniques for children of different ages.

Infants

• Hold the baby at a 45 degree angle by supporting his arms and head.

• Using a plastic syringe, pipette, or bottle nipple, apply the medicine to the sides of the back of the tongue. Do not put the medicine on the inside of your cheek, as the child will just spit it out at the first opportunity. Do not drop the medicine directly into your throat – it may choke.

• Give the medicine to drink with milk or juice.

Toddler and preschool children

There are several ways to drown out the unpleasant taste of medicine.

• Refrigerate the medicine before taking or give your child a small piece of sweet ice or a thin slice of ice cream. After taking, immediately offer to wash down with your favorite cold drink. Cold dulls taste buds.

• Mix the medicine with a strong flavor, such as chocolate pudding.Make sure your toddler eats the entire serving. You can also dissolve the medicine in a sweet drink, such as apple juice. It is important that the entire serving is drunk.

If all else fails, you will have to keep the baby. If someone helps you, it will be better if he hugs the baby, pressing his arms to the body and supporting his head at a 45-degree angle. The child will not feel very comfortable, so be sure to praise him after giving the drug. Explain that next time he will be able to take the medicine on his own so you don’t have to hold it again.

The child is sick, but refuses to take medications. How to be? | Culture and Lifestyle in Germany and Europe | DW

Winter is the high season for colds and viral infections. And young children are especially susceptible to “winter” diseases: their body is still in the developmental stage, the immune system is not trained. The treatment of a sick baby is also becoming a special problem: due to malaise, many children become capricious and flatly refuse drugs. What should parents do? The German doctor prompts.

Tablets – with food

“The main thing is not to force the child to take medicine. Otherwise, he will resist as if he is being led to the scaffold. I know families in which it happened that one of the parents held the stubborn child by hands and feet, and the other literally poured a cough medicine into his mouth from a spoon. Such methods are completely unacceptable! They not only will not help the treatment, but can also lead to disruption of the psyche, and even the entire body of the child, “- warns in Talk to DW Frankfurt-am-Main doctor Narges Poyan to advise on the best ways to treat babies at home.

Your child was prescribed capsules or tablets, but he only frowns at the sight of them and does not want to swallow in any way? Then grind the pill, hide it in a spoonful of fruit puree or some tasty porridge – and offer this treat to your baby. And after your child swallows him, give him a little water or juice to drink, the doctor shares one of his life hacks.

By the way, the child should take the pills while sitting or standing, but not lying down – and after that do not lie down for about two minutes.Otherwise, the medicine can stick to the inner surface of the esophagus and gradually collapse without ever getting into the stomach. However, when it comes to antibiotics, it is best to consult a doctor or pharmacist, as not all of them can be taken with food, the doctor warns.

Potion – using a disposable syringe

But mostly liquid preparations for the smallest are produced – in the form of mixtures, suspensions, syrups. Many manufacturers add special flavors to them, so they tend to taste good.But even despite this, sick children sometimes refuse to drink such medicines. Nevertheless, there is a way out.

Manipulation with the introduction of a medication into the baby’s oral cavity can be performed using a disposable syringe, which are sold in pharmacies, Narges Poyan prompts – and explains how this method works: remove the needle from the syringe, draw the required dose of the medicine into it, distract the child’s attention, showing him a bright picture or toy, and gently inject the drug into the mouth.Just point the syringe not at the root of the tongue, but into the buccal pocket – otherwise the gag reflex cannot be avoided

Nasal drops – with a measuring pipette

In case of a cold, nasal drops and natural saline solutions in the form of nasal sprays help to relieve breathing. Babies under the age of two are best placed to bury their noses when they are lying down, while older children can sit with their heads thrown back. The aerosol can be used while the child is sitting or standing. At the same time, his back should be straight. The nose is pre-cleaned of mucus and crusts.

It is best to bury the nose of small children with the assistance of a helper. One adult fixes the baby’s head and slightly raises his nose, and the second injects the medicine with a pipette into the child’s nostril and immediately turns his head towards this half of the nose. After a minute or two, the second nostril is instilled. To distract the child’s attention, during the procedure, you can show him a funny toy or picture, the doctor recommends.

