7 frequently asked questions when giving medicine to children

Whether or not you are giving your child medication prescribed by a doctor or not, you must have many unanswered questions.

“How many doses should I give my baby? Must my child eat before drinking? Can I put the medicine in orange juice? ”…. Before you call the doctor these things, please read the frequently asked questions below that will definitely save you a little time and money!

Is it possible to give my child a higher (or lower) dose than the recommended dose?

Absolutely not, friends. The dosage of the drug is usually based on the child's weight, not age. Although label instructions for some medications include age and average weight, if your child is heavier or lighter than that amount, the recommended dose will not be appropriate. You should not attempt to reduce the dose on your own without consulting your doctor.

Is it possible to mix my child's medicine with juice to make it easier to drink?

You should mix the medicine into foods with a moderate consistency such as porridge. Because if the drug settles at the bottom of the drink, your child will not get the full dose. However, mixing food with slowly acting medications can change how the medicine works because the medicine is designed for the body to absorb little by little. In addition, you should avoid foods containing calcium. Studies have shown that combining milk or other calcium-rich foods with certain medications, such as the antibiotic tetracycline , can decrease its effectiveness.

If the pharmacist agrees to mix the medication with food, try to limit the amount of food as much as possible (ideally a spoon or two) so that your child will finish the medicine within 1 time. You need to feed your child immediately after mixing, if the mixture is left for a long time, the effectiveness of the drug will be reduced.

Is it possible to self-medicate when my baby has colic?

You should never give your child an upset stomach because it contains bismuth subsalicylate , a component of aspirin that is linked to Reye's syndrome - a rare but serious disease that attacks children with medical conditions. virus leads to brain, liver edema. A remedy for children with heartburn or indigestion: it is a pink chewable tablet containing calcium carbonate , found in antacids - but this drug cannot kill the virus in the stomach.

When your baby has colic and vomiting, just give him a small amount of water or an electrolyte like Pedialyte or Infalyte (give 1 or 2 teaspoons every five minutes) until he or she feels better.

What to do if you accidentally overdose your baby?

Call a doctor immediately. When taken in high doses, some drugs can become toxic. In addition, you should not give your baby ipecac syrup. Currently, doctors have stopped prescribing the daily type of syrup for poisoning cases.

What should I do if my baby vomits right after taking the medicine?

If your baby is vomiting 5 or 10 minutes later, you can still give the baby more medicine because the medicine has not had enough time to be absorbed into the baby's blood. (If your baby vomits a second time, don't try letting him take it again.) But if your baby doesn't vomit after 30 minutes, give him a second dose at the right time.

When and how can I teach my child to swallow a pill?

At about 5 years of age, most children can swallow a small sized pill. But your child may not be able to swallow a larger pill until age 9 or older. The best way to start is to lubricate the pill. Mom can apply a little butter on the pill, then put it in the baby's mouth. You can let your baby swallow with porridge and should not give your baby water or juice because the medicine can float in the mouth making it difficult to drink.

How can I be sure my baby has swallowed the pill?

Try blowing in the center of the baby's face, causing him to blink and swallow. Or you can split it into smaller doses. For example, if the dose is 5 ml, you should give your child 1 ml each time. If you are still having trouble, ask your pediatrician if anal suppositories are available.

Raising children is not easy when parents have to practice their children every inch, including swallowing a small pill. However, don't be discouraged yet. Your child will grow up and become more independent from the teachings of his parents today.

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