Kari's Keen Knowledge

Giving your baby medicine doesn't have to be an uphill battle. If you're dealing with your first baby and feel uncomfortable forcing medicine or battling with your little one, try to keep in mind that your baby needs that medicine whether they know it or not.

For infants and most toddler medicine, the pharmacists will usually give their medicine in liquid form or to be given by suppository. If they don't include a syringe you should ask for one (obviously the kind without the needle-they'll know what you mean).

At home, prepare the syringe with the appropriate amount of medicine. For infants, try to give them their medication after a feeding so that they've had a chance to be accustomed to swallowing recently.

Cradle your child's head in the crook of your elbow, reaching around and pinching their cheeks together to form a fish face. With your other hand, place the syringe behind the tongue, being careful to squeeze out only 1/3 to a half of the medicine at a time. After inserting a bit of the liquid, be sure to keep the fish face and give her a chance to swallow. The fish face will help keep her from frowning out the medicine. If she gurgles on the medicine, don't panic, she'll swallow before she chokes.

If your baby is struggling, give her a break before finishing the syringe. Once she's taken all the medication, be sure to giver her verbal praise, and perhaps a little juice or water to wash down any residue.

For children with suppositories: I would recommend doing this before a feeding since your little one will be laying on their tummy, squirming and fussing (now would be a bad time to have to clean spit up). If your child is small enough and you're strong enough to hold them steady, this may be done while they lay on their back.

After removing the diaper and spreading the little bum, apply a small amount of vaseline to the rectum. With clean hands and a small amount of vaseline on your finger as well, gently insert suppository completely, continuing to apply pressure to the rectum area in case your child tries to push it out.

Be prepared, such stimulus can often cause a bowel movement and you may have to reapply.

Be sure to wipe clean any excess, as well as sanitize hands after.

Try to plan giving the suppository before the feeding so that after you've administered the medicine, you can let your child soothe herself with her next meal. Don't panic if while she's eating she "gets rid" of the suppository.  As long as it's not exactly as it was when it went in-assuming you held it in for a moment-she should have absorbed all she needs. The mysterious "they" take that sort of thing into account.