WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO GIVE MEDICATION?
Choose a time when your child will most likely relax and stay calm. Give medicines at regular intervals following the instructions on the label and use the spoon, syringe or dropper provided. Aim to give the total dose in one go (never exceed the prescribed dose of any medicine) and always finish a course of antibiotics. Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children.
GIVING MEDICINE BY MOUTH
Measure out the dose before you pick up your child. Touch your baby’s bottom lip with the spoon, syringe or dropper provided to encourage her to open her mouth. You may need a drink ready if she doesn’t like it.
Using a syringe
Fill the syringe from the bottle. Sit your child on your lap and syringe the medicine into her mouth. If necessary, tilt her slightly so that the medicine stays in.
Using a dropper
Fill the dropper with the spoon. Pick your baby up and lean her back slightly on your arm. Support her head and hold her free arm so she can’t swipe at the dropper. Encourage your baby to open her mouth by touching her lips with the dropper.
She spits out her medicine. What can I do?
Wait until she is calm, then try again. Try using her favourite spoon, or mix the medicine with jam. Don’t add medicine to a drink—it tends to cling to the sides of the cup. If your child still refuses, talk to your doctor, who may try another medicine or, rarely, suppositories or injections.
ADMINISTERING SUPPOSITORIES
Explain to the child what you are doing. Wash your hands. Lie your child on her side with her knees bent up as far as she can. Gently insert the suppository—pointed end first. Ask your child to stay still for a few minutes. Wash your hands.
INSTILLING DROPS
These usually have to be given, or ‘instilled’, three or four times a day for five days, so you must develop a good technique that you can both cope with. Fill the dropper before you pick up your child. Reassure your baby or child throughout.
Giving eye drops
Sit on a flat surface such as a bed, lay your child across your lap, and hold her head steady with one arm. Get someone else to hold her if necessary. Pull the lower eyelid down with your thumb, then install the drops into the space between the eyeball and the lower lid. Hold her arms and head more firmly if your child resists (she may next time even if the first time went smoothly). Place her on the floor as a last resort, and gently use your knees to immobilize her arms. This may seem a bit threatening, so reassure her.
Giving ear drops
Lay your child on his side. Hold his head firmly as you let the drops fall into the ear canal. Keep him still for a few seconds so that the ear drops run properly into the canal; if he sits up too soon, the drops will appear again.
Giving nasal drops
Lay your child on her back and tilt her head, holding her arms down if possible (you may need someone to help). Gently hold her head with one hand and drop the nose drops into the nostril. Try to persuade her to ‘sniff’ the drops up her nose.
