HealthMatters
Swallowing capsules is a kind of abilities that come naturally for some children, and for others it takes observe. In reality, about 26% of children have a tough time swallowing them. Some are nervous it should get caught of their throats and others have by no means tried it earlier than and due to this fact want a little bit of steerage.
Taking capsules as an alternative of liquid treatment has its advantages: They’re simpler to take with you, they depart little to no style of their mouths, and generally it provides docs extra prescribing choices.
In case your children are having a tough time swallowing capsules, they’re not alone! The excellent news is that there are tried-and-true behavioral methods that may assist them study. As a pediatric psychologist, listed here are a few of the ideas we use to show our sufferers:
TIPS FOR TEACHING KIDS HOW TO SWALLOW PILLS
1. Collect your provides
You’ll want small paper cups to make it possible for they’re not swallowing an excessive amount of liquid, sweet of accelerating sizes, and empty capsule gel capsules. Test along with your pharmacist to see if they’ve any in inventory.
2. Observe once they’re wholesome
The most effective time to observe capsule swallowing is once they’re not below any strain to take medication.
3. Hold the periods quick and enjoyable
Observe day by day utilizing the next steps till they’re comfy swallowing capsules. I like to recommend limiting every session to about 5-10 minutes in order that they don’t really feel overwhelmed. And attempt to make it enjoyable! Use completely different candies of accelerating sizes, similar to cupcake sprinkles, Nerds®, Tic Tacs®, mini M&M’s®, common M&M’s®, Good & Lots®.
4. Use imagery and positivity
Have your children image their throat prefer it’s a water slide, and the capsule is the interior tube gliding down the hill. It’s also useful to supply optimistic reinforcement alongside the best way. Older children will profit from having them say issues like “I can do that,” “I will probably be okay,” and “My physique can deal with this.”
5. Give them numerous choices
Giving them choices will make them really feel like they’ve a way of management. “Would you want to take a seat or stand?” “What would you prefer it combined with?” “White cup or pink cup?”
6. Begin with water
Have your children begin with a sip of water (with no piece of sweet) to observe. Make it possible for they’re not swishing the water of their mouths.
7. Then dissolve it
Beginning with the smallest sweet, have them place it towards the again of their tongues and let it dissolve again there.
8. Improve sizes regularly
As soon as they’ve mastered dissolving the smallest dimension at the back of their tongues, it’s time to aim to swallow it. Have them place the smallest sweet on the again of the tongues (whereas protecting it flat) after which take a sip of water to swallow the sweet. Repeat this 2-3 occasions in order that they really feel profitable shifting on to greater sizes. It might take a number of drinks and tries to get the sweet to go down, so maintain the encouragement going. They might discover it useful to strive completely different head positions. Turning the top to the aspect relaxes the throat which might make it simpler for capsules to slip down.
9. Repeat
Proceed rising the scale of the sweet till your children can swallow the scale of sweet that is the same as the scale of their capsules. In the event that they attain a dimension they can’t swallow, return to the final dimension they efficiently swallowed in order that they’ll finish the session with success. Then return to the method the following day. As soon as they’re comfy swallowing sweet, they’re able to strive empty capsules or precise capsules.
10. Make it simpler
Even when children are able to swallowing the most important dimension sweet, they might nonetheless want some further assist and techniques. Listed here are a number of to assist make swallowing simpler:
- Put the capsule in a spoonful of Jell-O or pudding, which is able to assist it slide down your baby’s throat. Have them observe swallowing simply the Jell-O earlier than attempting it with the capsules. Don’t cover the capsule within the Jell-O as a result of this may break belief between you and your baby.
- Attempt coating the capsule with magic shell.
- Dip the gel hole in ice water earlier than swallowing to make it very slippery, or use capsule glide swallowing spray.
- Use a particular capsule swallowing cup, similar to Oralflo.
- Crush the capsules in flavored syrup, if these methods aren’t working. Test along with your pharmacist first to verify the capsule may be crushed.
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