How to Get Kids to Take Their Medicine

Getting little kids to take medicine can be really tough.  They are already sick and sad and now we are asking them to put something disgusting in their mouths.  It's really not fair.
Fortunately having lots of kids has given us plenty of opportunities to try a variety of different techniques.  None of them work every time, but if you try enough things, something is bound to work.

Ibuprofen and m&m's.  Two great tastes that taste great together!

Here are our best suggestions, in order from younger to older children, although you can be sure we'll be the the last ones to judge if you find yourself stirring your teenager's nasty-tasting prescription into some applesauce!

In a Bottle Nipple.
If you can get your baby to suck on a loose bottle nipple, you may be able to squeeze the medicine into the back of the open nipple and have your baby swallow it before they even realize they've been tricked.

Swaddling.
You are just about to squeeze a dropper full of medicine into your baby's mouth when they reach up and swat it away, and you end up squirting the sticky pink liquid all over the baby's ear, your lap, and the beige sofa cushions (wait, why do you even have a beige sofa if you've got a baby?).  You're not alone; we've all done it.  Swaddling can help.  Wrap your baby or toddler (or teenager!) up tight in a blanket so their hands can't reach up and accidentally-on-purpose spill the medicine.

Plug the Nose.
It's mean, and kids hate it, but sometimes it has to be done.  Sometimes you just have to plug their noses to get them to open their mouths.

Back of the Cheek.
If you are using a dropper to squeeze medicine into their mouth be careful where you put it.  A squirt on the tongue will be quickly spit back out.  A squirt down the throat my be gagged back up.  Try squirting in the back of the cheek where it is less likely to be choked on, but still far enough back to be difficult to spit back out.
If they won't open up enough to get the dropper in there in the first place, try putting your little finger inside their cheek, along their gumline.  This holds their mouth open just enough.  But probably don't try this with a toddler who has a mouth full of chompers!

Switch to Pills.
The sooner you can switch to pills the better.  Nobody likes the taste of medicine, so if they can take it without tasting it that is a win for everyone.  Even pre-school aged kids can learn to swallow a pill.  Just because their medicine comes in liquid form doesn't mean that's the only way they can take it.  If you can teach your children to swallow pills early, you can request medicines in pill form from your doctor, and avoid the medicine battle all together.

A whole pill can be camouflaged by some pre-chewed food (this is about to get gross!).  Have your child eat a big bite of cookie or granola bar.  When it's all mashed up and ready to swallow, pull the blob of food out of their mouth and stuff a pill inside.  Then pop it back in their mouth and let them swallow.  Yes it's gross.  But it works.

Alternatively, (and less disgustingly) you can give your child something thick and chewy, like a fig newton.  As soon as they've chewed it all up, stick the pill in their mouth.  They'll still be able to swallow it with the food, but you won't have to touch their chewed-up food.  On the other hand, if touching chewed-up food still registers as "gross" to you, you're not paying attention to pretty much everything kids do...


Hiding.
This is a very risky technique.  If you hide the medicine in another substance, and then your child only eats/drinks part of it, you will have no idea how much medicine they've actually taken.  So proceed with caution...
If it's a liquid, you can try hiding it in a bit of juice or a spoonful of oatmeal (did you think I was gonna say sugar?) or yogurt.
A chewable pill can be crushed up completely and put into a tablespoon of water/milk/juice/whatever so that it can be swallowed in one quick gulp.

Bribery.
Sometimes all it takes is a simple offer or a treat to get kids to open up.  When Kate's toddlers need to take medicine, she holds it (syringe full of liquid, chewable tablet, whatever) out in one hand, and a couple of jelly beans or m&m's in the other.  They get to choose to take the medicine, and immediately receive the reward.  This combines bribery with control, which is something every toddler craves.

If it is really offensive medicine ("cherry" cough medicine, anyone?) you may end up reaching a little deeper.  Swallow this medicine and then you can have some ice cream or a movie or whatever.  Caution: be careful what you promise.  First make sure you are willing to give this reward every time they take their medicine (because they will expect it!).  Second be sure not to over promise.  While visiting family over the holidays Marcia's four-year-old became sick and she wanted her to take some children's Tylenol...  She refused.  I offered her ice cream.  She refused.  My husband offered her a soda.  She refused.  Auntie offered her a piece of candy.  She refused.  Grandma offered her a cookie.  She agreed.  She took the medicine.  Then she smiled and asked for a cookie, some candy, a soda, and some ice cream!

Timing
Timing is everything.  If you try to give a child medicine right before bed, you won't have much luck.  They already don't want to go to bed.  They are already grouchy and tired. Instead, try pulling them away from a fun activity to give them their medicine.  They will likely be more compliant because they are in a hurry to get back to what they were doing before.  If swallowing a pill is the key to getting back to their game, they will likely be eager to do it.

There are lots of ways to get your kids to take their medicine.  Do you have any suggestions that work well at your house?

Marcia and Kate