UPDATE: Tips for getting DD to swallow pills?

[elektra]

The mini M&M's worked! DD has been taking her pills like a champ for a week now.
I told her if she swallowed the M&M then she could eat a few. So we did a few times and she thought she was ready for the real thing. I was concerned because the real pill is chalky and I have to split it in half, so it's in now way smooth like and advil or mini m&m. But she did it with no problems!

I am really relieved because I was anticipating her to either struggle or just really resist. But she is proud of herself (and I am proud of her!) and she even has reminded me a few times that she needs to take her pill!

Phew!

And thanks for the tips!

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DD has to take antibiotics for 9 months and the doctor suggested that it might be easier to get her to swallow pills vs. liquid.
How do I teach her to swallow pills? Is it crazy to even try with a 5yo?

[lalasmama]

DD's been able to swallow pills since she was 4, so it can be done

We started with little sprinkles, moved onto larger sprinkles, then tried a tic-tac a time or two. Also, a TON of praise about what a "big kid" skill it was! And lots of "you'll never have to drink yucky tasting medicine, you'll be able to take a pill instead!"

Now, she gets annoyed at taking any liquid medicine (still looking for no-dye ibuprofen pills, since she's allergic to artificial food coloring, and most of them are coated with dyes). She'd rather just swallow a pill and be done with it

[swrc00]

Have her put the pill in her mouth and then drink water through a straw. The sucking motion helps to get the pill down. This is how my mother taught me when I was 4.

[niccig]

Have her put the pill in her mouth and then drink water through a straw. The sucking motion helps to get the pill down. This is how my mother taught me when I was 4.

Thank you. I just had a difficult time with DS (7) in taking a motrin pill. It's the chewable kind that he's taken before but he said it tastes yucky, so I was trying to get him to swallow it but drinking orange juice to help with the taste. I'll try a straw next time.

[swrc00]

I am not sure if this makes a difference, but it might. I always used a bendable straw.

[KpbS]

I explained to DS1 when he had to learn that it was just like swallowing a small bite of food, your tongue does the same thing, so he wouldn't focus on the fact that it was a pill and weird. Also our ped reminded me that pills can be cut into smaller pieces if necessary.

[pinkmomagain]

Mini m&ms are what we used successfully.

[o_mom]

DS3 just turned 5 and can swallow pills. He is on a medication that is not available in liquid form at all and DH got tired of crushing them up for him. We have him tip his head back, open wide, stick out his tongue and say 'Ahhh' and I drop it on the back of his tongue, then he swallows. It took a few tries, but he has it down now. You can start with tic-tacs or small M&Ms and then work your way up if you want.

It ended up saving us a boatload of money when he was switched to a medicine that has no generic for the liquid. Instead of $200/month for brand-name liquid, we can get generic tablets for $30/month.

[mommytoC]

Mini m&ms are what we used successfully.

Although we're not "there yet" with our DC, this is what I've recommended to families, and have yet to hear it failed .

[ladysoapmaker]

When DS#2 started taking pills we had him eat a small amount of food with the pill (being careful not to chew the nonchewable pill) to help him learn to swallow the pill. applesauce, placing the pill on a piece of toast, etc...

It worked and only took about 3 days for him to get the hang of it and then another several months before he felt confident enough to just use water.

Jen