Eye drops – while sleeping

Eye drops may be needed for conjunctivitis or eye irritation.It is also better to bury the baby’s eyes with an assistant. This is easiest to do when the baby is sound asleep. One adult fixes the baby’s head, and the second injects drops with a pipette in the area of ​​the inner corner of the eye, carefully pulling the lower eyelid down slightly towards the cheek. Thus, the drop easily enters the conjunctival sac. To avoid bacteria getting on the pipette, touching the pipette with skin and mucous membranes should be avoided.

Ear drops – while watching a cartoon

Otitis media is one of the most common diseases in young children.Special drops will help to stop the inflammatory process in the ear. Before use, they must be heated to a temperature of 36.6 degrees, and the ear canal must be carefully cleaned of pus with the help of special pharmaceutical preparations. It is also better to inject drops into the ear with an assistant.

The child is placed on his back. As a distraction, you can put his favorite cartoon. At this time, one adult gently turns the baby’s head on its side – with the sore ear up. The second adult uses a pipette to inject drops into the ear, and then wipes the auricle with a napkin soaked in an antiseptic.In this case, it is important: when burying a sore ear, in no case touch it with a pipette – otherwise bacteria can get on it, the doctor explains.

In any case, whatever medicine you give your baby, the main thing is to do it carefully, affectionately and with a kind smile. Even a minor irritant can provoke fear in a child, warns German doctor Narges Poyan.

See also:

• Pills that changed the world

  20 years of Viagra

  The appearance of this drug 20 years ago made a real sensation, improving the sex life of many men.Viagra, a drug to increase potency and treat erectile dysfunction, was first released for sale in 1998 in the United States. Pfizer was actually developing a drug that lowers blood pressure. But in the course of clinical trials, an unexpected side effect appeared.

• The pills that changed the world

  Miracle pill

  Viagra quickly became a worldwide hit. In 1998, American scientists Robert Furchgott, Luis Ignarro and Ferid Murad were awarded the Nobel Prize for the development of its drug formula.Later it turned out that the active ingredient sildenafil also helps against wilting of plants or fear of heights in climbers. In the photo: King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden presents the Nobel Prize to Ferid Murad.

• The pills that changed the world

  Hormonal contraceptive

  The birth of the sexual revolution was the invention of the contraceptive pill. In 1961, the first oral contraceptive appeared on the US market, and later in Germany, where it provoked protests from the guardians of morality.In the GDR, contraceptives were initially given only to married women with children. Today, in industrialized countries, it is the most common remedy for protecting against unwanted pregnancies.

• Pills that changed the world

  Antibiotics

  In 1928, while examining colonies of staphylococci, the Briton Alexander Fleming found mold spots in Petri dishes, around which there were no bacteria. The antimicrobial drug penicillin, which he developed, helped to defeat such fatal diseases at that time as pneumonia or tuberculosis.Since then, a number of other antibiotics have been developed, which are now used in the form of injections, tablets and suspensions.

• The pills that changed the world

  Aspirin

  The name of aspirin was given by the meadowsweet Spiraea ulmaria, a plant containing salicylic acid. The ancient Greeks knew about the healing properties of this substance. German chemists from the Bayer laboratory managed to create a formula for medical use on its basis. So in 1897, acetylsalicylic acid appeared, which is used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

• Tablets that changed the world

  Tablets that lower blood pressure

  Today, in the fight against high blood pressure, diuretics, beta-blockers or ACE inhibitors are prescribed. The first diuretics based on purines from cocoa beans or cola nuts appeared at the end of the 19th century. In the 1950s, German scientists developed furosemide, the standard of modern therapy. In the late 1960s, beta-blockers were used to lower blood pressure, and 20 years later, ACE inhibitors were used.

• Pills that changed the world

  Marcumar, warfarin, Plavix …

  Medicines against blood clots are familiar to people with artificial heart valves or atherosclerosis. The first anticoagulant was heparin. 100 years ago, a medical student in the United States isolated it from a dog’s liver. The first oral anticoagulant was discovered in the 1920s while analyzing moldy sweet clover silage. The cows that ate it died from blood loss after simple operations.

• Tablets that changed the world

  Tablets for allergies

  Ways to completely get rid of allergies have not yet been found.But antihistamines make life much easier for allergy sufferers. It was only in 1942 that Bernard Alpern, a French immunologist of Russian origin, managed to create the first antiallergic drug.

