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Children's health

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Original poster

is there a way it's possible to teach a child to swallow a tablet?

42 replies

Moln · 04/03/2012 12:55

or is it jsut a case that if they can't they can't?

Don't remember when I might have first swallowed a tablet so can recall how it was introduced

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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SparkySparrow · 04/03/2012 12:57

How old?
If they were old enough I would just tell them to fill their mouth with water, pop the tablet in, then swallow.
Shouldn't be to tricky if the child is old enough!

SparkySparrow · 04/03/2012 12:58

Although I know adults that still can't swallow tablets.

Original poster

Moln · 04/03/2012 12:59

ds is 8 and that's exactly what I told him to do

he said the tabelt wouldn't do down

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SparkySparrow · 04/03/2012 13:01

Did he shake his head and tip it up just before he swallowed?
Thats what I used to do.

lotney · 04/03/2012 13:01

Mum always made us put the tablet far back on our tongue then take a big gulp of water.

Sparklingbrook · 04/03/2012 13:03

My two are 12 and 9. I have been unable to get either to take a tablet, it has caused so many rows. It makes me really cross. If they could just do it it would make them feel better.
I think swallowing with pop makes it easier, but they won't do that either.

Original poster

Moln · 04/03/2012 13:06

î won't give up just yet!

He's quite an awkward sort when it comes to fine motor skill so might be something to do with it

ye told he to tip his head back but no joy - mind you by that satge it'd half disolved and most likely tasted ick! He ended up just chewing and swallowing

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aimingforthesky · 04/03/2012 13:07

My daughter had to start taking a large number of tablets. I got her to practice with small sweets , mini smarties I think,and swallowing with blackcurrant squash- quickly got the hang of it without the foul tablet taste when tablets start dissolving in the mouth

hth

startail · 04/03/2012 14:23

My Dad eventually learnt with vitamin pills having driven my Mum crazy.

Original poster

Moln · 04/03/2012 16:50

aiming that's a good idea thanks, as the taste did get to him. As are vitammin tablets

thankfully he doesn't need to take them on a regular basis. It's a useful skill, DH can't and had to pay ?45 for liquid anti-bs a while back!!.

OP posts:

hermioneweasley · 04/03/2012 16:56

My mum taught me with smarties

MegMogAndOwl · 05/03/2012 19:32

I couldn't take tablets til I was 16

I used to have to put it in a spoonful of yoghurt so it 'stuck'. I seemed to be able to swallow a mouthful of water but leave the tablet behind!

Original poster

Moln · 05/03/2012 20:15

that's what happened to him MegMog, he's still not great but I gave him calpol 6+ now as he's too miserablel to encourage him to swallow tablets too

OP posts:

needanotherperspective · 05/03/2012 20:28

I still can't swallow tablets like that.

What I do is have them with food - something like bread is best. take mouthful of bread, chew it, and when you feel like you should swallow, put tablet in mouth and make sure you swallow it with the food. Bread is good because it makes a sort of doughy-ball, so you can really hide the pill in there.

rubyslippers · 05/03/2012 20:29

Fizzy drinks make it easier

That's how I learnt

colditz · 05/03/2012 20:32

get them to stick their tongue out as far as possible and tip their head back. have them hold a cup of water and tell them to drink it all when you say so.

Drop the tablet right to the back of the child's mouth, and tell them to drink the water asap./

colditz · 05/03/2012 20:33

Ds1 takeshis meds like this and his motor skils are awful - he has asd - so it's got to be quite easy to do. he's 8.

ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 05/03/2012 20:33

TicTacs - they're perfect for practising. People take tablets in different ways - myself, I can't stand too much water, I have to put the tablet at the front of my mouth etc, one friend needs a large mouthful of water and another can only take them with food.

I do know I couldn't do it willingly until I was a teenager and started having bad periods and it got too embarrasing to ask my Dad to crush it up and mix it with milk for me! Although it has to be said, tablets are usually 'coated' now, so are easier - and I only buy expensive, coated, caplets

SleepingWithGhosts · 05/03/2012 20:35

My son aged 7 takes his with a spoonful of yoghurt and has no problems. Is it a particularly nasty tasting tablet?

roisin · 05/03/2012 20:36

I couldn't take tablets when I was little and have very traumatic memories about it.

So I taught mine, when they were aged about 3 and 5. I got haribo gummi bears and cut them into 4 pieces and got them to swallow a piece whole, then moved to half gummi bear size, then whole gummi bear size.

It took about 5-10 mins to teach them and they've been fine ever since whenever they've needed tablets, or fish oils, or vitamins.

SixtyFootDoll · 05/03/2012 20:37

My mum used to chop the tablet in half and take a big gulp of squash

HSMM · 05/03/2012 20:38

I did the sticking tongue out thing with my DD. She stuck her tongue out as far as she could. I put the tablet as far back on her tongue as I could. Then she had a drink of whatever her favourite was.

Catsmamma · 05/03/2012 20:39

I am utterly rubbish at it, but have taught all the children to do it.

I was recently told to use a straw to suck the water up as it keeps the muscles from tensing up.
Someone also said fizzy water, but I am not that keen on it anyway so that hasn't helped me.

Sometime it was like dosing the cat... open wide (drop tablet in) hand over drink but now they are all big I let them get on with it really

Original poster

Moln · 05/03/2012 20:39

it was paracetamol tablet - I know there's calpol but I do think it'd be handy skill for him to have (see up thread about D 'can't swallow tablet' ?45 liquiid antibiotics)

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Tranquilidade · 05/03/2012 20:45

Most people who can't swallow tablets try to compensate by putting them further back on the tongue which is the worst thing possible. If you put it on the front, the tongue acts like a natural funnel

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