How to Give Medicine to a Baby

Your baby may be sick but that doesn't mean she will be cooperative when it comes to taking medicine. Giving medicine to a baby is not a fun job and chances are good that your baby will end up spitting the medicine out or letting it drool down her chin. If you know the best ways to give medicine to your baby, perhaps these messy episodes will be few and far between.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Use a plastic syringe. Unless your baby's medication comes with strict instructions to use the dropper provided, or something of the sort, a plastic syringe is the way to go. Plastic syringes can be purchased at discount stores or pharmacies for about a dollar or your child's pediatrician will probably be glad to give you one.

2. Enlist an extra pair of hands. If someone else is available to hold the baby while you administer medication, the process will go much more smoothly than trying to hold the baby with one hand and administer medicine with the other.

3. Insert the plastic syringe into the baby's mouth. Point the syringe at the baby's cheek. Squirt only as much medicine as your baby can swallow at one time into the baby's cheek. It may take several squirts to get all the medicine down.

4. Keep your cool. Do not get angry or flustered when attempting to give medicine to your baby. If the baby spits out some of the medicine just give what remains in the syringe and attempt to get the full dose down her next time. It is never a good idea to add more medicine to the dropper unless you know exactly how much the baby spit out, otherwise you may give the baby an overdose.