When can I start giving my child chewable medicine?
By age 2, most children will chew a tablet. (Some can handle tablets a little earlier, while others resist even at age 3 or 4.) The new, fast-melting preparations are easier to handle than the hard, slow-to-dissolve varieties. If your child doesn't like to chew his medication, there are, of course, other options. You can crush some medications into a food he likes. Make sure you get the proper dose from his doctor, and that it's okay to take with that particular food. (Certain medications become less effective when combined with certain foods.)
For many children, liquid preparations still work best at this age, and some can be flavored by the pharmacist to make them more palatable. A drink of water (or, in this special instance, a little piece of chocolate or chocolate mint) afterward can dilute the taste of any medication for your child.
Want advice from other parents?
Post your questions in Mom Answers.
IMPORTANT: As noted in our
information found on BabyCenter, including that provided by experts
in the "Get Answers" area, is a general educational aid. Do not rely
on this information as a substitute for personal medical or
healthcare advice, or for diagnosis or treatment purposes. Always
consult your physician or other qualified healthcare provider as soon
as possible about any medical or health-related question, and don't
wait for a response from our experts before such consultation. The
"Get Answers" area also contains opinions and views created by
community members. BabyCenter is not responsible for the accuracy of
any information posted by community members.