Teaching Kids to Take Pills

Swallowing pills can be a tough skill to learn. I was very intimidated by the jump from children’s chewable vitamins and chewable Tylenol to adult tablets. I remember trying to convince my parents to let me take the children’s type just a little longer… “They’ll invent chewable versions for adults any day now!” I hoped.

If you have a little one with medical needs, the skill of swallowing pills may need to be taught at a young age. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way.

Start with Tic Tacs
My son’s pediatrician recommended practicing with Tic Tacs instead of actual medication. Trying to get your child to take real medication right away raises the stakes, since you’ll be more stressed about wasting a pill if it gets spit out, or starts dissolving from multiple attempts. Tic Tacs are just about the right shape and size, taste better than a bitter tablet, and won’t hurt anyone if they are swallowed whole, which allows for more pleasant practice.

The Applesauce Method
Putting a pill or capsule on a spoon with a food that can be swallowed in one gulp is one way to get those tricky pills down. The food can be applesauce, yogurt, pudding, or anything else you can think of that your child will enjoy. Remember, this should be a food that they can swallow without being tempted to chew, and you should only put one swallow’s worth on the spoon. If there’s too much, and it takes more than one swallow to get down, it gives your child more time to feel the pill in their mouth and get nervous.

Use a Bendy Straw
One challenge that many people face when taking pills, is getting the pill into the right position in their mouths to swallow quickly. If it takes too long to get down, they can start overthinking and panic, or the tablet starts to dissolve and taste bad, making everything worse. One way to help with this positioning, is to have a drink with a bendy straw. Place the pill in your mouth, then immediately take a big sip of water through the straw. The sucking and swallowing motion will move that pill to the back of your mouth and down in no time.

Take Pills with Soda
This may be unconventional, but it works! Kaelynn Partlow, an autistic social media creator and autism advocate, recommends this one. For children who have sensory issues, introducing an additional sensory experience—like all the bubbles and fizz from a sip of soda—can help distract them from the feel of the pill in their mouth. Give it a try, and be sure to give Kaelynn a follow on YouTube, Facebook or Instagram. Her videos are incredibly informative and helpful.

Have you tried any of these methods before, or have another tip to share? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.