• The pills that changed the world

  Antidepressants

  Attempts to synthesize a drug to relieve depression have been made since the beginning of the 20th century. The first antidepressant was discovered in 1957 by accident. Doctors drew attention to the effect of iproniazide, which was used in the treatment of tuberculosis.The side effect was an increase in mood. Imipromine was developed almost simultaneously in Zurich. To this day, it is one of the most popular antidepressants.

• Pills that changed the world

  Vitamins

  The fact that a lack of vitamins can cause disease, scientists realized at the beginning of the XX century, trying to fight beriberi, scurvy and rickets. The concept of “vitamin” was first used in 1912 by the Polish biochemist Kazimierz Funk. Latin letters for vitamins were introduced by Elmer McCollum from the USA.In 1933, ascorbic acid was synthesized in Switzerland. This method is still used for the industrial synthesis of vitamin C.

  Author: Tatiana Vainman

90,000 How to get a child to take medicine. Your baby from birth to 2 years

How to get your child to take medicine

As Mary Poppins sings: “A spoonful of sugar will help the medicine pass.” Add some creative marketing as a finishing touch. Use these tricks.

Match the medicine to your taste . The same medicine can come in different forms, with different tastes. Consider your child’s preferences. Generic drugs (analogs of expensive drug brands) may taste more unpleasant.

Freeze small tongue . Let your child lick the popsicles for a few minutes. This will freeze the taste buds of the tongue.

Try the magic paste . Most babies under one year old prefer the liquid form, but if your child spits out the medication all the time, ask your doctor if this medication is available in a chewable tablet form.Crush a tablet between two scoops and add a drop or two of water to make a thick paste. Apply the paste a little (on the tip of your finger) to the inside of your child’s cheek and he will swallow it without resistance. The chewable tablets are generally more palatable. This even applies to acetaminophen.

Make pocket behind the cheek. This is a family secret that we use to give medicine to avid spitters (before starting this procedure, have the medicine handy and pipette it): Place the baby’s head in the elbow of your hand.With the same hand, grasp the child’s cheek and with your middle or index finger, pull the corner of the mouth so that a pocket forms behind the cheek. With the other hand, put the medicine in this pocket, little by little. This will keep your baby’s mouth open and his head still. Best of all, the fact that you hold your baby’s cheek with your finger prevents him from spitting out the medicine. Keep your cheek in this position until all of the medicine has been swallowed.

The pocket-by-cheek technique prevents the child from spitting out the medicine

Need is the mother of ingenuity, or, in this case, the father.I, Dr. Bill, discovered this technique when Martha, the spoon-and-dropper queen in our home, left me alone with 18-month-old Stefan when he needed to give medicine.

Use the art of disguise . You can hide the crushed tablet in a sandwich: mix it with jam, top with peanut butter. Or disguise it with a little milk, infant formula, or juice. Make the medicine as tasty as possible, but don’t make the medicine look like candy.

Try spoons, pipettes, and other medical supplies.

A small plastic medical measuring spoon (available at any pharmacy) is more convenient than a regular teaspoon. To prevent any medicine from remaining on the spoon, run it along the inside of the child’s upper lip as you remove it from the mouth. A scaled pipette inserted laterally into the child’s mouth between the cheek and gum is a proven remedy. Place a few drops at a time between your baby’s swallowing movements.Some children are better off taking their medicine out of a small plastic cup, which can also be used to collect and recycle what is drained.

Aim smart . Try to avoid sensitive areas in your mouth. The taste buds are concentrated on the front and center of the tongue. The palate and the back of the tongue are areas that include the gag reflex. It is best to make a pocket between the cheek and gum and bury the medicine deep into the mouth.

Sit on the child . It sounds rude, but if your goal is to give your child medicine, this method is just right. Place the child on their back and sit on top so that their head is between your legs and their hands under your thighs. If the child kicks, you can secure his legs with yours. The baby’s head will be held securely and both of your hands will be free to administer the medicine. If the child refuses to swallow and tries to spit out the medicine, gently pinch his nose – this will cause the child to swallow.

DOCTOR BOB’S NOTE. When using this method, talk to your child calmly and gently so that he does not think that you are angry and punish him in this way. If this method is too harsh for you, do not use it, but again, sometimes all means are good, as long as the child takes the medicine.

