How do I get my child to swallow a tablet?

Your child is unwell and you need to get them to take the medicine the Dr has prescribed- BUT you find out that it only comes in tablet/capsule form.

You wonder- How am I ever going to get my child to swallow this tablet- Help?

SWALLOWING A PILL is a Skill to be learnt and takes a lot of practice for most kids

The key is learning and practicing this new skill with your child, when they are well, so they have mastered this skill to use when they are sick.

NOW is the best time to start teaching your child to swallow tablets or capsules

It can be hard and take time to learn, like any new skill ( think about how long it took your child to learn to walk) BUT I promise you- it’s worth the time and effort

In Australia, many children’s medicines are available in liquid or chewable form, but there are some medicines that only come in tablet or capsule form.

Also, as your child gets older and needs larger doses of some medicines, you might find yourself needing huge volumes of liquid medicine. Tablets/capsules can be SO much easier for your child and for you.

We spend most of our children’s lives teaching them NOT to swallow anything unless they have chewed it well. We also tell them NOT to put strange objects in their mouths, So, it’s only natural that they think they can’t or shouldn’t swallow a tablet

Many kids from school-age (5-6 yo) can learn to swallow small tablets

(A small number of children with an underlying medical or developmental issue that impacts their swallowing, may not be able to safely swallow tablets- if you are concerned, check with your Dr first)

HERE ARE A FEW TIPS TO GET STARTED:

Make this a Fun, relaxed project
Keep sessions short, about 5 minutes but repeat it many many times
Be flexible
Try not to project your stress or difficulties swallowing tablets on your kids
Give plenty of praise along the way—> even little steps are important

THE PILL SWALLOWING GAME:

Kids love games so why not play the Pill Swallowing Game
It can be very helpful to practice with a range of sizes of small lollies/chocolates – so time to get prepared and go shopping- kids love helping choose which lollies to use (with parental guidance)
Start with very small lollies and work your way up- you might start with hundreds and thousands, nerds, tic tacs, mini m & m’s and build up till the lolly gets to a tablet or capsule-like size (small mints etc)
As part of the game, if your child manages to swallow a small lolly 3 x in a row, you can move up to next size ( you might let your child eat the unused lollies/chocolates at another time if they have mastered a size)

GETTING STARTED:

Get your child to sit up straight in a chair
Get your child to take a sip of water first and swallow it
Keep their head level or facing down to the floor ( not head back)
Teach them that their throat and tongue is like a water slide and the pill is like the rider on the slide
Place a small lolly on the centre of the tongue
Get them to take another sip of water and swallow the lolly and water together
Encourage them to take more sips to keep the lolly moving towards the back of the throat and down (it doesn’t just have to be one large gulp) (a water slide needs flowing water)
Some kids find it easier to use a water bottle, others prefer a cup

If it doesn’t go down easily, here are a few other ideas to try:

often a capsule will be easier to swallow if your child looks down to the floor
- this not only enlarges the space at the back of the throat, but most pills are lighter than water and float towards the back of the throat
shaking the head a little when swallowing can provide a distraction from the swallowing part
rubbing some butter or olive oil on the outside of capsules or tablets can
- prevent them dissolving quickly
- stop them sticking to the tongue & roof of the mouth
you can try using a soft drink instead of water ( but not too cold as cold liquid might make their throat tighten a little)
- the micro bubbles that attach to the pill make it float even more
- the bubbles will also disguise the feeling of the pill
Another method that I like is using sloppy/mushy food to start- yoghurt, apple sauce, mash potatoes, peanut butter, jam etc
- place the lolly onto a teaspoon and bury it in the yoghurt or mushy food and get your child to swallow it whole
- this can build up your child’s confidence before they move on to runnier liquids
- NB: I don’t recommend kids eat lollies or drink soft drinks regularly – but if it helps whilst they are mastering this new skill, then you might want to give it a try

REMEMBER- most new skills, like learning to walk and talk, take practice- so does learning to swallow tablets and capsules

PLEASE encourage your child along the way and congratulate them if they do indeed master the skill of swallowing tablets or pills- it is a pretty exciting achievement for many (particular for parents)

AND KEEP PRACTICING- the best time to learn is BEFORE they need to take a tablet or capsule, not when they are sick- so start practicing now

Best of Luck

I would love to hear about your experiences and any other tips you use- I’m sure there are some brilliant ideas out there

Dr Lexi Frydenber

General Paediatrician

Instagram:@drlexifry

Website: http://drlexi.com.au/