Taking medicine with your children can be challenging, but your efforts will be rewarded when they take it without difficulty. To help your child feel comfortable, consider allowing your child to choose the food and drink he or she takes the medicine with. You can also try to hide the taste of medicine with a strong-tasting snack such as frozen yogurt. Also, you can ask a pharmacist about mixing the medicine in other liquids to make it more bearable.
Children around eight years of age are able to understand the use of medicines, such as Tylenol and Aspirin, and they can distinguish between these two types of medications. They also have a basic understanding of their effectiveness, having previously only seen their parents taking the latter for fever and other ailments. Moreover, they can now take pills, which is a significant milestone since they have switched from syrup to tablets. However, it is important to remember that children do not understand all the ways in which these medicines work.
Parents should also keep track of their children’s medicines at home. To keep it secure, avoid leaving medicine unattended or in childproof containers. Keeping track of your child’s medications will allow your pediatrician to prescribe the correct medicine for them. Keep a record of each medicine, as well as their side effects, so you’ll be able to identify any problems or allergies. Even if you’re vigilant, medication mistakes can still happen. Whether your child accidentally snatches a pill from a cabinet, or your child grabs the wrong bottle, mistakes can occur.
A child’s medicine should only be used for a specific symptom. For example, a child suffering from a cough might not need a multisymptom cold medicine. It’s also important not to give your child an oral cough and cold medicine unless he or she has undergone a sleep disorder. Always check the label for the dose and keep a log of the medicine. You should also check with your pharmacist for information about the right medication.
If you choose to give your child a particular medicine, you should also make sure you know how to give it to your child. Most medicines come with a dosing device, so it’s important to use the one that comes with the medicine. Using a household spoon is not recommended. You can also ask a pharmacist about how to store the medicine. It’s best to keep it in the refrigerator or away from direct sunlight.
Preventing kids from gaining access to your medicine is the first step in preventing their accidental exposure. The best way to keep medicine out of the reach of children is to store it in high-level places such as medicine cabinets. It’s estimated that over two-thirds of all visits to emergency rooms are a result of medicine being left in a child’s reach. Even vitamins, hand sanitizer, and diaper rash creams can be toxic to a child.
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