This text is an introductory fragment.

Continuation for liters

90,000 The child refuses to drink medicine: useful tips

Published on 17 January 2020 at 13:16

Blog Children in the City>
Health and sports> The child refuses to drink medicine: useful tips

It is impossible to raise a child and never hear from him “I don’t want”.“I don’t want to eat”, “I don’t want to sleep”, “I don’t want to get dressed” – sooner or later all dads and moms have to hear this, and usually adults can calmly react to children’s whims. But there are situations when it is very difficult to remain calm, for example, when a child categorically refuses to be treated. What to do in this case? How to get the child to measure the temperature, or drink medicine?

Good parenting

Consistency and steadfastness are important parts of parenting.Imagine a situation, the baby is not feeling well and you want to measure his temperature. The child refuses, you, in turn, insist, but he throws a tantrum, screams, cries and you give up. What conclusion will your child make – you need to cry louder, stomp your feet and mom will change her mind. And so it will be every next time. Therefore, it is important from the very beginning to determine the situations in which the decision cannot be changed. Usually these are questions of the health and safety of the child.

Medicines for children

In cases where the doctor, after examining the child, has prescribed medications, no “I want” for children should not interfere with the treatment.It should be noted that the same drugs can be produced in different forms – tablets, syrups, capsules. Agree, it is much easier for a child to drink a sweet syrup than a bitter pill.

Lifehacks

It often happens that children are afraid of all medical procedures and categorically refuse even tasty syrup. What to do? We offer you tricks that will help you to heal without hysteria.

“Treating” all family members

Photo: Freepik

Many children are afraid of drugs, thermometers and doctors.Try to change the child’s attitude through play. Let the baby turn into a doctor himself, and let dad, mom or beloved bear get sick. Let your child take your temperature, give you an injection, and give you a medicine to drink. If the baby realizes that there is nothing wrong with the treatment and his “patients” feel much better, then he will probably stop being afraid of being treated himself.

Advice: Do not scare the child with the hospital, painful injections and bitter pills, because this will only strengthen the child’s fear of treatment.And believe me, it will be very difficult to convince him otherwise.

Stories

Talk to your child about his condition, tell us why he got sick. Come up with a story about evil germs and bacteria and a brave army that will surely defeat the disease. After interesting stories, it will be much easier to drink the medicine.

Advice: a child needs positive emotions during illness. Before giving medication, agree that later you will watch an interesting cartoon, or call your dad.And be sure to praise the baby for drinking the medicine.

The right to choose

It is important to understand that we do not ask the child whether or not he will take medicine, we allow him to choose from which spoon to drink it. Perhaps this is just an appearance of a choice, but thanks to this, the child agrees to be treated, but isn’t this the main thing? By the way, this method works in other aspects of life, try it and see how effective it is.

The magic power of mom’s hugs

Doesn’t everyone know that mom’s hugs heal? A child who is sick needs mother’s support, attention and care.Hug your child as often as possible and do it sincerely and lovingly. Children who feel parental love grow up to be healthy and confident people.

Useful cartoons

A child can learn about medicines and treatment by watching cartoons. For example, after watching Aunt Owl’s lessons on caution.

Video: Youtube

As much as we would like to see our children healthy, from time to time they get sick, and each time it becomes a test for the whole family.If it was not possible to avoid the disease, and the child stubbornly refuses to be treated, do not put pressure on him. Be patient, affectionate and use our advice – then the baby will feel more comfortable and recovery will come faster. Good health to you and your children!

90,000 First aid kit for a newborn – articles from the specialists of the clinic “Mother and Child”

Such a prosaic thing as a urine collector makes life much easier for mothers: you will always need it.

Children under 3 years old should not take Analgin and Aspirin . The only remedy that can be used is Paracetamol and preparations containing it.

Talk to your doctor about what medicines you need to take care of your baby. Do not forget to discuss also the ways of their use: after all, the same banal potassium permanganate, diluted incorrectly, will cause more harm than good 90 140

antiseptics

In the first days after birth, it will be necessary to constantly care for the umbilical wound.This will require hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) and brilliant green solution (“brilliant green”). Some doctors recommend treating the navel with a 5% solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) instead of “brilliant green”. Dry powder of potassium permanganate is no longer sold in pharmacies, but you can buy a ready-made solution. Previously, potassium permanganate was added to the bathing bath (to disinfect the water), but today doctors believe that this is not necessary.

hygiene products

Sterile cotton swabs – they will also be needed to treat the umbilical wound.

