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An article on this topic is available in this
issue of AFP.
Getting Your Child to Take Medicine
What should I do if my child won't take medicine?
There are many things you can do to make medicines taste better to your child. Put liquid medicines in the refrigerator before giving them to your child. If your child will not take a medicine because of the taste, it may be okay to mix the medicine with a small amount of liquid (like juice) or soft food (like pudding). Ask your doctor or pharmacist about your child's medicine to see if this is okay. Some pharmacies have flavorings they can mix with liquid medicines before you take them home.
Explain to your child how medicine can help them stay healthy or make them feel better. Be sure to reward them for taking their medicine.
Things to remember when giving medicine to your child:
• Shake liquid medicines before you measure them and give them to your child.
• Because regular household spoons can vary in size, it is best to use a syringe or dropper made for giving liquid medicine. If you do not have one, ask your doctor or pharmacist for one.
• If your child can't swallow a pill, ask your doctor if the medicine comes in chewy tablets or in a liquid.
• It is important that your child takes all of the medicine prescribed by the doctor.
Use this chart to remember important things about your child's medicine:
Name of child: ____________________________
Name of medicine: ____________________________
What the medicine is for: ____________________________
How much my child should take: ____________________________
How many times a day my child should take it:____________________________
How long my child should take it: ____________________________
What to watch out for: ____________________________
When to call the doctor: ____________________________
| This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Other health-related information is available from the AAFP online at http://www.familydoctor.org. This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject. Copyright © 2006 American Academy of
Family Physicians. |
