An oral syringe is the best way to give your baby liquid medicine. Sometimes this can be difficult, but there are ways to make it a positive experience. Here’s how to give your child medicine using an oral syringe for babies.
Read the Label
You should always be aware of how much medicine to give your baby and how often. Read the label and follow the instructions exactly. If you’re using an over-the-counter medicine from the pharmacy, use the right dose for your baby’s weight. If you can, consult with a doctor or pharmacist beforehand.
Make sure to note whether the number used for weight is in pounds or kilograms. These are very different weights, so misreading the dosing could mean that you accidentally give them more medicine than they need.
How Should You Measure the Dose?
There’s usually a liquid medicine syringe in baby medicine packaging, but sometimes there's a measuring cup or dosing spoon. Always use these measuring devices instead of a regular spoon from your kitchen. Regular kitchen spoons come in different sizes, so you might end up giving your baby too much or too little medicine.
Syringes are the most accurate way to measure medicine, and they’re the easiest way to give medicine to your baby. If you didn't get one in the box of medicine or you lost the one you had, you can buy a syringe for oral medicine from the pharmacy. Sometimes your pharmacist can offer you a free one.
Only use a syringe for oral medicine that has markings on the side and check the numbers and measurements first. Some syringes can only hold 2 milliliters and others can hold 15 milliliters, so don’t just fill the syringe to the top. Use a syringe that can hold the full dose so you don’t have to fill it more than once. This will just make the process longer for your baby. Then, when you're sure of the amount, draw up the medicine to the exact dose.
How Do You Give Medicine to Your Baby?
Giving a baby medicine can be stressful, but there are ways to make it easier and safer. There are different methods, and you can choose the one you think will work best. If one method doesn’t work, try a different one. Here's how to give medicine to your baby:
Time it right before a feeding. Take advantage of your baby’s feeding schedule and give them the medicine right before they eat. When your baby is hungry, they’ll be more likely to swallow. If your baby gets upset, nursing afterward can be soothing. Always read the label or check with your doctor to make sure it’s okay to give certain medicine before food.
Sit them upright. Avoid choking by keeping your baby upright. You can set them on your knee or keep them nearly upright in the crook of your arm. Don’t tip their head back — this can make it harder to swallow and lead to choking. In an upright position, gravity will eventually help them get it down.
Let them suck the syringe. One method of giving medicine to your baby is to put the syringe in your baby’s mouth and let them suck the medicine out. Slowly push the syringe plunger in as they start to swallow it. Just be sure they’re swallowing so you don’t give them too much at once.
Squirt small amounts in their mouth. Another option is to squirt small amounts at a time in your baby's mouth. Gently stroke their cheek to get them to open their mouth. Place the oral syringe between your baby’s teeth or gums and drip a small amount on the back of their tongue or against their cheek. Wait until they swallow and then give another small dose. Continue until it’s all gone.
Add it to food. If your baby refuses the syringe, you can give them the medicine with food if they eat solids. Check that the medicine is safe to give with food, though. Some can cause an upset stomach and are better taken with food. Others have to be taken on an empty stomach so the body absorbs them properly.
If you can use food, add the medicine to something like applesauce or pureed pears. Use a small amount of food — if you use too much and your baby doesn't finish it, they won't get the full dose. Don’t mix the medicine with necessary food like milk or formula. This might cause your baby to start avoiding the food they need.
Be positive. Use positive language and encouragement so taking medicine doesn't become a scary or stressful experience for your baby. Your baby can sense if you’re worried or emotional, so stay calm and talk plainly and positively.
What if Your Baby Won't Take the Medicine?
Using the right technique will usually avoid any problems with giving your baby medicine. But sometimes, babies still refuse to take it or spit it out. This can be because of the taste, so ask your doctor or pharmacist for flavored medicine or look for flavored over-the-counter options. You can usually get a banana-flavored liquid antibiotic, for example, which makes it easier to get down.
You can also try some tricks like mixing it with a little juice or sweetened water and giving the mixture in a syringe. In most cases, your baby doesn’t need over-the-counter medicine, so you can likely stop giving it. It’s best not to force it, which can make taking medicine a terrible experience.
If your baby has prescription medicine from your doctor, they need to take it and you’ll have to help them get it down. If they resist after you try the above suggestions, you’ll need to take a firm but gentle approach.
Here’s what to do:
- Hold your baby in an upright position on your lap
- Squirt some medicine into their inner cheek
- Gently hold their chin so their mouth stays closed and they can’t spit it out
- Stroke your hand down their throat to help them swallow
- Repeat the steps until you’ve given the full dose
If they cry, comfort them with a hug and their favorite comfort item. Try to stay calm and use a gentle and soothing tone of voice.
When Should You Talk to Your Doctor?
In most cases, trying different methods and using gentle but firm techniques will help. If nothing's working or your baby seems very sick, it's time to talk to your doctor.