Sterile cotton wool. To clean the ears and nose, flagella are made of cotton wool. Do not use cotton swabs in babies because they can damage the nasal passages or the eardrum.

Sterile gauze pads . They are rare, but sometimes required if the umbilical wound needs to be treated in some way. Therefore, just in case, they can be purchased.

baby skin care products

Baby cream or baby milk is often used to moisturize and nourish baby’s skin.They are usually needed if the baby’s skin is too dry. Baby oil can also come in handy – it is used for massage or to soften the crusts on the baby’s head. But for the prevention or treatment of skin irritations and diaper rash, on the contrary, drying agents are needed: almost all children’s cosmetic companies produce so-called irritation and diaper rash cream or powder. An important point: you can not use both cream and powder at the same time.

Test collection equipment

Such a prosaic thing as a urine collector makes life much easier for mothers: you will always need it.Urine bags are produced specifically for boys and girls, adapted to the physiological characteristics of children, sterile – this means that nothing else will affect the analysis result. There is no need to stand for hours over a baby lying on an oilcloth, waiting for him to do his job. And you can hand over the collected for analysis in sterile plastic jars with tightly screwed lids (and not in glass jars from baby food, as before).

what is needed when the body temperature rises

Thermometers – one is needed to measure the temperature of the water, the other to measure the temperature of the body.Most often, a newborn is bought electronic thermometers, which very quickly, in just a few seconds, show the result, and are also much safer to use. There are also infrared thermometers that measure body temperature, focusing on measuring the thermal radiation of the tympanic membrane. It is enough to place the sensor in the ear canal, and the result will be displayed on the display. In addition, there are special thermal strips that are applied to the body (for example, on the forehead) and change color if the temperature differs from normal.There are also dummy thermometers. It is very convenient: mom can simultaneously calm the baby and measure his temperature. True, if the baby does not suck on the pacifier, it will be difficult to get him to measure the temperature in this way.

Paracetamol in the form of a suspension or rectal suppositories (a baby cannot swallow tablets). If the baby’s temperature rises above 38 ° C, it is necessary to give him an antipyretic agent and immediately call a doctor. It should be remembered that children under 3 years old should not take Analgin and Aspirin .The only remedy that can be used is Paracetamol and preparations containing it.

comfortable things

In order to be prepared for abnormal situations, you may need some more “equipment”.

Enema No. 1 . Better to buy two or three. From one enema, you can make a gas tube (you need to cut off the upper arch of the enema so that you get a funnel). Before using the enema, boil it and treat the tip with sterile oil.

Aspirator for removing mucus from the nose for a cold is a small enema with a soft tip. A runny nose is not a harmless symptom for babies. With a runny nose, the child cannot breathe at all during feeding, often refuses to breast, and sleep during this period is disturbed not only in the child, but also in everyone around him. Therefore, you can buy a special aspirator to remove mucus from the nose, it will always come in handy until the child learns to blow his nose himself.

Special devices for giving medicines. These can be small transparent bottles, with a clearly visible graduated scale, which is ideal for dosing the medicine. Usually these bottles are supplied with anti-colic nipples or measuring spoons, and they can also be used for the very first complementary foods, which are initially given in microscopic doses. In addition, liquid forms of the medicine can be given using a special pacifier. She has a container where the solution is placed, gradually flowing out through a special hole when sucking. There are also dispensers for the administration of drugs that vaguely resemble a syringe.Only they have a rubber tip. The medicine is placed inside a reservoir with a scale, and then the pump is gently sent to its destination. These dispensers are convenient to use even with newborns.

If a baby appears in the house, it is better to have all these things at hand. It does not mean at all that all the funds from the children’s first aid kit will be useful, but they will add peace and confidence to young parents.

How to give bitter medicine to an infant

It would seem that the problem is to give the child a pill.But medicines are not only in tablets, but also in capsules. And their babies are more difficult to swallow. In addition, some children refuse to swallow even the syrup.

