Child and Adolescent Clinic

Ask Dr. Sue

TAKING MEDICINE

Dear Dr. Sue,

My toddler refuses to take medicine! I have wasted a lot of antibiotics by having him spit them all over me or just refuse to open his mouth for them. What can I do?

Dear Mom,

Prescribed medicines, like many other things in life, are not optional. Your toddler will just have to get used to this idea. In order for him to believe it, you have to believe it wholeheartedly yourself! Tell yourself that this medicine is going to go into your child at the prescribed times and at the prescribed dosages, PERIOD.

Next, gather your equipment. Make sure that you have a dosing syringe or dropper. (Not a teaspoon because they are not accurate measuring devices; not a medicine dispensing spoon because you'll need a tapered tip and an spillproof container to use the method I'm going to describe.) Check your syringe to see how its markings match up with the dose you need. It's easy to mix up two milliliters and two teaspoons, so read the dosage carefully. Load the proper amount into the syringe and place it in a cup on the floor.

Now take your son, give him a hug, and tell him that you're going to help him take his medicine. Tell him it's important, and that he needs it. (Tell him these things even if you don't think he can understand what you're saying. He'll understand it more and more as time goes on, and hearing the words out loud will help you to stick to your guns, as well.)

Lie your son on his back on the floor, near the syringe of medicine. Quickly kneel over him so that one of your legs is on each side of his body, holding his arms. Hold his forehead to keep him from turning his head from side to side. Remember, you are being firm enough to keep him from moving but gentle enough not to hurt him throughout all of this. He is much smaller than you! It takes very little force to hold him in place if you are determined to do so.

Now you are ready to gently slide the tip of the syringe or dropper inside the corner of his lip. Move the tip back to mid-cheek, outside his teeth, and SLOWLY drip the contents of the syringe into his mouth. This area is where saliva enters the mouth, and anything that slowly enters the mouth here will be swallowed just like saliva. If you are dripping the medicine in slowly your child will not choke and splutter. He will not be able to spit the medicine at you very effectively if you keep it outside his teeth.

When the syringe is empty, wait a few moments to be sure all the medicine has gone down. Then let your child up, give him a hug and tell him that you love him. The next time offer him his medicine when he's sitting at his highchair, but be prepared to repeat the above process when he refuses it.

This site best viewed in 1024 x 768 or above with Active Content enabled.

Questions, comments, suggestions? Contact "webcreator at pacifier dot com"