Even if you try your best to keep your kid healthy and disease-free, problems like the common cold, fever and flu can still surface. Although these diseases can go away on their own, your kid’s pediatrician may recommend Medicine to manage the painful or uncomfortable symptoms. These medications can be a problem, too, especially if your kid is still young. Medicine, both liquid and solid, can taste bad.

Some kids may also be sensitive to bitter tastes, so they can’t help but reject the medicine. One bad experience with medicine may make them hate taking meds in general. You don’t want it to get to this stage.Your child needs to take their medicine to ensure they heal.

If you’re having trouble getting your kid to take their medicine, here are ways to make this task safer and easier.

Be Patient and Stay Positive

If you know your kid will hate the medicine, expect the worst. They’ll probably spit it out, or worse, go into a tantrum because you’re repeatedly giving them bad-tasting maple syrup and gummy bears. Control your emotions when they do give you resistance. Be patient and stay in a positive mood while you’re administering the medicine.

If you get mad or frustrated and they see it, they’ll think that taking medicine is punishment instead of a necessary task to help them get better. If you find yourself getting frustrated, take a step back and let your partner try out the task. Cool off until you’re ready again. You could also try administering medicine at a later time, when your kid is in a better mood.

Explain the Importance of Medicine

Maybe your kid knows medicine as only the “yucky syrup.” They’ll never want to take it with that perspective. Explain in simple but honest terms the importance of medicine and its benefits. For example, if you’re giving them flu medicine, tell them that it lets them heal up faster, so they can go out and play sooner.

Give Them a Choice

Anyone can feel powerless when they’re sick. Just imagine how that feels for a kid! And now they have to ingest bitter medicine because they need to. It’s important to let them understand the necessity of medicine. But you should also let them know that they have a choice as to when and how they can take it.

Ask them if it’s better if they take the medicine from a syringe or cup. Would they rather take the medicine on their own? Maybe they want to take their medicine while they’re watching their favorite show. Whichever choice they go with, make sure they still end up taking the recommended dose of the medicine.

Make the Task Fun

Any task other than watching cartoons, playing video games, or playing outside with friends can be considered menial for kids. As such, it’s important for you to make medicine time fun, exciting, and creative. If their meds are liquid, measure them and pour them on a cup with your kid’s favorite character. If they like playing tea house, make the medicine one of the beverages you serve them.

Get flavored versions of the medicine if this doable. If it comes in different flavors, let your kid choose what they; prefer. Ask the pediatrician if you can mix the meds with food or drinks, too. This way, you can combine the medicine into their favorite cake or kids water drink. Make sure the treat is something they can’t resist, too.

Take note, however, that some medicine may get weaker when mixed with food, so always check with the doctor if you can do it.

Another way to make this activity fun is to offer rewards to your kid. This is especially helpful if they can’t fully grasp the importance of medicine yet. Make a reward system for them like earning a star each time they drink their medicine for the day. And when they get enough points, you get to take them to their favorite amusement park or restaurant or buy them that gaming accessory they’ve been asking, like a cheap PS4 controller.

You could also offer simpler rewards, like more screen time on their tablet or computer or getting their favorite dessert.

Taking medicine isn’t the most fun task in the world for kids. If done incorrectly, it can also be a nightmare for them. Make this practice easier for both you and your child. It may take a lot of time, effort and patience, but it’s worth it when your kid gets better from the medicines they take.

The post The Dos and Don’ts of Giving Your Child Medication appeared first on Read In Brief.