And then it really becomes a problem. The child is sick, he needs to be treated urgently. But how if he flatly refuses to be treated? Cries, kicks, breaks out, spits out pills and potions … Meanwhile, there is a way out

1. My son (he is 2 years old) hates pills, although I knead them and mix them with sugar.At what age can a child be given whole tablets and capsules?

It depends on how the swallowing reflex is developed in the child. Some children already from one year old swallow pills remarkably, and some even at three years old do it with difficulty. How to proceed?

Divide tablet into several parts and serve in small pieces. When the child learns to swallow them, crush the tablet less finely.

As for capsules, children are usually able to swallow them from the age of three.Gelatinous – even earlier. If the child does not know how to swallow capsules, parents often pour the contents onto a spoon and give them to the baby. However, the drug is not accidentally placed in a capsule – it should not come into contact with the acidic environment of the stomach. Hydrochloric acid can neutralize the chemical, making the drug ineffective. Therefore, it is better to replace the capsules with a suspension or syrup (usually there are several dosage forms).

2. What can and cannot be taken with medicine?

Optimally washed down with water or baby tea.If the baby has difficulty swallowing tablets or capsules, offer him juice with pulp – apple, peach, apricot, plum, banana … Then it will be easier for the medicine to “pass” inside. True, there are medicines that do not tolerate acidic drinks, but there are few of them. And this is usually indicated in the annotation.

Many tablets are more loyal to an acidic environment (for example, calcium preparations are even recommended to be taken with an acidic one) than to an alkaline one. Therefore, what exactly can not be taken with medicine is milk. After all, milk is an alkaline medium.It’s like taking a tablet with water and baking soda.

In infants, the combination of drugs with milk can cause increased gas production and increased colic. Not to mention the fact that milk neutralizes the effects of many medicines. It contains finely dispersed fat, and the fat often absorbs chemicals. Therefore, for example, hormones cannot be combined with milk. They are fat-soluble and are deposited on these droplets of fat. As a result, the drug “works” worse.

3.I read that it is useful for a child to hold popsicles in his mouth before taking a pill. Then the medicine is easier to “pass”, and there will be no bitterness in the mouth. This is true?

In many ways, yes. Popsicles are like juice with pulp, only frozen. Ice dulls the taste buds a little, so there really will be less bitterness. And it is easier to swallow the medicine. However, this method is not suitable for children with angina. If your child has a sore throat and you give them ice, it can make them feel worse.

4. How to give medicine to a baby? I’ve heard that the child needs to be held at a certain angle.

Indeed, it is better to hold the baby at an angle of 40-50 degrees – about the same as during feeding. In babies, unlike adults, it is not so much a cough reflex as a sneezing reflex that is developed. That is, if the medicine gets into the nasopharynx, the child will sneeze it out. And how the drug will affect the cilia in the nasal passages is a question.

It happens that the baby does not want to swallow a suspension or drops – he pushes them out with his tongue.Then you can drop the medicine on the cheek. It is more convenient to inject the drug from a syringe (of course, without a needle). To ensure that the child swallows the medicine accurately, slide the syringe along the inner surface of the cheek closer to the root of the tongue. This will trigger the swallowing reflex. You cannot press the tongue on the root, otherwise the baby may be pulled out.

5. When is it better to give medicine to a child – before or after meals? How is it easier for him to swallow them?

It’s not just how easy it is to swallow, but how certain drugs relate to food.For example, antibiotics are not drunk on an empty stomach. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, too. Otherwise it can irritate the stomach lining. As a result – abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting. After these side effects, it will be more difficult to persuade the child to continue treatment. And some drugs in the form of inhalers prescribed for bronchial asthma, on the contrary, are better given before meals: it is more difficult to take a full breath on a full stomach.

In addition, it is important to take into account … the time of day.According to the laws of biorhythmology, many drugs are better absorbed in the morning. For example, almost all vitamins and immunomodulators “work” more effectively in the morning. Potassium supplements and many hormonal agents, too.

6. If the child has difficulty swallowing tablets, can rectal suppositories or intranasal medications be used?

Intranasal and rectal preparations should be treated with caution. And focus on the state of health of the child.For example, children with chronic constipation or irritable bowel syndrome cannot tolerate some rectal medications at all.

