8 Tips to Help Your Toddler Take Medication
Key takeaways:
It’s common for toddlers to refuse to take medication. But there are things you can do to make the process easier. Before you get the medication, talk to your child’s provider about what options are available. And talk to the pharmacist to see if flavoring is an option.
Try to involve your child in the process as much as possible. Provide controlled choices, and consider involving play to make it fun. Explaining what the medication’s for and why they need to take it may also help.
If needed, try a cold treat before giving the medication to your child to numb their tongue. Offering a favorite snack or a reward after their dose is another helpful option. And if things get stressful, remember to take a breath or ask for help.
Table of contents
Dealing with a sick toddler is stressful enough. But trying to give medication to a stubborn little one is enough to make anyone want to throw in the towel.
The resistance, tears, and frustration are all too familiar for parents and caregivers. But there are ways to make the process easier for both of you. Let’s take a look at eight of the top tips for giving your toddler medication.
1. Stay calm and positive
Children are observant and can quickly pick up on your emotions. Your facial expression, tone of voice, and body language can influence how willing your child is to take their medicine.
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Staying calm and positive while giving your toddler medication may make them less resistant. Some parents report using play, such as giving a favorite stuffed animal “medicine” first, helps make the process more fun (and less stressful) for their child.
Make sure to give yourself plenty of time to give your child their medication. Trying to rush them can make refusal and frustration more likely. If things aren’t going well, take a step back, regroup, and try again later. Getting upset in front of your child will only make the process harder for both of you.
2. Talk to your provider about what forms the medication comes in
You may be able to head off any problems with your child’s medication by being proactive at their provider’s office.
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Older children may be able to swallow pills, but it’s hard for most children under the age of 6. So oral liquids are generally preferred for younger children. Other dosage forms for toddlers include chewable tablets or capsules that can be opened and sprinkled onto food or drink.
Talk to your child’s healthcare provider about what options are available for their medication. This way you can choose the one your child will be most willing to take. It’s also worth asking how many times a day you’ll need to give your child the medication. There may be other options you can give less often.
Tip: If they’re available, consider opting for dye-free liquid medications. Dyes can stain clothes, rugs, and other fabrics if your child spits out their medicine. Dye-free options can make cleanup less of a hassle.
3. Talk to your pharmacist about flavoring your child’s medication
You may be able to mask the unpleasant taste of a liquid medication by adding flavoring. Most pharmacies offer this as an option for a small fee. But don’t hesitate to ask if it isn’t offered to you automatically. You can also ask what the medication’s original flavor is first — it may be something your child likes.
If not, ask the pharmacist to suggest a flavor that works for the medication you’re picking up. Your child’s favorite flavor may not work well with every medication. So it’s best to avoid promising your child a certain flavor until you know which options work best.
4. Ask the pharmacist if you can mix your child’s medication into food or drinks
Sometimes, mixing your child’s medication into food or a drink can make them more willing to take it. But not all medications can be mixed with food, so ask the pharmacist first. Be sure to ask about temperature too, so you know if you should use cold or room-temperature food or drinks.
After getting the OK, there are some things to keep in mind when mixing medication into food or a drink:
Soft foods, such as applesauce or pudding, are good options. Their texture makes it easy to mix medication into. And it’s easy for most kids to swallow these foods, too.
Only mix the medication into a small amount of food or liquid. If you mix a dose into an entire glass of juice or bowl of applesauce and your child doesn’t finish it, medication is left behind. Mixing it into a spoonful of applesauce or one swallow’s worth of juice makes it more likely your child will take the full dose.
Avoid mixing medications with essential foods, such as milk or formula. If the medication changes how these items taste, your child may avoid them in the future. So it’s best not to mix medication into any food or drink that’s essential for their growth and development.
5. Involve your child in the process
Involving your child in taking their medication can help encourage them to take it. Here are some options:
Explain what the medication will do. For example, you might say, “This medication will help make your throat stop hurting.”
Allow your child to help prepare the medication by shaking the bottle or choosing which dosing device to use.
