Tamiflu is effective at treating flu-like symptoms in children, and it can quickly relieve their discomfort. But administering medicine is an entirely different story. The flavor leaves much to be desired.
Children don’t need advanced culinary palates to understand that this medicine doesn’t go down as quickly as their favorite foods. Therefore, if you wish to learn more about tricking your tot into taking their medicine, keep reading!
In this article
- How to Get a Child to Take Liquid Tamiflu
- Give Them the Illusion of Choice
- Find a Form of Medicine That Works for Them
- Find a Creative Way to Give Them Their Medicine
- Explain to Your Child the Wonders of Medicine
- Reward Your Child
- Do Something Fun While Giving Them Their Medicine
- Know When to Tell Them to Take Their Medicine
- Take the Tamiflu With Them
- Try Reverse Psychology
- Allow Them to Give Themselves Their Own Medicine
- Disguise the Taste With Food
- How to Make Tamiflu Taste Better
- Conclusion
How to Get a Child to Take Liquid Tamiflu
There are a few ways you can administer the medicine successfully. Try a few of these tips to get them feeling better in no time.
Give Them the Illusion of Choice
When your little one feels under the weather, they may feel overwhelmed by their loss of control in the situation.
They may lash out and throw a tantrum every time you try to give their medicine. They may also not understand that the medication will make them feel better when forced on them.
Try to give them the illusion of choice. With this, they have an illusion of control. Instead of asking if they want to take their medicine (it’ll be an automatic NO if you ask them this question), ask them HOW they want their medicine given to them.
Perhaps in a cup, or maybe a syringe? Ask them if they want their medicine now, or if they’d instead take it after nap time.
Giving them an ultimatum can make them feel like they are in control, so they won’t focus on how unappealing the medicine is. ‘No’ won’t be a proper answer when you phrase the question right.
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Find a Form of Medicine That Works for Them
If you’re struggling to give your child their medicine, perhaps they’re not fans of how you’re administering the medication and not the medicine itself. Experiment with liquid or chewable tablets and test how they respond best.
Find a Creative Way to Give Them Their Medicine
Kids love games and playing make-believe, so turn this awful chore into something that they’ll enjoy instead! Play a role-playing game where their medicine is an antidote for poison while playing a game of pirates.
The medicine can also serve as a magic potion, meant to help you on a quest when playing a game of wizards, dragons, and princesses.
You can try putting the medicine in a creative spoon shaped like a plane or train.
- KIDS DINNERWARE SET: This clever and cute meal set for toddlers and preschool kids helps make mealtime fun and includes a portion control divided plate and kids utensils sized just right for little boys and girls.
- PROMOTE GOOD EATING HABITS: Divided plates help parents promote portion control and encourage healthy eating habits. Each section allows children to have some of each food group and eat a balanced meal.
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Explain to Your Child the Wonders of Medicine
If your child is old enough and can grasp this concept, sit them down, and have a conversation with them. Ask them if they like feeling sick. No one likes it, of course!
Then, tell them that the only way that they can feel better is to take their medicine. Remind them what it’s like to feel strong, healthy, and full of energy. Narrate their favorite memory to them.
Did they have a fun outing at Disneyland or on a school field trip? After creating this positive imagery, remind them that feeling that good is only one sip of Tamiflu away.
Reward Your Child
If getting better isn’t a strong enough reason, give them a better form of motivation. Tell them that once they’re feeling better, you’ll take them to their favorite park or museum. Also, motivate them with their favorite meal or dessert.
Do Something Fun While Giving Them Their Medicine
If your child is wrapped up doing something fun and entertaining, they may not even notice Tamiflu’s undesirable taste.
Play their favorite movie, TV show, or song and wait for them to become absorbed with the distraction. Then, give them their serving of medicine.
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Know When to Tell Them to Take Their Medicine
Timing is everything when it comes to giving your child their medicine. If you know that they are particularly grumpy in the mornings, wait until the middle of the day to avoid any meltdowns.
Take the Tamiflu With Them
Be a positive role model in your own home. Try not to complain about taking your own medicine when you’re sick. You can also pour yourself your serving of medicine and drink it with them. Of course, swap yours with water or tea at the last second.
Try Reverse Psychology
Reverse psychology can also work if they refuse to take their medicine. Tell your child that you have a unique and secret beverage that they aren’t allowed to drink until they’re older.
Maybe state that they probably ‘wouldn’t want it.’ If this peaks their curiosity, administer the medicine.
Allow Them to Give Themselves Their Own Medicine
Make your child feel more independent and tell them they can administer their own medicine. Leave it on the counter for them, prepped and ready to go. Like the ultimatum method, this gives them the illusion that they are making their own choice.
They’ll feel all grown up and excited about making such an important decision for themselves.
Disguise the Taste With Food
You can use liquid or food. In this section, we’re going to discuss how to use their favorite foods to combat the taste. You can try layering something over the medicine. Pour some in a spoon and cover the top with whipped cream. You can also use yogurt.
How to Make Tamiflu Taste Better
What to Mix with Tamiflu
If you choose to mix the Tamiflu to hide the taste, consider these next beverages.
Can You Mix Tamiflu with Milk?
They may notice the color change in the milk, so squirt in some chocolate to syrup to further mask the taste and explain the change in color. You can also use cocoa powder to add a nice chocolatey flavor to the milk.
- DELICIOUS TASTE – Kids and adults alike will love the real cocoa, chocolatey goodness of NESQUIK Low Fat Chocolate Milk. It’s ready whenever you are with the delicious taste you remember, plus the nutrition you need.
- NOURISHING NUTRIENTS – Kids will love the great taste, but parents will really appreciate the nourishing nutrients. It’s made with 100% real milk and real cocoa and is a good source of protein and vitamins, with no high fructose corn syrup.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Additionally, use soy or almond milk if your child is lactose intolerant.
Can You Mix Tamiflu with Juice?
This is perhaps one of the best ways to hide the taste of Tamiflu! It mixes well with sugary juice. Prepare this version in a glass or cut a hole in their juice box. Then, hide a cup of medicine inside.
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Can You Mix Tamiflu with Baby Formula?
Lastly, try mixing your child’s dose of Tamiflu with baby formula. Don’t go out of your way to purchase formula if you don’t have an infant. However, if you’re bottle-feeding your little one, use these ingredients that you already have around the house.
To prepare this version, follow these steps.
- Empty one tablet of Tamiflu into a small mixing bowl
- Add three teaspoons of water to the bowl
- Add some formula or breastmilk and a bit of sugar to the mixture and serve it to your child
Conclusion
One of the biggest challenges parents is having to force their children to take their medicine. On the one hand, it will make them healthier, but if your kids are resistant to medicine, it can often feel like torture.
To make this process as seamless as possible, try implementing some of these top tips to make the entire ordeal a pleasant situation, not something that can potentially cause a toddler tantrum!