Intranasal drugs are also not suitable for everyone. In some children, intranasal forms can paralyze the ciliated epithelium of the nose. Therefore, intranasal and rectal medication should be discussed with your doctor.

Is it worth it to stimulate the brain with drugs or energy drinks

Is it possible to prepare for a session in one night using a “pill for the mind”, what is the most effective way to make the brain work, and why power engineers are not “gas”, but “anti-brake” – these and other questions are answered by the Science Department of Gazeta.Ru “.

The end of May is approaching – the time when schoolchildren and students begin to prepare for passing the exam, admission to universities, defending term papers and theses and, of course, passing the sessions. And if schoolchildren, as a rule, prepare for the exam throughout the year under the vigilant gaze of parents and teachers, then students prefer to postpone preparation until the last day, or even the night before the exam. Learning several dozen tickets in such a short time is not an easy task, so the most advanced young people decide to help their brain cope with the sudden flow of information and go to the pharmacy for “mind pills” – glycine, phenotropil, piracetam and other nootropic drugs.The science department decided to figure out whether it makes sense to drink such pills and whether it can lead to undesirable consequences.

How it works

In the reference book “Register of Medicines of Russia” nootropic drugs are defined as follows: “Means that have a specific positive effect on the higher integrative functions of the brain.

They improve mental activity, stimulate cognitive functions, learning and memory, increase the brain’s resistance to various damaging factors. “

Different nootropic drugs act on the body in different ways: some affect directly the nerve cell (have a direct effect on it), some improve cerebral blood flow, have an antihypoxic effect, forcing the body to better utilize oxygen (that is, they have an indirect effect on the brain).

Today it is believed that one of the main mechanisms of action of nootropic drugs is their effect on the neurotransmitter systems of the brain. Neurotransmitters are biologically active chemicals that carry electrical impulses from one neuron in the brain to another through synapses (connections between neurons).The neurotransmitter activates the postsynaptic cell (that is, the one that receives the signal), as a result of which the signal is transmitted.

A change in the strength of a synapse is called synaptic plasticity and is the main mechanism responsible for memory formation and learning.

In addition to the effect on neurotransmitters, nootropic drugs can affect the utilization of glucose and oxygen in the brain, improve the metabolism of nucleic acids, activate the synthesis of certain proteins or ATP (adenosine triphosphate is a substance that serves as a universal source of energy for all processes occurring in the body).

How it all began

The first nootropic drug appeared in 1963 – it was then that Belgian pharmacologists created piracetam, which is now known under the commercial name “nootropil”.Initially, nootropics (by the way, the term itself was introduced only in 1972) were used in the treatment of cerebral dysfunctions in elderly patients, but now they are used much more widely: in psychiatry, narcology, to treat the consequences of head injuries.

Piracetam (like many other nootropics) is not registered as a drug in the USA and European countries, as its effectiveness has not been proven .

In some other countries, including Russia, piracetam is actively used in medical practice, in particular for recovery from a stroke or dyslexia.

Not to be confused with drugs!

In addition to nootropic drugs, there is another group of stimulants called psychostimulants. Some of them belong to narcotic substances, and their action is similar to the action of nootropics.

Some of the most common psychostimulants are drugs such as modafinil, Ritalin, Adderal, all of these drugs are banned in Russia, but are widely used, for example, in the United States in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and fatigue.

Adderall and Ritalin enhance the action of dopamine secreted by some nerve cells and increase the sensitivity of other cells to neurotransmitters.

These drugs have a pronounced effect, which is why many students and schoolchildren in the United States specifically ask doctors to write them a prescription for this drug before important exams and sessions.

Another drug banned in Russia, Modafinil, is to be used to treat narcolepsy-related sleepiness, but the US Food and Drug Administration has approved it for the treatment of shift-related sleep disorders.The military and police of some countries of the world pay attention to modafinil in order to suppress the need for sleep among their employees. There are also data on that the drug improves the ability to memorize new information.

