Teaching your child to swallow pills

Does your little one have trouble swallowing a pill? It’s a really common problem. Some studies suggest that 30% to 50% of kids struggle with this task.

“Most children are developmentally ready to swallow a pill between the ages of 5 and 7,” says Deena Blanchard, MD. She’s a pediatrician at NYU Langone Health in New York City. “If they’re highly motivated — for example, they hate the taste of liquid medication — it can be easy. But sometimes they can develop anxiety that makes it more difficult.”

The good news is that you have ways to make it easier for your child. Dr. Blanchard says the key is to introduce the idea when your kid isn’t sick. “This is not something that you want to tackle when your child has a 103-degree fever,” she says.

First, sit down with your little one and make sure they’re interested. “If they aren’t yet, you have to ask yourself whether or not this is the hill that you want to die on,” says Dr. Blanchard. You may be able to shelve the discussion for another time.

But if your child is interested, or it’s just time — say, they’re about to age out of liquid formulas — then you have ways to help the medication go down. “It’s like teaching your child to ride a bike: It involves a lot of patience and practice,” says Dr. Blanchard.

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Tips for helping your child swallow pills

Start small

Dr. Blanchard recommends that your child start with tiny candy sprinkles that they can easily place on the middle of their tongue. “Let them pick out the sprinkles they want so that they feel more in control,” she says. Then have them wash it down with a few sips of water.

If they can do that easily, you can move on to a mini M&M and repeat the routine. “If they’re successful, then try going up a size — like a Tic Tac,” adds Dr. Blanchard.

But if they can’t, don’t push it. Take a step back, have them swallow something smaller and stop there. “You want to finish on a positive note so that they aren’t scared to try again,” says Dr. Blanchard.

Have your child sit up straight

“A lot of kids think that they need to tilt their head back to swallow, but that’s actually more likely to cause them to gag because their neck is extended,” notes Dr. Blanchard. Instead, she recommends that they sit up straight in a chair.

Practice the 1-2-3 rule

When swallowing a pill, Dr. Blanchard tells her patients to take 3 sips of water quickly. “The first swallow gets it down, but 2 and 3 are nice backups,” she says.

It’s also important to tell your little ones to keep their head level and bring the water up to their mouth, rather than drop their head down to drink from their cup.

Pick the right pill

If you have the option, coated pills — such as brand over-the-counter Motrin® or Advil® — are often easier to swallow, says Dr. Blanchard. Just check with your pediatrician for age-appropriate dosing.

What to do if your child still has trouble swallowing pills

If you’ve tried all of these tricks and feel that you’re not getting anywhere, there are other ways to help get that pill down.

Slip it in something sweet

“Hands down, I recommend the Jell-O method,” says David Culpepper, MD. He’s clinical director of the telehealth company LifeMD. He suggests tucking the medication into a 1-inch cube of Jell-O. Have them swallow it, then wash it down with water.

“The gelatin is so soft and slippery, it slides down easily,” he explains. Once they’ve gotten used to that, you can try a smaller piece of Jell-O. That will allow them to taste the medication a little. And then you can start trying just the medication itself.

Crush the pill

Some medications can be ground and put into applesauce or pudding. You can also cut a large pill with a pill splitter.

But always ask your pediatrician or pharmacist if it’s okay to do either. Certain medications can’t be broken apart. Your pediatrician may also suggest another way your child can take the medication, such as a ready-made powder or liquid.

With time, practice and patience, your child will get over the fear of swallowing pills. Every kid is different, but you’ll find the method that works best for them.

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