How to Give Children Omega-3 Fish Oil

Some of the benefits of fish oil include improved cardiovascular health, protection from stroke and heart attack, better brain function, less depression, improvement in symptoms of ADHD, and reduced breast, colon and prostate cancer.

Additionally, reports are showing the benefits to babies, children and pregnant woman. In a study in the January 14, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers found that increasing the omega-3s in a female preterm baby's formula or breast milk boosted brain function. This study showed that these preterm females scores improved by five points on a mental development test after adding the omega-3s to their diet.

In another report in September 2007, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that children at a higher risk (genetic factors) for diabetes "had up to a 55 percent reduced risk of type 1 diabetes" if they had "more omega-3s in their diets."

Some children may have no problem taking a fish oil caplet, while some may not be as cooperative or even able to swallow a caplet. Hiding the fish oil in food or drink, or using a medicine syringe may help children get the omega-3s they need.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Fish oil
• Scissors
• Pin
• Medicine syringe

1. Help your child place a fish oil caplet right at the back of their mouth and the beginning of his throat. Ask him to take a drink of water and swallow the pill with the water.

2. Open a fish oil caplet by cutting it open with a pair of scissors or poking it with a pin to expose one end and squeeze the contents onto a spoon for a child who cannot swallow a caplet. Have your child swallow the fish oil by placing the spoon into his mouth and asking him to swallow.

3. Fill a medicine syringe with fish oil from one of the caplets if you cannot get your child to drink the oil from a spoon. Lay your child on his back across your lap. Tilt his head so he is looking up at the ceiling. Open his mouth, insert the syringe and dispense the medicine into the back of his mouth so that it slides right down his throat.

4. Add the fish oil to a food or drink. Open a caplet and mix it into applesauce, yogurt, salad dressing, ice cream or some other creamy food. Add it to juice or a fruit/yogurt smoothie.

References

• The Journal of the American Medical Association
• JAMA