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Q:

How do I handle my baby's resistance to taking medication or supplements, such as vitamins or iron drops?

Hi everyone,

I am a new mother and I am struggling with giving my baby medication or supplements. Every time I try to give my baby vitamins or iron drops, he starts screaming and clamping his mouth shut. I am worried that he is not getting enough nutrients and vitamins he needs for proper growth and development.

Can you please share your experiences and tips on how to handle a baby's resistance to taking medication or supplements? What are some techniques or tricks that worked for you to make it easier to administer these essential nutrients to your little one? I really appreciate any advice you can offer.

Thank you in advance!

All Replies

gabe20

Hello there,

I completely understand how challenging it can be giving your baby medication or supplements, as my little one put up the same resistance at first. However, what worked for me to make it easier was making sure to give the medicine right after a feeding, so that he was not as hungry and cranky.

As for the medication itself, I found it helpful to use a pacifier that came with a medicine dropper. This way, my baby could suckle the pacifier and receive the medicine/drop as well.

Additionally, I tried to be patient and calm with my baby during the process, taking my time to get him to open his mouth for the medication. If he was uncomfortable, I would try to reposition him gently and soothe him.

Lastly, I always praised and rewarded him after taking the medication with something he enjoyed, like cuddles or his favorite toy. Over time, taking medicine became less of a hassle and more of a routine for him.

Hope these tips work for you too!

ortiz.delta

Hello,

I also faced a lot of difficulty giving medication to my baby until I discovered that giving him control and involving him made it easier for both of us.

I would let him hold the dropper or syringe, and I would slowly guide it into his mouth. This gave him a sense of control over the ordeal and made him feel more secure.

Another approach that worked for me was using a toy or a book as a distraction while giving the medicine. He would be so busy playing that he wouldn't realize that he was taking medicine.

Lastly, if he still resisted, I would give him a break and try again later. It's important to remember that babies go through phases and it's not always easy. But, if you're persistent and approach it from a positive perspective, things will get easier with time.

I hope these tips help other parents dealing with the same issue!

anitzsche

Hi there,

I went through the same phase when my little one started rejecting medications and supplements. It was a struggle to find a solution, but eventually, I figured out a few tricks that worked.

One thing that worked well for me was mixing the supplement with something my baby enjoyed drinking, like his favorite juice. I also found that giving him the medication or supplement during a feeding while he was distracted by nursing helped.

Another idea was to use a dropper or syringe to put the medicine in the cheek, towards the back of the mouth. This way, the baby could not spit it out easily.

Also, I always made sure to talk to my baby and explain what I was doing in a soothing tone. This helped him be more cooperative and less fearful of taking medication.

Hope my experience helps!

darian.welch

Hello,

I had a tough time trying to give my baby medication until I discovered that he responded well to positive reinforcement. As soon as he took the medication or supplements, I would praise him and give him a small treat like a piece of fruit or a cracker.

I also found it helpful to make the whole process quick and hassle-free by being well-prepared. I would have everything ready before starting, such as the medicine, dropper, or syringe so that I could give him the medication as quickly as possible.

For medications that have an unpleasant taste, I would always offer a sip of water or his favorite beverage afterward, so he felt like he was getting rewarded. Another thing that helped me was to create a consistent schedule for medicine and supplement time, so he knew what to expect.

Lastly, I think it's important to be patient and understanding, especially if your baby is feeling unwell or upset. Sometimes, it’s OK to skip the medicine if the baby is not feeling up to it and trying again later.

I hope these tips help other parents dealing with the same issue!

eankunding

Hello,

I had a lot of trouble giving my baby medication when he was going through a tough phase of teething. He simply refused to open his mouth and take the medicine. So, I tried to find a different approach and found that distraction was really helpful.

I would sometimes play his favorite song or make funny faces to take his attention away from the fact that he was taking medication. Another thing that helped me was to let him hold on to his favorite toy while I was giving him the medicine. This kept his little hands occupied and he was less inclined to fight me.

When all else failed, I found that it was helpful to enlist the help of someone else, like my partner or a grandparent. I would hold him on my lap while the other person gently gave him the medicine. He was more likely to cooperate and take the medication if he was not struggling with me alone.

Overall, I found that being patient, calm, and creative with our approach to medication made the process much easier for both my baby and me.

pjerde

Hi there,

I completely understand the struggle of giving medicine or supplements to a baby who is resistant to it. I tried a lot of different techniques, but what finally worked for me was mixing the medicine with food that my baby liked.

For example, I would mix iron supplements into pureed fruits like applesauce, or mix vitamins into oatmeal. This made it easier to disguise the taste and texture of the medicine. I also found that giving my little one a small spoon to hold on to while I fed him the mixture helped him feel like he was in control of the situation.

Another tactic that worked for me was to use a special spoon with a soft tip for medicines that had to be taken directly. The soft tip was less intrusive and easier to swallow, which helped my baby take the medicine without too much fuss.

I hope these tips help other parents struggling with the same problem. Remember, patience and creative strategies can go a long way in making giving medicine to your baby a breeze!

howe.virginia

Hello everyone,

I had a really tough time giving my baby medication or supplements. He would cry and resist every time I tried to give him anything. So, after trying a couple of different things, I found that humor worked really well in my case.

I found that making silly sounds or faces, or even singing a song while administering the medication made the whole process less daunting for him. Sometimes, we would make a game out of it and he would laugh and open his mouth willingly, making the whole ordeal more enjoyable for both of us.

Another tip that worked for me was to try different spots in the mouth. Sometimes, the medication could taste or feel strange in certain spots, so switching it up made it easier for him to swallow.

Lastly, I found that having a routine that he was familiar with worked to my advantage. So, I would always give him the medication right before he fell asleep, so he wouldn't fight me as much or right after waking up before a feeding.

I hope these tips help other parents! Just remember to always keep things light and approach the process with a sense of humor.

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