Tips on Giving Medication to Children

When your child has nausea, vomiting, or dizziness, due to motion sickness, all you want is for them to feel better. Fast. Getting your child to take their medicine, however, can take a bit of convincing. Below are just a few things to keep in mind when giving over-the-counter (OTC) medicine to kids that can help keep the experience as stress-free as possible for both you and your child.

Things to consider before you give your child medicine:

1. Check on medicine indication and symptoms it treats.
2. Look into the dosing instructions as they usually vary by age and weight for kids. Often medications for kids under the age of 2 are given upon recommendation of a physician.
3. Check for any warnings, side effects and child-specific safety information on the product.
4. Look into whether or not it’s OK to give the medicine with food.
5. Understand how to tell if the medicine is working. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider if you’re unsure.

Quick tips for parents when giving children medicine

• When giving your child medicine that’s in a liquid form, keep in mind that kitchen spoon sizes vary. Double check that your spoon is the right size according to the dosage.
• For children who have trouble drinking from a cup, there are syringes made for liquid medicine administration. These can squirt the medicine right into the back of their mouth and are available at most drug stores.
• If the medicine has a strong taste, ask your doctor or pharmacist what can be done to mask it. Some medicines can be taken with food or flavoured drinks.
• Many medicines, such as GRAVOL^TM Kids, are made specifically for children and offer a range of child-friendly flavours and formats. GRAVOL^TM Kids Comfort-Shaped Suppositories are a great solution for children who are unable to swallow medications or keep them down.

If you’re giving your child a new medicine, monitor them closely after they take it to see how they respond. Your pharmacist or doctor can help if you have any questions. Always read and follow the label.

Want more helpful health tips? Check out our Health & Wellness tips section.