
Is your child fussy every time they take medicine, making you worried? Especially when your baby has to take antibiotics, crying can easily lead to choking or vomiting. Join our 0-3 year old baby care section to find out why babies are afraid of taking medicine and safe, easy, tear-free ways to give your child medicine in the following article!
Why are children afraid of taking medicine?
Children are afraid of taking medicine because of the bitter taste and the large size of the pills, which makes swallowing even more difficult. Therefore, some children vomit continuously when taking medicine. It becomes even harder when parents scold their children, and this action makes them even more afraid of taking medicine.
12 Easy, Vomit-Free Ways to Give Your Child Medicine
Giving medicine with a syringe
First, prepare all the necessary medicines within reach of your child. Powdered medicine should be pre-mixed in a cup and placed next to a cup of warm water. Use a syringe to draw the medicine and administer it into your child’s mouth.

Using a syringe is one of the effective ways to give medicine to children
Giving medicine with a spoon
Understand that giving tablets to young children is very difficult. Therefore, it is recommended to give them liquid forms such as vitamin B125ml syrup or crush the medicine and mix it with water. Then, use a spoon to feed it to the child.
When feeding, have the child tilt their head back slightly and then administer the medicine. Do not give the medicine too quickly or remove the spoon too fast. Wait for the child to swallow all the medicine.
Dividing the dose
An effective tip in this case is to give the child one pill at a time instead of all at once, as they may be intimidated by seeing too many pills. Individual pills are easier for children to swallow.
Placing the medicine correctly in the mouth
A child’s taste buds are concentrated at the front and center of the tongue. Therefore, to avoid the bitter taste, place the spoon with the diluted medicine in the middle of the child’s tongue.
Encouraging children with rewards
Giving a reward after the child has taken their medicine is an effective method.
Avoiding negative reactions
Getting angry or scolding will only make the child more afraid of taking medicine, even leading to screaming and vomiting. Even if you’re frustrated, try to appear cheerful to make the child comfortable and the medicine administration more effective.
Mixing medicine with food/drinks
Many parents choose to mix medicine with water or food. However, before doing this, consult a doctor to see if it’s okay to hide the medicine in food or drinks. If so, mix the medicine thoroughly into a small amount of fruit juice. Remember, if you mix medicine with food/drinks, the child needs to consume the entire portion.

Mixing medicine into drinks is a way to administer medicine when the child is resistant.
Giving children choices
Let the child choose which flavored or colored medicine to take first. This can help them feel more in control and less coerced, making them more receptive.
Tricking the taste buds
Give the child some syrup or something cold, like a popsicle, before taking the medicine. Alternatively, you can quickly wash away the taste of the medicine with sweet food afterward.
Teaching children how to swallow pills
Children around 4 years old should be taught how to swallow pills. Start by having them practice swallowing small candies. Other methods include dipping capsules in cold water to soften them or breaking pills into smaller pieces and placing them in a small piece of jelly.
Switching from bitter to sweet medicine
Some medicines come in sweeter flavors. Pharmacists can recommend a flavored product that makes the medicine easier to take. If your child is having trouble taking medicine, ask your doctor about switching to sweeter alternatives.
Seeking advice from a doctor
If the child vomits the medicine more than once or you can’t administer essential medications, the doctor might consider switching to a different medication or using injectable forms.
What to do if the child still refuses to take medicine?
Some children between 1 and 4 years old may vehemently refuse to take medicine. If the medicine is over-the-counter, like cough, cold, and fever medication, you can stop giving it. But if the medicine is essential, like antibiotics, consider these suggestions:
- Tell the child about the bitter taste of the medicine.
- Explain why they need to take this medicine.
- Give the child some time to accept taking the medicine.
Some important things to note and avoid when giving medicine to children
- To help children take bitter medicine, you can mix it with honey or fruit juice like apple juice in moderation.
- Give infants the correct dosage as prescribed. Most infant medications are in liquid form, so use the measuring device provided with each bottle. For bottles without a measuring spoon, purchase a syringe for accurate measurement.
- The ideal time to give infants medicine to avoid vomiting is about 30 minutes after eating. Follow the specific instructions for each medicine regarding taking it on an empty or full stomach.
- Give medicine at a fixed time to establish a routine.
- Consult your doctor and pharmacist about how to administer medicine, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics effectively.
- Do not discontinue the dosage before the prescribed treatment period to avoid drug resistance.
- Never buy antibiotics for your child without a doctor’s prescription.
- Always read the instructions carefully before use.
Answers to 8 questions about giving medicine to children
1. Can I give my child a higher (or lower) dose than recommended on the medicine label?
The answer is NO. Dosage is usually based on the child’s weight, and you should not change it without consulting a specialist.
2. Can I mix my child’s medicine with fruit juice to make it easier to drink?
An effective way is to mix the medicine with semi-solid foods like porridge. If the medicine settles at the bottom of the drink, your child won’t get the full dose. Also, avoid calcium-rich foods like baby milk, as they can reduce the effectiveness of some medicines.
3. Can I give my child medicine for a stomachache without consulting a doctor?
Avoid giving over-the-counter stomachache medicine containing bismuth subsalicylate, as it may not be suitable for children. For stomachaches, give small amounts of water or an electrolyte solution like Pedialyte or Enfalyte at a rate of 1 or 2 teaspoons every five minutes.
4. What should I do if I accidentally give my child an overdose?
Call your doctor immediately if you suspect an overdose. Some medicines can become toxic in high doses. Do not give syrup of ipecac, as doctors no longer recommend it for poisoning cases.
6. What should I do if my child vomits after taking medicine?
If your child vomits, you might be able to give another dose, as the medicine may not have had enough time to be absorbed.
7. When and how can I teach my child to swallow pills?
By age 5, most children can swallow a small, pea-sized pill. The best way to start is by lubricating the pill. Apply a bit of cooking oil to the pill, place it in the child’s mouth, and teach them to swallow it like food.
8. How can I be sure my child has swallowed the pill?
Ask your child to open their mouth to check if they have swallowed the pill. Supervise them during the process to ensure they don’t secretly spit it out.
The above article provides essential information on how to give medicine to children effectively. The 0-1 year old baby care section hopes you’ll find a way to give your child medicine even when they are uncooperative. If you have any questions, please leave a comment so AVAKids can answer you as quickly as possible!