At one time or another, almost every child will refuse to take a pill or swig of medicinal syrup. Here are some tips to help the medicine go down:

•Be honest. Do not tell your child that the medicine is candy (he might suddenly crave a handful). Instead, explain that the medicine is very important and that you will find some way to help him to take it.

•If liquids are the only option, a dropper or a plastic syringe might work better than a spoon. Most of your child's taste buds are on the tip and center of his tongue, so aim for the back of the mouth.

•Proceed with confidence. If you act like you're expecting trouble, your child just might oblige.

•Many children loath medicinal syrups, even those that come in sweet flavors. See if the same medication is available in a pill.

•If your child doesn't object to the concept of pills but can't stand the taste, give him capsules or sugarcoated pills when they're available.

Finally, don't forget the value of a good bargain. Offer to play a game or read a story after he takes his medicine.

-- Chris Woolston, M.S., is a health and medical writer with a master's degree in biology. He is a contributing editor at Consumer Health Interactive, and was a staff writer at Hippocrates, a magazine for physicians. He has also covered science issues for Time Inc. Health, WebMD, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. His reporting on occupational health earned him an award from the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

References

First published July 20, 1999
Last updated October 27, 2008
Copyright © 1999 Consumer Health Interactive

Or Find More On:

Back to top of page