Tips and Tricks for Giving Your Child Medicine
Medication is only a part of your child’s treatment, but it is an important one. You’ll repeatedly explain why they need it to get better, but sometimes giving them their dosage or trying to get them to eat will still be challenge. Here are a few tips and trips on what you need to know before giving your child medication.
Photo by Josh Kenzer
Photo by Josh Kenzer
Learn all the facts beforehand
When you’re given a prescription for your child, you’ll need to memorize the name and purpose of the medication. Ask your doctor how much, how often, and for how long it should be taken. Be sure you are absolutely certain on how the medicine should be administered, whether it’s oral, inhaled, through a central line, topical, etc.
It is important that you are aware of any common side effects and how the medicine will interact with other medication your child is taking. Keep track of all of your child’s prescriptions and when to dispense it. You’ll also want to know what to do if your child misses a dose or is accidently given the wrong dose.
Get the details on what specific time of the day, with or without food, how it should be stored, and how long the medicine can safetly be stored before you need to throw it out.
Administering oral chemo
Many children will not like the taste their medicine. If allowed, try mixing the chemo with one ounce of a carbonated beverage. You can also give it to them with a spoonful of jelly or chocolate syrup to sweeten it up. Be sure you don’t let your child see you preparing it. Also, try varying the time of day you give it to your child.
Another method is to squirt the oral chemo onto the inside of your child’s cheek in very small amounts. There are no taste buds in the cheeks, so this will limit the amount that touches the tongue.
The simplest method is to ask your doctor and pharmacist if they can add in flavoring such as cherry or grape to help mask the taste.
Helping your child eat during chemo
Chemo makes your child’s food, especially bland foods, have a metallic taste. Try feeding them meals that are slightly spicier or have more of a “kick”. Experimenting with food temperatures or offering them plastic or rubber utensils will reduce bad taste.
Feed your child smaller, more frequent meals, so the eating process is quicker, but as the day goes on they will still get the nutrition they need. Always have food on hand in case your child suddenly gets hungry.
If your child easily develops painful mouth sores, avoid acidic foods. Try pureeing the meal if swallowing is difficult them. Be sure to check with your doctor before giving your child raw foods.