Using an infant dropper is easy, although giving your young baby medicine may make you uncomfortable. By understanding how to use an infant dropper, knowing what dose of liquid to give, and using only the dropper provided, you will ensure your baby's safety and your comfort in administering the substance.
Step 1
Unscrew the cap on the product and raise the dropper tube. Squeeze the rubber top of the dropper to expel any liquid and air from the dropper tube.
Step 2
Lower the tube back into the bottle, still squeezing the top. With the tip fully submerged in the liquid, release pressure on the rubber top to draw the liquid into the dropper tube.
Step 3
Hold the dropper at your eye level to check for accurate measurement of liquid. Squeeze the rubber top to expel liquid from the dropper until you have the desired dose.
Step 4
Insert the tip of the dropper into the baby's nostril, and deliver the desired dose by squeezing the rubber top and expelling the liquid completely.
Step 5
Wash the dropper with hot, soapy water, as recommended by Ohio State University Medical Center. Wash and rinse it inside and out by squeezing the rubber top to draw water into the dropper tube and expelling it again several times.
Step 6
Dry the dropper before reinserting it into the bottle so that any water that may remain on or in the dropper does not dilute the liquid in the bottle.
Tips and Warnings
- Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you have any questions, such as concerns that the dose markings on the dropper are not clear, or if you need help to reconcile the units of measure on the dropper with the dose instructions from your doctor.
- Using a dropper not made specifically for the product you are administering can result in either a dangerous overdose for your infant or too little of the substance being delivered to provide any benefit, warns the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
