Age your kids changed from liqiuids to pills?

[Papa Deuce]

Trying tonight to get my daughter ( well, my wife is ) to take a pill for the first time instead of Children's Motrin for her fever. She - my daughter - doesn't want to try it. She is 8.

 

[NikiM20]

DD was 6, she had to take something that did not come in liquid or chewable form. She and my grandfather had a "contest" to see who could take their pill the fastest LOL

 

[Ohiodislover]

Mine both started around age 6-7. We started by putting them in applesauce so they would slide down easier.

 

[Buckalew11]

DD was young. Her doctor gave her the meds and told her swallow them. "If you can eat a hamburger, you can swallow a pill." So, she did. LOL
She was crazy about him when she was little. She used to say, "If I was older and Miss Lissa (his wife) wasn't here, I'd marry that man." haha So sweet.

I, OTOH, couldn't swallow a pill in HS. Yet, I could eat a hamburger. Not sure what was going on with me. It was all very traumatic.

I vote for the applesauce route also. That is how they gave my Nana pills when it was hard for her to swallow and the nurses said it works like a charm.

Good luck.

 

[crz4mm2]

DS was 9. We were at Disney World and I did not take the liquid tylenol... I gave him a regular one and told him he had to take it (he had a headache).
I taught him how to take a drink and then toss it in the back of his throat and swallow. He was good to go.
I don't remember how old DD was.

 

[Butwhyistherumgone?]

My dd is almost 10. I bought the pill form children's motrin last time thinking she is plenty old enough for this..... ( they are tiny little pills too) no way she did not even want to try it! She will do the chewable tylenol or meltaways but not the pills
She cried and everything!
BTW she did not have a fever she wanted it for a headache which magically got better so she would not have to swallow a pill.

 

[Ohiodislover]

I guess you could let her know that they also make suppositories, or "butt medicine" as it is known at our house She might change her mind.

For the record--I never threatened my child w/ butt medicine, but my oldest used to have high high fevers, that were accompanied by an upset stomach. It's all that would work.

 

[minkydog]

DD was young. Her doctor gave her the meds and told her swallow them. "If you can eat a hamburger, you can swallow a pill." So, she did. LOL
She was crazy about him when she was little. She used to say, "If I was older and Miss Lissa (his wife) wasn't here, I'd marry that man." haha So sweet.

I, OTOH, couldn't swallow a pill in HS. Yet, I could eat a hamburger. Not sure what was going on with me. It was all very traumatic.

I vote for the applesauce route also. That is how they gave my Nana pills when it was hard for her to swallow and the nurses said it works like a charm.

Good luck.

I also couldn't swallow pills until well into my 30s. I have chewed a lifetime of Tylenol and aspirin. Bleah. My kids started taking chewable meds around 5yo. DD decided she hated foul-tasting meds at age 10. I showed her how to do it and she's taken pills ever since.

 

[AshleyW]

I was 5 or 6 when I was able to swallow pills. My little brother on the other hand.. he's 19 and still can't swallow a pill.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

I don't remember how old I was, but I couldn't WAIT to be able to take pills. I was always getting strep throat and those liquid antibiotics were NASTY. Make sure she knows it won't taste yucky like the liquid. And let her wash it down with chocolate milk!

 

[JessicaR]

When my son was little he was unable to swallow liquid medication. He had a severe aversion to any liquid meds. He learned to swallow pills at a very young age. My pharmacist use to stock us in empty capsules and I would crush up his medication and put it in the capsule. Much easier to slide down than a tablet.

When he was learning to swallow pills we placed the pill as far back on his tongue as possible and have him take a sip of drink with his head tilted backwards. We wore more liquid medicine than anyone can imagine. I am so thankful those days are gone.

My siblings made me the honorary teach a kid to swallow a pill Aunt!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Well, she isn't due for more medicine for another hour, but my wife is trying to explain to her that at least with a pill, she will not have the "yucky" flavors.

