Ahhhh… medicine. Yumm!

Some kids have no problem taking their medicine, but most kids can give you a hard time. It can even turn into an all out battle with your baby or toddler. Whenever our pediatrician prescribes something new for the kids, I’d always ask “How did your other patients like the taste?” We already know which antibiotic my son won’t touch… thankfully, there’s an alternative brand he can take down easy.

But if you just have to get that medicine down and there’s no other choice, we have some helpful tips that made other moms win the medicine-taking battle.

Mask the taste. Some kids with reflux can’t stand the chalky-tasting medicine no matter what flavor. One pharmacist’s advice is to mix it into a few ounces of caffeine-free Dr. Pepper. For some reason, it covers up the taste of strong, chalky medicines well.

Mix with food. I’ve mixed medicine with cooled down squash soup which both my kids happen to love. Applesauce is also an option. Just make sure you give them an easy-to-eat portion so you make sure they eat it all up — and get all the medicine down.

Chase it down. Let your child drink something sweet after taking the medicine, maybe even something she’s not allowed on a daily basis. My kids sometimes use a teaspoon of honey as a chaser right after taking some bitter medicines.

Cool it. Some kids will take the medicine much easier if it’s chilled instead of just room temperature. Pop the cough syrup or antibiotic in the refrigerator before giving it.

Ask your doctor for alternatives. Like I had mentioned, the doctor can give you options as to what kids generally like in terms of taste. Tell him your child can be uncooperative with the medicines so maybe he can give you what’s most popular in terms of taste.

Consider non-oral routes. If you can’t get your baby or toddler to swallow medicine, some come in suppository form. It may sound scary, but I’ve tried it and it was quick and easy. Ask your doctor for tips on how to do it. Some medications can even be mixed by pharmacists into gel that can be rubbed on your child’s body.

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