How to Encourage Your Child to Take Their Medication (Without Having a Meltdown)

We went into full-on parental MacGyver mode when my son Caden developed Hand, Foot, and Mouth. We experimented with smoothies, chocolate milk, pudding disguises, chewables, liquid medications, and more. Nothing was successful. After consulting with my trusted group of mom pals, I finally developed a strategy that was both smart and toddler-friendly.

This is the expert-tested, human-tested method for getting your child to take their medication without causing them to cry or throw fits.

In any case, why do toddlers refuse medication?

Fundamentally, toddler resistance is typically related to control and taste. For young palates, medications frequently taste chalky, bitter, or just plain strange. Additionally, toddlers are young individuals who are learning to assert their independence; they love saying "no." When you combine the two, every time the medicine bottle shows up, it becomes a struggle of wills.

Transform Medicine Time into Playtime: Collaboration Through Imagination

Toddlers adore playing. Make use of that. Make a makeshift doctor's office out of your kitchen. Prioritize giving the stuffed animals their "medication." Make use of goofy voices. Make it a show; instead of administering medication, you are the lead in a Broadway play for toddlers.

Props Have an Impact

Never undervalue the impact of a cute syringe or medicine dropper with an animal motif. It is more likely to enter your child's mouth deliberately if it appears to have come from a toy box.

Use a Favorite Drink to Cover Up the Taste Like a Pro Mix

Apple juice, strawberry milk, and smoothies are better at masking the bitterness than plain milk or water. Peanut butter banana smoothies are a staple for one mother I know. Not all medications mix well with all liquids, so be sure to check with your pharmacist before doing so.

Put It in Desserts

A dollop of applesauce or pudding does help the medication go down, so yes, we are going all Mary Poppins here. Honey is a delicious choice for children older than one. My personal favorite is chocolate pudding because it is rich, thick, and difficult to tell what is in it.

Chasers Do Amazing Work

Eat your favorite food, such as a peanut butter cracker or a small marshmallow, right after taking the medication. Their taste senses are diverted by the potent flavor and enjoyable texture, and who knows, it can even become a habit.

Calm Down

If permitted, refrigerating liquid medication can dull the taste buds a bit and make the entire situation a bit more agreeable. Consult your pharmacist once more before freezing medications.

Check the Format: Crushed, Liquid, or Chewable?

Every child has a favorite. Try chewables if your toddler gags on liquid medications; a lot of them taste like candy. Asking the pharmacy if they have flavor alternatives is another option (FlavorX is a blessing for this).

In the event that nothing else works, ask your doctor about moving to an adult prescription that is unflavored and that you can carefully crush and conceal in food, provided that you take the right dosage.

The idea that "medication helps your body feel better" is understandable even to toddlers. Present it as a superhero tale: "This will assist your body in combating the unhealthy bugs!" They might be more willing if they feel like they are a part of the mission.

Provide Easy Options

Let them decide whether to take it with a medicine cup, syringe, or spoon. Have you given it to them, or do they want to hold it? Toddlers gain a sense of control and cooperation from even minor choices.

Give Out Without Feeling Bad (Yes, Bribery Does Work)

Little Pleasures, Huge Outcomes

When you are dealing with a stubborn toddler, a sticker, an M&M, or five minutes of iPad time can make all the difference. I refer to it as survival, although some parents term it bribery.

Accolades Make a Big Impact

Let us celebrate the win! "You showed such courage!" "You accomplished it alone!" Your support transforms a tense situation into a proud moment and helps perpetuate great conduct.

The Combination That I Found Effective

Caden's most recent dose of strep antibiotics? No issue. What worked was giving him a shot of chocolate milk in the same syringe as a "prize drink" after he was allowed to squirt the medication himself from the syringe (yes, under careful supervision). In fact, he became excited about medication time and wanted to play it several times a day.

Concluding remarks

It can be like attempting to wrangle a greasy cat into a bathtub to get a kid to take their medication. But it does not have to be a daily catastrophe if you have imagination, perseverance, and a few shrewd strategies.

Meeting your child where they are, with empathy, a little humor, and perhaps some chocolate milk on the side, is crucial.