Are “mind pills” effective

The effectiveness of drugs banned in Russia has been proven, in contrast to those “mind pills” that can be easily bought at your nearest pharmacy and taken before the session. One of the cheapest and most popular drugs, glycine, is the simplest amino acid that is actually a neurotransmitter.Glycine manufacturers claim that the drug has a mild sedative effect, increases performance and stimulates mental activity, but the problem is that the neurotransmitter enters the brain from the gastrointestinal tract very slowly. This makes glycine a common dietary supplement, and its effectiveness in improving brain activity has not been proven, as is reported by on the RxList site, a resource for medical and patients with information on medicines.

“Glycine is, of course, bullshit, there is ten times more of it in a chicken egg than in tablets. I don’t even know who invented glycine for the brain to drink. It’s like eating starch for gout “,

– comments by Nikolai Kukushkin, a neuroscientist at New York University.

Another popular drug among students preparing for the session called “phenotropil” is more expensive than glycine, and must be sold by prescription, but you can buy it without any problems.Previously, the drug was included in the list of vital and important drugs, but was excluded from it. It is also banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, as it stimulates human motor responses and increases physical endurance.

Phenotropil was created in the USSR, at the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems, as a stimulant for astronauts. The developer of the drug Valentina Akhapkina calls phenotropil not a nootropic, but a neuromodulator,

this means that it does not stimulate neurons directly, but changes their response to the action of a neurotransmitter.

There is no final answer to the question of how effective phenotropil is: for example, on March 16, 2007, a resolution was issued by the meeting of the Presidium of the Formulary Committee of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, which stated: the DLO program, obsolete drugs with unproven effectiveness ”, the subsequent list included phenotropil. There are no publications in international peer-reviewed journals that would indicate the effectiveness of the active substance of the drug fonturacetam (to the extent that usually happens in the case of drugs with no doubt about the effectiveness).

According to Nikolai Kukushkin, there are no publications because no one is interested in phenotropil abroad. “Reality exists independently of scientific articles. Have you tried Phenotropil? This is not a placebo. It’s just that nobody is interested in him outside of Russia.

In general, the ability to memorize is also a broad concept. It happens that episodic memory works well, consolidation is mediocre, and skills are not learned at all. It happens the other way around. There is memorization, modulated locally by simple neuromodulation, and there are complex states of attention (memory problems are usually attention problems).

Trying to stuff something like that into one variable is like trying to classify all people by hair length.It is possible, of course, but only this is one billionth of reality.

I stand on the fact that trying to compose a diet of psychoactive substances according to scientific articles is a big foolishness. Even if they are, they will say very little and may not reflect your reaction at all. All people are different. No one has ever died from a phenotropil tablet or even Adderall, ”he says.

“Before exams, I sometimes drank phenotropil, especially when I did not have time to prepare properly,” says Andrey, a student at the Faculty of Economics at the Higher School of Economics.- Once a day I drank five pills. It cheered me up, of course, very much – at night for six hours I was concentrating on tickets. But then I left for a long time – I had a headache, I could not sleep, and I didn’t want to do anything either, there was a state of complete apathy. But I think it’s because of the five pills: when I drank one at a time, everything was fine. In general, a lot of my friends drank these pills: most only before exams, some – during the course. In the second case, as I was told, the effect is not so bright, but more lasting. “

Energy sector is not “gas”, but “anti-brake”

Less radical students prefer energy drinks to pills: they do not stimulate the brain, but they help to stay awake.Alexey Vodovozov, a toxicologist, blogger, member of the Science Journalists Club, told the Science Department about why it is not worth experimenting with them:

“The best way to get your brain to work at maximum efficiency is to give it proper rest. No pills can replace normal sleep.

But sleep during the session, in the opinion of many students, is not comme il faut. To maintain vigor, the entire available chemical arsenal is used, including, for example, “energy”. But the trick is that the main component of such drinks – caffeine – is not “gas”, but “anti-brake”, it only temporarily postpones the process of inhibition in the brain.Yes, the ability to memorize is somewhat improved, but this is true at best for the first can of “energy”. And then a snowball of a wide variety of negative consequences, including fatal ones, accumulates. The FDA Caffeinated Food Side Effects Database has reports of several deaths following the abuse of energy drinks. Severe complications that required hospitalization, are described by for a drink that is extremely popular in Russia.

The scale of the problem is not so small: only in the United States and only in 2007, officially registered 5 thousand overdoses by “power engineers”, and half of them fell on young people under the age of 19.