How to Give a Baby Medicine

At some point in the first year of life, most babies need medicine. For many parents, trying to give a child so young medicine is unsettling and difficult at times. Follow these pointers to help ease the stress of giving your baby medicine.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Medicine with dosing device

1. Consult with the pediatrician every time you give the baby medicine. Dosage amounts change because they are based on the baby's weight, and the pediatrician can prescribe exactly how much to give. Stay on schedule and keep track of when you give medicine because giving medicine too soon can be harmful.
2. Read all information on the medicine's labels whether over the counter or prescription. Ask the pharmacist or the pediatrician to explain anything that is unclear, particularly in terms of dosage and side effects.
3. Use only the dosage instrument that accompanied the medication in order to administer the precise dosage. Do not convert dosage amount to other measures such as ounces to milliliters; using the correct dosage device prevents the need for conversions.
4. Talk to the baby in a calm voice while holding him in your lap or cradling his head in your hand if he isn't in your lap. Play with the baby before giving the medicine to get him into a comfortable position. Aim the medicine toward the back near the gums or cheeks, but not at the back of the tongue.
5. Squirt medicine into the mouth in small amounts. Stroke the baby's throat between squirts to encourage swallowing.
6. Place a clean nipple into the baby's mouth and then put the medicine into the nipple and let the baby suck the medicine through the nipple as an alternative method. Put a little water into the nipple to wash out the nipple and the baby's mouth at the end of dispensing the medicine.

Tips & Warnings

• Put the medicine in the dosage device out of the baby's sight.
• Giving medicine to a baby lying flat on its back or squirting in too much medicine at once could cause choking.
• Using the baby's feeding spoon could cause the baby to have a negative association with the spoon and feedings.
• Do not give medicine in the dark because you may give an incorrect amount.