Asked & Answered: Medicine

All responses taken from our Facebook groups: Foster Parenting Toolbox and Kinship Parenting Group.

Cold and flu season is in full swing, and you may be struggling to get sick children to take the medicine they need. We asked current foster, adoptive and kinship parents what tricks they use to help their children. Here’s what they said:

“If my kid needs 5 ml, I will pour about 10 ml into the cup, then when he freaks out, I say, OK, want to take only a little? And then I pour back enough to be the correct dose. I think he appreciates the sense of control. I also make sure to have a cake or cookie chaser at the ready!”

“Spray whip cream. Use a spray to coat the tongue, then meds and another quick spray – fun and tasty!”

“Liquid medicine mixed chocolate syrup worked for our 4 year old.”

“Frozen apple juice concentrate chaser. The cold shocks the senses and the very sweet flavor covers the taste. I just did a spoonful or two. Worked GREAT.”

“We put pills in things like pudding, If they really struggle with taking pills. For liquid that has a really bad flavor, I typically will use a teaspoon of their favorite drink and mix it in.”

“May not be popular but a spoonful of sugar, honey or maple/pancake syrup mixed in.”

“If it’s liquid, you can use juice boxes. Put the syringe of the medicine right in the juice and have them drink the juice box.”

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