How to Force a Kid to Take Medicine

Some kids just simply refuse to take medicine and the reasons vary. I remember chasing my toddler around the house as soon as he saw me headed in his direction with medicine. Before you can force it on your child you need to understand his reasons for refusal, and then attack the problem from that angle. There is no fool proof way to force medicine on a kid once he reaches a certain age, but there is the power of argument and information, which should be used when necessary, and these steps can help you in achieving the goal of getting your kid to take that medication when it’s needed.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Patience
• Determination
• Communication

1. When your child is a baby and he doesn’t want to take medication prescribed by the doctor, you can blow in his face and he will open his mouth to catch his breath. Place the dropper in the corner of his mouth then blow in his face again, forcing the swallowing reaction.
2. When your child is a toddler and she refuses to take medicine, it is a bit harder to force it on her. However, it can be done in much the same way as when she was an infant. First you have to catch her. Get her on the floor, positioned on her back with her arms to her sides so you can straddle her body. Hold her arms to her sides with your legs, then grab her cheeks and squeeze to open her mouth. Place the dropper in the corner of her mouth and blow in her face, again forcing the swallowing reaction. This may sound cruel but it is better than having her be sick for weeks on end.
3. When kids are of primary age you can still use threats of eliminating something they like, such as television or videogames, to get them to take their medicine. This is the power we have as parents and sometimes you must use it for the benefit of your child. Before taking this measure, it is advisable to try to explain the necessity of the medication first.
4. If you know your child is going to give you fits about taking his medicine, have the doctor talk to him about the reasons he should take it and the possible consequences if he doesn’t. This should help, especially coming from someone other than mom or dad.
5. When your son is older and he tells you he doesn’t believe in taking medication unless it’s life or death, consider the possibility that he is leaning towards alternative medicine or natural healing. These are subjects you can talk about and learn of together. The best way to have a confrontation or argument is to be knowledgeable in what you are arguing. Don’t be surprised if in the end you agree with your son.
6. Accept that sometimes it is not an argument worth fighting about. Each person has different immunities and tolerances for pain. Yours is not the same as your daughter’s and vice versa. Children reach a certain age or maturity where they know their bodies better than parents do, and this is a fact every parent needs to be aware of.

Tips & Warnings

• As your child gets older talk to her about the pros and cons of prescribed medicines. Make her aware of how too much medication is not good for anyone, child or adult.
• Take care when using the swallowing reaction steps as it is possible the child can choke.