Giving medicine to a baby
When your baby is ill your doctor may prescribe a medicine, such as liquid paracetamol. Give the medicine in the recommended dosage.
© DK
When your baby is ill your doctor may prescribe a medicine, such as liquid paracetamol, ibuprofen or an antibiotic. Give the dosage recommended by the doctor or as instructed on the bottle. Follow any instructions exactly and if using a teaspoon, make sure it is the correct size.
Most medicines for children come in syrup form with a spoon, dropper or syringe to administer them. The syringe is the easiest method for giving medicine to babies and makes it very easy to measure the amount accurately. Ask your pharmacist to give you an adapter to put in the top of the bottle. Put the adapter in the bottle and the fit the syringe ito it.
If your baby refuses to take medicine, get your partner to help you, or wrap your baby up in a blanket so that you can hold him steady. Your baby may start to cry when he takes the medicine. Don't worry about this; it's far more important that your baby swallows it and keeps it down so that he can recover from his illness. Try to stay calm when giving the medicine, as your baby will sense your own anxiety.
When a child is ill I think special measures are called for. Getting your child to take his medicine outweighs every other consideration. Use the most powerful reward that you can think of as a means of getting your baby to accept the medicine.
Giving medicine to a baby or child
Whether you are using a syringe or a plastic measuring spoon to administer medicine to your child measure out the dose before you start. Make sure that you have understood your doctor's instructions if you're giving a prescription medicine and follow them precisely. When giving over-the-counter medication, read the directions on the packet very carefully. If you are at all unsure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
You'll need to hold your child securely. It's best to hold his hands gently out of the way to prevent him knocking the medicine out of your hand.
Using a syringe to give baby medicine
Hold your baby in the crook of your arm. Draw up the correct amount of medicine from the bottle into the syringe. Place the end of the syringe into the side of your baby's mouth and push the plunger down gently to release the medicine into your baby's mouth. Hold him still while he swallows it.
Using a spoon to give baby medicine
Sterilize the spoon with boiling water or sterilizing solution. Pour the medicine into the spoon. Hold your child in a half-sitting position and, if necessary, pull his chin down with your finger, and place the spoon on his lower lip. Raise the angle of the spoon so that the medicine trickles into his mouth.
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 30.06.2010
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