giving oral meds to skilled fighters

rnsrgr8t · Jan 8, 2011

I can give some tips I have picked up with my 10+ years of peds experience!!! It can be tough though!!

First, a good medication syringe is vital. Draw up the medication, insert the syringe into the side of the mouth and aim to the side/back of the mouth and squirt a small amount into the back of the mouth. Only do a small amount at a time and make sure the kiddo swallows. There are less taste buds in the back of the mouth so less likely to spit it out. You can blow gently in their face and that will help make them swallow. The key is they swallow each small amount. If they are an old child and really fight... might need to get some help to have them sit in one adults lap and wrap your arms around their arms and the other hand on their forehead. In really desperate situations when the child clamps down their teeth... you can always hold their nose to get them to open their mouth... I hate it and rarely do it....but when you are trying to get a kid to take oral chemo...sometimes you are desperate!!! Main keys.... aim to side/back, SMALL amounts and blow in the face!!! Good Luck!

canadianpedsnurse · Jan 13, 2011

You can also squeeze their cheeks when they're infants or toddlers to get their mouth to open. I've also put it in nipples of their bottles mixed with about 10cc's of milk/glucose water/juice...and putting their pacifier in their mouth right away helps too. blowing on their face works well but warn the parents first or ask them to do it!

K Lambourne · Jan 28, 2011

With a baby / toddler try, sitting down ( more stability) with the child being held in adults arms tip them up slightly, (head lower) they tend to swallow. Stickers sometimes work along with a chart to show how well they have done. Always ask the parent they know the child better than anyone !