6 Tips to Get Your Toddler to Take Medicine - from Paediatric Nurses and Parents

Many parents struggle with their toddler refusing medicine, spitting out medicine, or flat-out refusing to take antibiotics. This can turn into a regular battle, causing stress for both you and your little one. Whether it’s the unfamiliar taste or a show of independence, toddlers often resist taking medicine, even if we know it’s what they need to feel better. But with the right tips and tricks you can often overcome the challenges of giving medicine to a reluctant toddler.

We asked parents and paediatric nurses how they get their toddlers (or toddler patients) to take medicine and here are their best tips

Keep it Positive

• Use sticker charts and rewards or save a special treat for when they take their medicine - just make sure it’s something you can follow through on

• Prise them everytime they take medicine

• Stay positive about taking medicine. If they see it’s something you are also dreading or your face gives away the taste they will notice and might be less reluctant to take it.

• Let them know it might not state good now but will help them feel better.

• Use sprinkles! Popping some sprinkles on top of liquid medicine on a spoon can make taking medicine feel like a treat

Make the Medicine Taste Better

• Hiding medicine in food or drink is a great way to hide the sometimes not so plesent taste. Just check first with the pharmacist if it’s ok to do so. Heres the top foods parents use to mix medicine for their toddler

  • Yoghurt

  • Juice

  • Chocolate milk or normal cows milk

  • Apple sauce

Choice & control

• Ask how they would like the medicine, just make sure you measure correctly and they take it all. Some choices could be; if they want it on a spoon or syringe or what food they want it mixed in. But don't give them a choice when there isn't one.

• Play role-playing games using a syringe and water. Such games like giving medicine to toys and toys feeling better after, your toddler giving you ‘medicine; can all be important tools towards helping them understand and feel in control of giving them medicine

Time it right

• Give your toddler medicine when they are a little hungry. Just make sure the medicine doesn’t need to be given on a full or empty tummy specifically

• Try when they are calm such as when they are watching their favourite show or in the bath

A Firm Hold & Aim it Right

• Keep them secure using the cradle hold or the seated hold (sit them on your lap sideways with their legs between your legs and their arm under your arm)

• Use a syringe and aim it towards the back of their mouth towards the side of their check - this means its less likely to cause gagging and they won’t taste the medicine as much

Try a Different Method

• If you are using a syringe try a special spoon or a little cup (just make sure to measure it correctly first)

• If all else fails ask your family doctor if the medicine can be prescribed in a different way such as rectally or as a chewable tablet. Paracetamol can usually be prescribed rectally so always good to ask if you are having trouble.

Try some (or all) of these tips to help your little one with taking their medicine and you feel less stressed about the whole situation. It might take using more than one tip consistently and over time before you see any progress.

Some more useful posts from the journal if you’re giving medicine

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