, YNN's Marcie Fraser offers advice on a variety of children's issues, including health, diet, exercise, activities and psychological problems. Find it Wednesday's only on YNN.
Child Wellness: Getting kids to take their medicine
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When a child is ill, giving them the correct medication has its challenges.
For younger kids, liquid medication may be the easiest to administer but not the most exact.
"Little children don't like to drink liquids. Bigger kids don't like to take tablets or capsules,” pediatrician Dr. Manny Cirenza said. “Many parents will complain when they are using liquid they lose medicine, sometimes they throw up or spit up medications."
Pills or tablets provide a more accurate method of administering medicine but getting them to swallow a pill takes practice.
“Have them practice on a Tic Tac. They are cheap and simple and a good starter size,” Dr. Cirenza said. “Take the tablet, or if practicing a Tic Tac, get a large drink of water and wash it down aggressively and they will get it."
Click the video above to learn more about administering medication to children.