When giving your child liquid medicine, always use either an oral syringe, a medicine dropper, a medicine spoon or a medicine cup, one of which sometimes accompanies children's medications. You can also buy any of these tools at your local pharmacy. Do not use a kitchen utensil such as a teaspoon or tablespoon. These do not deliver the correct amount of liquid medicine.
Sometimes children refuse to take liquid medicine because it tastes bad. One method used to overcome this problem is to mix the medicine in a small amount of water or fruit juice. NOT ALL medications, however, can be mixed with water or fruit juice. Contact the child's pharmacist and/or pediatrician for more information.
If your child spits out the medicine, vomits shortly after taking it, or drools some of the dose down his/her face, DO NOT give another dose. Consider this a partial dose and call your pharmacist and/or pediatrician for further instructions.
The following guidelines should help make it easier to administer a liquid medication by each method.
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The easiest method for getting the liquid into the syringe is to pour a small amount into a paper cup, or any small cup. Place the tip of the syringe into the liquid and pull back the plunger. This should pull the liquid into the syringe. To avoid air bubbles from entering, keep the tip below the level of the liquid. Draw up enough liquid to equal the dosage amount, and pour the remaining liquid back into the medicine bottle.
Sometimes a syringe adapter can be used to get the liquid into the syringe. This is a plastic device that fits between the medicine bottle and the oral syringe. This way the whole bottle of medicine can be turned upside down and the correct amount of liquid drawn out. These adapters can also be found at your local pharmacy.
When giving the medicine, slowly squirt into the side of the child's mouth so the child will swallow the liquid naturally. Do not squirt onto the back of the throat as this will cause gagging. The oral syringe should be rinsed in warm water after each use.
MEDICINE DROPPER:
Droppers are usually part of the medicine bottle you receive at the pharmacy. Withdraw the correct dose (volume) into the dropper. Squeeze the rubber end of the dropper and drop the liquid into the side of the child's mouth to avoid gagging. The dropper should be rinsed with warm water after each use.
MEDICINE SPOON:
Hold the medicine spoon upright. Pour the correct volume of medicine into the spoon. Use the markings on the side of the spoon as a guide. Put the spoon up to the child's lips and tilt it slowly. The liquid should flow into the mouth slowly enough so the child can swallow normally. Rinse the medicine spoon with warm water after each use.
MEDICINE CUP:
Some over-the-counter medicines come with a medicine cup included in the package. You should only use the cup with that particular medicine. There are slight differences in the cups from different manufacturers. Pour the correct volume of medicine into the cup. Use the markings on the side of the cup as a guide. Usually this method is only used when measuring volumes for older children (usually teaspoonsful). DO NOT try to measure something for an infant or small toddler with a medicine cup. The result will not be accurate!
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