Taking pills is essential because many medications come in pill form, including pediatric medications. Although many baby medicines come in liquid, or suspension form, often as your children get older they will need to learn how to take pills. In some cases a pill can be crushed up and mixed with a liquid or applesauce, but for some pills this reduces its effectiveness. As a result, you will need to teach your children how to swallow pills.
Step 1
Demonstrate how to swallow pills. Have your children watch while you put a pill in your mouth and then swallow it without any difficulty. Not only will this serve as a useful example for them to emulate, it can also help quell their fears that it makes people gag or is impossible.
Step 2
Start them with smaller objects. Cake sprinkles are a good starting point. Next you may have your child try with a small mint (such as a Tic-Tac), then half of an M&M, then a whole one. Once your children are able to handle swallowing whole M&Ms, have them then try and aspirin, which is similarly sized.
Step 3
Give your children their favorite beverage, but have them drink it through a straw. First, have your children drink a small amount of the beverage to moisten their mouths. Then have them put the piece of candy/pill in their mouth and then wash it down by drinking through the straw. This causes them to focus on using the straw and keeping their mouth closed on it, which often will distract them enough that the pill/candy will wash right down.
Step 4
Give lots of positive encouragement. Saying things like "Good job!" or "You did it!" Success will motivate them.
Step 5
Hide the pill in food. If the above techniques are not working, you can try to stick the pill in a cube of jello or some other soft food product. Because these are easier to swallow, the medicine may slide right down with the food.
Things You'll Need
- Candy
- Beverage
- Straw
