Learning this important life skill can be difficult, but we’ve got two tips that can help.
Swallowing pills is a simple skill most of us adults take for granted, but it can be tricky to master for a kid. The following two tips work for most kids (or adults!). But before you even have your child try, make sure there’s no pressure or negativity associated with the attempt. That will almost always make it harder. It’s best to start teaching when there’s no medicine actually needed.
First tip. Start with something edible that’s tiny, but tastes good. An ice cream sprinkle could work, or you could go straight to a mini chocolate chip. Have the child place the treat in the middle of tongue – not all the way in back. (Putting it too far back might activate a gag reflex.) Then have the child take a sip of water and just swallow as if there’s nothing in the mouth. Once they’ve successfully swallowed the tiny treat, move on to a full sized chocolate chip (if it has a hard tip, shave it off to avoid scratches in the mouth). Use the same placement and swallowing technique. Once the child has mastered the chocolate chip, they can handle a small pill. Try a non-chewable vitamin for a few days straight and by the next time your child needs a medication, s/he will have the confidence to swallow the pill easily.
Second tip. If swallowing the pill with a sip of water doesn’t work, try using a water or soda bottle. Have the child place the top of the bottle in his mouth and close his mouth around it. He can then use a sucking motion to drink from the bottle without letting air into his mouth. This should take the pill down together with the drink.
Bonus tip from Renee that we haven’t tried but worked for her: Use fresh bubbly seltzer instead of water. The tingle masks the sensation of the pill and makes it easier to swallow.
And that’s it! Next time you run out of liquid ibuprofen, don’t rush to buy another bottle. Instead, use the opportunity to teach your child something “grown up”!
Check out the list of medications we recommend to keep on hand at all times, and see our tip to make sure you never miss a dose of medication again!
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