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Toddlers are known for being finicky little people. Your average toddler can spot a vegetable from a mile away and turn his nose up at just about any food, no matter how lovingly prepared. So how in the world can you get a toddler to willingly take something as yucky-tasting as medicine? By being very resourceful, of course. Here, the parents of Parent Soup share their tips on getting little ones to take their medicine.
"I use a medicine syringe and just shoot it between his clenched lips!"
"Maybe you don't need to give him an oral medicine. Some of the same relief can be achieved using a hot, steamy bathroom and a Vapo-Rub-type medicine. I try not to give oral medicine to my son, so we'll sit in the bathroom on the floor and read a book while the shower is on hot. (Obviously, never leave any child by themselves during this treatment. Since there's no danger of overdosing, you can do this treatment several times a day as needed."
"If my son needs an antibiotic, he does better if I let him hold the little medicine cup."
"My daughter hated the taste of some of the medicines she had to take. So we started a little treat basket. She could pick one thing after taking her medicine to get the flavor out of her mouth. The treats were small - a chocolate kiss, a peppermint patty, a lollipop, or a piece of fruit."
"I pour the dosage into a little cup and put a straw in it and let my son drink it that way. Usually he'll drink anything if there's a straw in it."
"My daughter takes a nightly medication that tastes terrible. We use chocolate syrup to help it go down smoothly."
