OT-Need help getting a child to take a pill

[chickie]

Any suggestions to help my dd9 to swallow a pill? She has to start taking some medicine that only comes in pill form(a timed-release thingy). She gets so anxious about it, she gags on it and spits it out. I can't remember ever having a hard time taking medicine, so it's hard for me to be patient with her. Does anyone have any tricks I could use to make this easier?
Thanks so much!

 

[ChillyWilleys]

Did you try putting it in something like pudding, applesauce or yogurt?

 

[aprilfoolwed]

I was going to suggest applesauce as well. Good luck - my 31-year-old husband still can't swallow pills well!

 

[tjmw2727]

I had my dd "practice" with m&m's, swallowing them like a pill. Depending on the shape of the pill you could also use use good & plenty or Mike & Ike if its a capsule insted of a tablet.

One tip my dh came up with that helped is to tell her to have her tongue wet so it can slide back easier.

TJ

 

[chickie]

I didn't try the applesauce yet. She can't chew it up, so I'm not sure if she'll be able to swallow it with applesauce or not. It's worth a try though. Thanks!

She did try and practice with nerds. This pill isn't much bigger than many of the larger nerds in a package. It's not a big as an m&m, so maybe we could practice with those.

The problem is, once it is wet from a first try, it gets really sticky on the outside, so then it sticks to her tongue. So, we've wasted several pills already. Sheesh! I never dreamed this would be this difficult!

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[santa's surpriz]

Try a straw with wash down beverage. I don't know why, but it's the only way my DD6 can take pills.

 

[mjkacmom]

My kids practiced with tic tacs.

 

[Queen of 3 princess]

make sure she is taking it with something other than water. Pop works best. Both my husband and I both have always had trouble taking pills. Neither one of us can take it with water it HAS to be some other kind of beverage.

 

[tiggger1]

this is what i do and it works every time..

get a large glass of water or juice, take a large sip and swallow. Take a another sip and swish in your mouth, add pill and swish a bit more, and swallow. This covers both your mouth, throat and pill with liquid making it so easy to swallow. Most of the time, i can even feel it

 

[vgrandy]

When my son started taking meds at age 5 we put it in a spoonful of applesauce. No chewing needed. It worked great.

 

[CrAzY4DL]

I have a high gag reflex (every dentist visit requires laughing gas so I don't yark all over the poor guy!) and I have to take several pills every day. The best way for me is to put the pill as close to the back of my tongue as possible (but not to a point where I would gag. There's a fine line!) and then drink with a straw. And I agree, something other than water helps!! Don't know why, but it works for me. My DD9 just started being able to swallow pills and she didn't have a problem at all. Lucky duck! LOL Hope that helps and try and do the hardest thing possible-stay patient with a 9 year old girl!!!

 

[lindal]

I remember my mom used to give me pills that were mixed in with a little spoon of sugar. I would swallow the pill down with the sugar. I agree with others to have take a drink first so her mouth and throat aren't dry.

 

[RumpleMom]

Our beloved pediatrician, who passed away much too young, gave DD5 or 6 her first pill. He stood between me and DD with a cup of water and said this is how it is done. I almost said that she never has taken a pill, but fortunately I kept my mouth shut and she was fine.

So I'm suggesting for someone else in the family give it to her in a matter of fact way.

 

[chickie]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I'll have to print these out so we can try a different one each morning! Hopefully something will work!

 

[mjh8955]

1. Crush it and put it in a small spoonful of peanut butter.
2. Use a pill cutter and divide it in half so she can take a half at a time.
3. Do what my Dad used to do with my sister and throw it down her throat (I do not recommend this one, but if there is no other way and she has to have the pills I know that it CAN be done.)

 

[shelly3girls]

1. Crush it and put it in a small spoonful of peanut butter.
2. Use a pill cutter and divide it in half so she can take a half at a time.
3. Do what my Dad used to do with my sister and throw it down her throat (I do not recommend this one, but if there is no other way and she has to have the pills I know that it CAN be done.)

If it is a time release pill you most likely cannot crush it.

I find taking pills with milk makes it much easier. I eat a bite of food and wash it down with the milk. I then put the pill behind my front teeth so it doesn't stick to my tongue then take a big drink of milk which washes it down.

 

[TheRatPack]

Has anyone seen Baby Mama, when she's trying to swallow that HORSE sized pill....too funny.

My 3, 5 and 6 year old all take pills without a problem. They put the pill in their mouth and swallow...no biggie. My 13 year old, gags and cries and it's just ridiculous, so we still get her chewable Motrin...etc. My 14 year old started taking pills at 10 or so...but we had to do the applesauce or pudding and open the capsule and mix it in with the stuff. His medicine was time release too, but for some reason the doctor said that it was fine to take the capsule apart and mix it in with something...said the little beads inside had another coating? Maybe your doctor can prescribe it in another form?

I'm glad none of mine have to take anything regularly.....especially the 13 year old, she'd drive me INSANE with her Drama!!!

 

[bjeannep]

My DD has been taking pills since she was 4 and its the same situation. Time Release, so they can't be crushed.

We've always had her put water in her mouth, then slightly open her lips to pop the pill. Then immediately swallow and start drinking from the rest of her glass of water. It did take some time for her to get the hang of it, and for the first few times, the pill did end up in the glass of water, but I would say at about day 3 she wasn't having any issues.

Good Luck.

 

[all4fun]

I remember when I was 6-7 yrs old I had to take a pill daily. My mom used to put it on a spoonful of grape jelly and I just swallow the whole thing. It worked really well.

 

[mickeylove2]

I'm 26 and still can't swallow pills unless I do this....I take a big drink of juice or soda, never water, and then I take another drink and don't swallow, I tilt my head back and open up and drop the pill in and swallow all at the same time.