This post is sponsored by FLAVORx. All opinions are my own.
When your child is sick it’s stressful, and it’s even worse when they refuse medicine they need. I remember my youngest as a toddler with a bad ear infection who wouldn’t take his antibiotic. I had to remind myself of tips I’d learned working as a pharmacy technician—simple tricks pharmacists often share to help parents with stubborn kids.
Giving liquid medicine can lead to tears, tantrums, and longer illness if kids won’t take it. Whether it’s a short-term treatment or a daily medicine, there are things you can try to make it easier for both of you. If you’re asking “how can I get my child to take medicine?”, these tips should help.
8 Ways to Help Your Child Take Medicine
Have a positive attitude
Kids pick up on our emotions, so try to stay calm. If you get frustrated, they often act out more. Be steady and reassuring even when you’re irritated.
Improve the flavor with FLAVORx
Some medicines just taste awful, which is a big reason kids refuse them. FLAVORx lets pharmacies add kid-friendly flavors so the medicine tastes better. When I pick up prescriptions at CVS, I always ask for FLAVORx—it’s worth it to avoid the fight, and my kids love choosing the flavor. Flavors are sugar-free, gluten-free, dye-free, and casein-free. With more than 16 options that work with hundreds of drugs, there’s usually something even picky children will accept.
Talk it through
Ask your child what bothers them about the medicine and try to solve that problem. Explain why they need it, and make it clear it’s not a punishment. Be calm, firm, and understanding—you’re a team trying to get through this together.
Give them choices
Letting kids make small choices gives them a sense of control. Let them pick a FLAVORx flavor, how to take it (spoon, dosing cup, syringe), or where to take it (on your lap, in bed, on the couch). That little bit of control can cut down on resistance.
Fool the tongue
Use tricks to reduce the taste. A popsicle or ice cube before medicine can numb the tongue. Offer something sweet after (a spoonful of honey or a little chocolate syrup) to wash the taste away. Aim the medicine to the side of the mouth with a syringe to keep it away from most taste buds in the back.
Role play
Let little ones practice giving “medicine” to dolls or stuffed animals. Making it a game helps reduce fear and makes medicine time feel less scary.
Make it a routine
For medicines taken for a while or daily, build them into a routine. Give the medicine right before something they love—going outside, a favorite show, or playtime—so they have something to look forward to.
Reward them
Rewards can help motivate kids. Try a sticker chart or promise a small toy if they take their medicine all week. A little positive reinforcement goes a long way.
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