I actually need to take a total of 8 pills every morning - 4 are medicines - and I can luckily manage all 8 pills with one swallow of water... a 3/4 full, 2 ounce dixie cup.

 

[JessicaR]

Well, she isn't due for more medicine for another hour, but my wife is trying to explain to her that at least with a pill, she will not have the "yucky" flavors.

I actually need to take a total of 8 pills every morning - 4 are medicines - and I can luckily manage all 8 pills with one swallow of water... a 3/4 full, 2 ounce dixie cup.

But, then you drink at least a full cup of water afterwards, right? Sorry I'm a stickler.

Practicing with sprinkles and tic tacs works for some kids too! Good luck.

 

[kirbsam]

maybe if you let her text her friends they could tell her how easy it is. oh, thats right, you wont let them text. sorry, couldnt resist. go back to original thread.

 

[HelenePA]

maybe if you let her text her friends they could tell her how easy it is. oh, thats right, you wont let them text. sorry, couldnt resist. go back to original thread.

dh is almost 35 he can't swallow a pill big sissy. I had to find chewable adult multivitamins for him... and liquid adult tylenol.. big wimp

OTOH my 8 yr old has been swallowing pills for awhile now maybe 2 years

 

[Papa Deuce]

maybe if you let her text her friends they could tell her how easy it is. oh, thats right, you wont let them text. sorry, couldnt resist. go back to original thread.

You could, but you chose not to. Whatever.

 

[PirateSnowmen]

I was 13 when I finally learned. My mom had been trying to get me to swallow pills for years, but it always scared me. I have no idea why - it just did. I learned because I had to take two VERY small pills for an orthodontist appointment - I had just gotten my braces off a day or two earlier and they needed to put a permanant retainer on my teeth but I needed to take the pills to make my mouth dry so the cement/glue/whatever they used to stick the retainer to the teeth would stick and dry. That being said, I had gone 3.5 years with braces and never once took any pain medicine. I have NO idea how I did it - I remember some days after getting my braces tightened not being able to even close my mouth it hurt so much. I guess I was just crazy

 

[Erin1700]

My DD8 has never tried a pill. I guess I never thought she was old enough. Let me know how it turns out! And whatever works!
Although, I am wondering if being sick with a fever is a good time to spring this on your DD?? Perhaps wait until she feels better? Some of her resistance could just be her not feeling well.

 

[golfgal]

DS17 was 5 and had to take a medicine that didn't come in liquid form. The Dr suggested getting the mini-m&m's to practice with. It didn't take long for him to get the hang of it. I don't remember when the twins started-their younger years tend to blurr . I "think" DD was also around 5 when she had her stomach surgery but I don't remember for sure. I know DS14 was older because he wouldn't try.

 

[imabrat]

I was 11 or 12. It was really hard for me because I have a small mouth and a strong gag reflex. If I hadn't learned then I would've learned real quick on chemo - I think I was taking up to 30 pills a day at one point. I even had to take these nasty potassium pills that were like 1/2 inch long. Nasty horse pills, basically.
There are still some pills I can't take, like round pills, Flagyl, calcium pills, and dry, chalky, generic Tylenol. (I was in the hospital one time and they gave me the generic Tylenol, everytime I would take it it would get stuck in my throat and I'd sick it up. I got so fed up I had my mom get regular Tylenol from the store, made sure the dosage was even, and took the brand Tylenol instead. Dangerous? Probably, but it broke my fevers.)

Definitely try the apple sauce, or maybe even yogurt or pudding.

dh is almost 35 he can't swallow a pill big sissy. I had to find chewable adult multivitamins for him... and liquid adult tylenol.. big wimp

OTOH my 8 yr old has been swallowing pills for awhile now maybe 2 years

I don't blame him about the adult vitamins! Those things are huge and nasty as all get out. If you try to split them or grind them, they taste even worse.