Provide controlled choices, such as deciding who gets to hold the dosing spoon, what food to mix the medication with, or if your child wants to take their medication before or after another activity. That way you’re still providing options, but not taking the medication isn’t one of them.
6. Confuse or avoid their taste buds
Taste buds are all over your tongue and allow you to taste sweet, salty, sour, and bitter flavors. If you can avoid or confuse the taste buds, a bad-tasting medication will go down easier.
If you use a dosing syringe for a liquid medication, aim it towards the back of the mouth against the inner cheek. This helps avoid the tongue and taste buds. Just be sure not to aim it directly into the throat, as this may make your child choke.
If you can’t avoid the taste buds, there are ways to confuse them, including:
Numbing the taste buds. Give your child a cold treat, such as a popsicle, before giving the medication. Numb taste buds don’t sense flavors as well.
Coating the tongue. Give your child a spoonful of chocolate syrup or peanut butter before you give the medication. These leave a coating on the tongue that can help mask a medication’s taste.
Chasing the medication. Pick your child’s favorite drink or snack and have it ready for them. Tell them they can have a drink or bite as soon as they take their medication.
7. Use a reward system
A small amount of bribery may make your toddler more willing to take their medication. For instance, if your child has to take an antibiotic twice a day for 10 days, set up a sticker chart. They add a sticker every time they take their medication without fussing. And for every 5 stickers, they get a treat. Other reward options include watching a favorite show or getting an extra bedtime story. Be creative and choose rewards your child is likely to respond well to.
8. Ask for help
Giving a toddler medication can be exhausting. And sometimes, it’s easier when you have an extra set of hands. For instance, one person can have the child sit in their lap and distract them while the other gives the medication. Or an older sibling can help encourage a younger one.
Keep in mind: An extra set of hands doesn’t have to be a parent or family member. Sometimes, kids respond better to someone outside their immediate family circle, such as a babysitter or neighbor.
Quiz: Can you tell the difference between drugs and candy?
Don’t call medication candy
Most kids love candy. So you may find it tempting to refer to their medication as a yummy treat. But you shouldn’t call medication “candy.” This can cause more harm than good in the long run.
Telling your child that a medication is candy blurs the lines between the two. Your child may seek out their medication and take more than they should if they think it’s a treat. And other children in the household may take medication that isn’t theirs if they think it’s candy.
It’s safest to refer to medication as medication, not anything else. And be sure to store it in a child-resistant container that’s out of your child’s reach.
The bottom line
Getting your toddler to take medicine is not always an easy task. But there are some tips that can help make the process easier. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider about the different dosage forms available for their medication. Ask the pharmacist to add flavoring that will help mask the taste. And let your child take an active role in preparing their dose.
You can also trick your child’s tongue with a cold treat or a spoonful of chocolate syrup before they take their medication. Sometimes, a simple reward system or providing a favorite snack after they take their medication does the trick.
Be sure to refer to your child’s medication by its name. Don’t call it candy or a treat. Try explaining what it’s for and why your child needs it to help get them on board. And if things get too stressful or overwhelming, don’t hesitate to take a break or ask for help.
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References
AlJulaih, G. H., et al. (2023). Anatomy, head and neck, tongue taste buds. StatPearls.
Bergene, E. H., et al. (2017). Strategies parents use to give children oral medicine: A qualitative study of online discussion forums. Scandinavian Journal of Primary Health Care.
Fields, A., et al. (2021). Parent’s anxiety links household stress and young children’s behavioral dysregulation. Developmental Psychobiology.
Meltzer, E. O., et al. (2006). Pill swallowing ability and training in children 6 to 11 years of age. Clinical Pediatrics.
Mennella, J. A., et al. (2013). The bad taste of medicines: Overview of basic research on bitter taste. Clinical Therapeutics.
Smith, L., et al. (2022). Administration of medicines to children: A practical guide. Australian Prescriber.
Smith, L., et al. (2022). Administration of medicines to children: A practical guide. Table 2: Tastes and masking flavours. Australian Prescriber.
