Post by misty on Jan 6, 2007 11:56:35 GMT -5
misty..............Thread Started on Apr 24, 2006, 10:18am
Tips
With the onset of the timed released medications, it is no longer possible to cut pills in half or crush them to make it easier to swallow. Doing so will effect the time release. For those that have children that don’t like swallowing pills, some suggestions from our forum:
Get a couple of packages of those MINI m & m's. They are slightly bigger than his medicine and tastier...Try a little background with him first (you know your child)... point out how much more successful he feels on the med and that you are proud of him, etc... that you want to help him TEACH HIMSELF to swallow his meds. Show him the m & m's give him a glass of milk/water, whatever he picks, and a couple of m & m's. Here's the bargain: If he can swallow an m & m whole, he gets the rest of the package.
Let him try, I wouldn't give him more than 3 chances at the most - you might risk re-inforcing the failures. If he sincerely tries and ALMOST succeeds, then give him a portion of the treat and maybe try again the next day (or later on). Pam
Ask your pharmacist if they have a "pill cup" a cup with a little pocket in it that floats the med down with liquid when used for a drink (haven't seen one, but recommended by another parent, too). Pam
Use a straw. Have him put the pill on his tongue. Then using a straw, suck down three big gulps of water (or whatever). With a straw there is no pill floating around in your mouth like there is if you just try to swallow a pill with a big mouthful of water MBT1234
Use experiences.If caught with chewing gum in his mouth at school, does he gulp it down with no probs? My "normie" daughter said picturing this worked for her when taking any meds, although at your son's young age he may not have ever chewed gum at school. FOXFIRE1978
Try foods they like.My step daughter had this problem and we solved it by her eating a cookie. When the cookie was chewed and ready to be swallowed, she would pop the pill in and then swallow the cookie. It was the only way I could get her to do it. For my son I used peanut butter and put it in the middle of a spoon of peanut butter. He luckily loved peanut butter and would often sneak the jar and eat it by the spoonful so it worked for him. Spoonfuls of brownie mix worked too, although I doubt you want to add making brownies to your list of things to do each morning. But look for something he would normally eat without chewing, that way he isn't trying to do something that is different to begin with. Eileen
JELLO!!! What about yummy red slurp right down your throat Jello! and if you don't wanna make Jello all the time, you can buy those little Jello snack boxes and use those. FOXFIRE1978
Have him put the water in his mouth first, then sort of float the pill down. I've been taking pills like this since I was a kid and I have no problem even with those great big antibiotics used for UTI's. GRIMLIE
Take a small piece of bread and have your son chew it up, then just before he swallows it have him put the pill in his mouth and swallow it with the bread. This gets around the "can't swallow without chewing" reflex. If he still feels the need to chew, he can chew the edges of the bread wad before swallowing. Brita
Blowing in his face, more specifically up his nose, causes him to swallow. Apryl
Put water in his mouth first, then just drop the pill in. MCGONAGILL
Tic-Tacs My doctor suggesting using Tic-Tacs to teach our 5 year old how to swallow pills. Worked like a charm. She became a pro in no time. Christina
add.about.com/cs/medications/a/swallowingpills.htm
cynthiatweedle
Thanks Misty! My granddaughter can swallow the little pills, it is the horse pill size she has a problem with. But they go right down with oatmeal. I have not tried jello but I am sure that would work just as well.
Tips
With the onset of the timed released medications, it is no longer possible to cut pills in half or crush them to make it easier to swallow. Doing so will effect the time release. For those that have children that don’t like swallowing pills, some suggestions from our forum:
Get a couple of packages of those MINI m & m's. They are slightly bigger than his medicine and tastier...Try a little background with him first (you know your child)... point out how much more successful he feels on the med and that you are proud of him, etc... that you want to help him TEACH HIMSELF to swallow his meds. Show him the m & m's give him a glass of milk/water, whatever he picks, and a couple of m & m's. Here's the bargain: If he can swallow an m & m whole, he gets the rest of the package.
Let him try, I wouldn't give him more than 3 chances at the most - you might risk re-inforcing the failures. If he sincerely tries and ALMOST succeeds, then give him a portion of the treat and maybe try again the next day (or later on). Pam
Ask your pharmacist if they have a "pill cup" a cup with a little pocket in it that floats the med down with liquid when used for a drink (haven't seen one, but recommended by another parent, too). Pam
Use a straw. Have him put the pill on his tongue. Then using a straw, suck down three big gulps of water (or whatever). With a straw there is no pill floating around in your mouth like there is if you just try to swallow a pill with a big mouthful of water MBT1234
Use experiences.If caught with chewing gum in his mouth at school, does he gulp it down with no probs? My "normie" daughter said picturing this worked for her when taking any meds, although at your son's young age he may not have ever chewed gum at school. FOXFIRE1978
Try foods they like.My step daughter had this problem and we solved it by her eating a cookie. When the cookie was chewed and ready to be swallowed, she would pop the pill in and then swallow the cookie. It was the only way I could get her to do it. For my son I used peanut butter and put it in the middle of a spoon of peanut butter. He luckily loved peanut butter and would often sneak the jar and eat it by the spoonful so it worked for him. Spoonfuls of brownie mix worked too, although I doubt you want to add making brownies to your list of things to do each morning. But look for something he would normally eat without chewing, that way he isn't trying to do something that is different to begin with. Eileen
JELLO!!! What about yummy red slurp right down your throat Jello! and if you don't wanna make Jello all the time, you can buy those little Jello snack boxes and use those. FOXFIRE1978
Have him put the water in his mouth first, then sort of float the pill down. I've been taking pills like this since I was a kid and I have no problem even with those great big antibiotics used for UTI's. GRIMLIE
Take a small piece of bread and have your son chew it up, then just before he swallows it have him put the pill in his mouth and swallow it with the bread. This gets around the "can't swallow without chewing" reflex. If he still feels the need to chew, he can chew the edges of the bread wad before swallowing. Brita
Blowing in his face, more specifically up his nose, causes him to swallow. Apryl
Put water in his mouth first, then just drop the pill in. MCGONAGILL
Tic-Tacs My doctor suggesting using Tic-Tacs to teach our 5 year old how to swallow pills. Worked like a charm. She became a pro in no time. Christina
add.about.com/cs/medications/a/swallowingpills.htm
cynthiatweedle
Thanks Misty! My granddaughter can swallow the little pills, it is the horse pill size she has a problem with. But they go right down with oatmeal. I have not tried jello but I am sure that would work just as well.
