May 29, 2008

Health Tip: Giving Your Child Medicine

(HealthDay News) -- Giving medicine to your child can be a challenge, especially if it tastes bad or is difficult to swallow.

Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago offers these suggestions:

• If the medicine has an unpleasant taste, see if your pharmacist can add flavor to it, or advise on how you can do so.
• Only with your doctor or pharmacist's approval, crumble a pill into a powder and sprinkle it into foods such as applesauce or pudding. Some medications shouldn't be crushed in this way, so be sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
• Have your child suck on an ice cube or Popsicle before and after taking the medicine.
• Keep the child from spitting out liquid by lightly squeezing the cheeks, putting the lips in a "fish kiss" position.

-- Diana Kohnle

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