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When you have a medicine prescribed or bought over the counter they will usually provide you with a spoon or little cup thing to administer it. Depending on your childs age and ability to take things orally you may wish to get a syringe too. They do them in
1ml, 2ml, 5ml and so on up the scale. There are very few medicines for children that you give more than 5 mls.
When E was first born she needed medication daily - or twice daily. I cant rememebr now - it was far too often for my liking regardless of the necessity! We found that the syringe worked wonders because it is easy to carefully arrange it in her mouth and she would have to swallow it. We only once had her spit the whole lot out (the first time needless to say). After that we got wise. When she was about 9 months she got her first cold and I was advised to give her baby pain relief medication. By this time it was easier to give on the spoon. It was the 2.5 ml end and was the right size for her little mouth. She could see what it was and didn't mind it, (it was pink - her favourite colour even then I am sure!) anytime we tried the syringe she would fight us and successfully dribble it out after we thought she had swallowed it.
If your child does require medication for any reason and finds it hard to take, look into the alternative methods of administration.
- Syringe
- Spoon
- Medicine cup
- Mix with food or drink (this is not always possible)
And dont chuck them out - recycle them.
- Sterilise the spoon, cup or syringe.
- If you use bottles it is possible to safely sterilise these things in the steam steriliser.
- Otherwise rinse off in soap and water then boil some water and leave to soak for a few minutes before putting out to dry.
- I have a tiny pair of pincers I use to remove things from the hot water - this saves my precious sensitive fingers and also keeps the objects clean.
- When putting them away make sure your hands are clean and that the place where you store the spoons etc is also clean and dry.
- It is not necessary to be aseptic (totally sterile clean) as is required in clinics and hospitals.
- Ask in local pharmacy/chemist for any of these useful implements. They usually have them available and if they charge it will be minimal. Or your local hospital pharmacy may also help out.
It is a hard thing to give a child medication, they can taste gross. E doesnt take it easily, but she now recognises the necessity and the value of it. I was always practical and no-nonsense about giving it. That way she knew she had no choice. My parents used to make it fun - something about trying something new...how does this taste? Type thing. It worked for us on the odd occasion when we were little.
When I was searching for the image I found loads of sites in Australia and America where these things and other useful bits for children and their health and safety are sold.
Peace
EF.x 
(October 2006) (
