How do you get a seven year old to swallow pills?

Question

My friends seven year old daughter has been prescribed a medication. The problem is that she can't swallow the pills. Any ideas?

Answer 1

My mom always crushed the pills with spoons & added honey, medicine was a treat to take!! Use liqiud honey, maple syrup or whatever works. If pills r 2 big/hard to crush dissolve in juice. Good luck!

Answer 2

I always ask the pharmacist/doctor if their is a liquid form of the drug or another drug that can be taken that isn't as big.

If not, Check to see if the pill can be crushed. If so, try putting it into pudding or apple sauce. If not, don't force the child to swallow the pills. This could be traumatizing for her. I'd say break it into smaller pieces and have her swallow one at a time!

Good luck

Answer 3

I had this problem when i was young. My mom would crush them, then put it on a spoon with a little bit of water. It tasted horrible but i couldn't swallow pills so i had no choice. She'll eventually grow out of it. I did!

Answer 4

First I would call the pharmacy and ask if the prescription can be dispensed in liquid form. If not the smash the pill up with two spoons and mix with applesauce or mix in orange juice and let her take it that way. Jelly works good too.

Answer 5

My mother would always crush pills and add honey to it, because I never could take pills. They get lodged in my throat and I choke. But I always thought it tasted waaay nasty, because the pill just made the honey chalky. She finally decided it was far better to crush it up and put it in something that I definitely couldn't taste the chalky in: ice cream! And she always told me: Now eat all your ice cream, or you're not leaving the table. We both thought it great and very funny that I would get punished for not eating ice cream. Heheh.

Answer 6

You could put it in apple sauce or yougurt but don't crush it until you ask the pharmacy because some medications are not supposed to be crushed, antibiotics for example are time released and are not supposed to be broken or crushed. Also pills that are capsules aren't supposed to be broken apart or crushed.

Answer 7

If it doesn't come in liquid form, maybe you can crush them, but ask the pharmacist first because I don't think all pills can be crushed. (time release). My oldest son is 18 and he still can't swallow pills.

Answer 8

Tell her to put it under her tongue and take a few quick drinks...should go right down. My bf's 5 year old does it and she is so proud of herself!

Answer 9

Chop it up and put it in a few spoonfulls of ice cream or pudding or something of that consistancy.

Answer 10

i had the same problem when i was a kid and it sounds awful but my dad used to crush them up and put them in a drink for me. it worked!