Any tips for teaching a child to swallow tablets?

[BudaisintheZONE]

DS is almost 9. On antibiotics but we had such trauma and tears yesterday as he hated the taste so much that I promised him I would teach him to take tablets and get the antibiotics again in tablet form.

He is worried he will choke. Thought I would buy some sweets in various sizes. Starting small and progressing to a smartie.

Any other ideas?

Bump!

Only thing I can offer is what my Mum used to do with us when we were young - crush the tablets between two teaspoons. I think it'll be pretty hard to get a nine year old to swallow a whole, even small, tablet.

Could you swallow a couple of skittles or similar to show him?

I don't know if this is 'safe' or not.. but I've had to take pancreatic enzyme capsules since I was small and my mum got me to start swallowing them by getting a milkshake and curly straw (I loved em!) and getting me to push the capsule very loosely in the top of the straw then taking a sip so that the capsule and a mouthful of milkshake went down I loved doing it... mind you I was about 3 or 4. Still, worth a go! x

P.S. And as I'm sure your doing, carry on with LOADS of reassurance and big YAY when he manages it x

We taught the boys using haribo jelly bears. We started off with 1/4 of a bear, then a half. Within a few minutes they could manage to swallow a whole bear.

They were 4 and 6 at the time.

When I was a child I couldn't take tablets and I remember the related trauma. So I wanted it to be not a problem for my boys.

I have always hated taking tablets and still have difficulties sometimes.

Make sure he tips his head back when he swallows.

Tell him not to think about the fact he's swallowing a tablet (even now if I do it my throat blocks) and swallow as quickly as possible.

I find it easier to swallow with milk than with water - scraps my throat less.