How do I give medicine to my 0-3 year old baby? If your baby is cooperative, just pour water and give it to your baby after checking the medication to ensure it is safe to use. For infants who are extremely uncooperative in taking medicine, use your thumb to press your jaw to make them open their mouth, and place a dropper or syringe in the center of your tongue to drip the medicine, preferably slowly to avoid choking; note: do not feed the medicine when your baby cries, and do not mix it with breast milk. For children who are very uncooperative in taking medicine, feed them with a medicine cup or spoon, pour slowly from the corner of the mouth in the direction of the cheeks, and leave the spoon in the mouth for a moment when they do not cooperate, and then take it out when they swallow, or pinch the cheeks gently, do not pinch the nose to avoid causing foreign bodies in the trachea; you can also let the baby hold the cup to take the medicine by himself, and give a drink after taking it.
Do not give medicine when the baby is completely lying down, it is best to pick up the child or elevate its head when feeding medicine to prevent choking and coughing. Give the medicine to the baby before or between feedings to avoid spitting up the milk due to vomiting while taking the medicine. Experts caution that for children over 3 years old, parents should encourage them to take their own medication. Tell your child that when he or she is sick, he or she needs to take medicine so that he or she will not be uncomfortable and will heal quickly. Psychologically, give your child the right impression about taking medication. Methods of medication administration for preschool and school-age children When a 4- to 6-year-old child can take medication in pills or capsules, teach him to place the pill behind his tongue and swallow the liquid immediately; if the emphasis is on swallowing the liquid, the child will ignore that it is a pill that he is swallowing. By allowing older children to choose how to take the medication and encouraging them to say how they feel about it, the child will be more likely to cooperate.
Do not forcibly pinch the nose of a child who persistently refuses to take the medication, as this may cause a risk of aspiration into the trachea. Praise and encourage your child after he or she takes the medicine. It is important to note that if the child coughs and chokes during the feeding process, the feeding must be stopped immediately to avoid the risk of foreign bodies choking into the trachea.