How to Give a Baby Liquid Medication

Giving medicine to your baby is not exactly a fun adventure for either of you. Since it will help your little one feel better, you̵7;ll need to give that medication with the correct dosage, frequency and administering procedure for it to have the maximum benefits. Although she may not like it, a few minutes of working on getting that medicine down the hatch is better than hours or days without it.

Things You'll Need

  • Medicine
  • Medicine dropper or syringe
  • Soapy water
  • Water

Instructions

    • 1

      Read the medication product thoroughly before administering it to your baby, including the dosage, frequency, possible side effects and warnings. Always check the medication label to make sure the medicine is appropriate for an infant or toddler younger than 2 years of age. Ask your doctor is you̵7;re unsure.

    • 2

      Measure out the medicine exactly as prescribed by the doctor or according to the medication label using a dropper or syringe. The medicine should reach the proper measurement line when you look at it at eye level. When using a syringe, the medicine dose is according to the bottom of the syringe stopper, not the top. Ensure that the administering device is cleaned before and after each use with hot, soapy water, rinsed with warm water and air-dried.

    • 3

      Hold your baby in your lap with her back against your torso, and make her as comfortable as possible. She should be in a seated or semi-seating position.

    • 4

      Open your baby̵7;s mouth by gently pushing down on the chin or running your finger inside his cheek and pushing down on the jaw. Gently squirt the medicine to the side of the back of his cheek or beyond his gumline. Don̵7;t squirt it to the back of his throat -- he may choke. To prevent him from spitting it out, gently squeeze his cheeks together until he swallows the medicine.

    • 5

      Offer praise when you̵7;re done. Even if she doesn̵7;t understand the exact words, you should get in the practice of offering positive reinforcement for cooperation.

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