How to get a 6 year old to swallow a capsule?

Linda - posted on 02/14/2013

my granddaughter was prescribed something in a time release capsule and everything that I've used all the remedys that worked on my children and nothing works any ideas I'm open for ideas

Rachel - posted on 10/21/2009

I myself have a hard time taking some capsules depending on their size. I 10 year old son can't swallow any size capsule. The strange thing is, it's a fear to take a capsule and the throuat tightens so the pill is hard to swallow. So I have taught my son to trick his brain like I do when taking pills. I eat something like a peanut butter sandwhich or something else real gooey. Anyway, right before swallowing I push the food in the middle of all the chewed food in my mouth. The only thing you tast is the food you are swallowing. So no fear of a peanut butter sandwich, therefore no tightness in the throat. Good luck!

Dorinda - posted on 10/12/2009

Put tablet in there food Yogurt,Banana, Bread, weet-bix, Hope this helps your Daughter

Jill - posted on 10/11/2009

my 2 have just gotten over swine flu and the tamiflu was in capsule form the trick is to open it up and tip the contents of the capsule out onto a spoon with something sweet on it and mix it together.hope this helps x

Jessica - posted on 10/10/2009

when my son had to take a pill i would put it in a spoonfull of puding or applesauce. Usually they just swallow and don'y even think to chew. Also my little sister in law has cerbal palsey and that is how she takes her pills. (she has a hard time chewing anything)

Gemma - posted on 10/10/2009

i would never get capsules for my daughter as she cant swallow them either always go for liquid till shes old enough to understand!!

Emilie - posted on 10/10/2009

I could never get my son to swallow a capsule or pill, I always have to crush it, or open it and put it in food or drink ( I asked the doctor about that, she said it was Okay.)

Jenn - posted on 10/10/2009

I second the M & M suggestion. My MIL is a pediactric RN, and she advised us to start training our girls to swallow plain M&M's when they were about 2-2.5yo. We didn't get started very well that early, mostly because all the meds for kids that young are in liquid form. We did start more earnestly the summer before Kdg on our now-7yo, which has come in handy. Trust me, that really helped!

I like the idea about using kid-friendly drinks instead of water, at least in the beginning and for some pills whose coatings are extra-yucky. (That "Kiddie Jello Shot" idea was very creative!) I will keep that in mind, as we will be doing the same M&M training next Spring/Summer for our now-pre-K dd.

To NOT have to worry about all those sticky, messy liquid med's being stored where leaks would be a hassle... that is the best gift we've given ourselves! Hope that helps!

Willa - posted on 10/10/2009

A friend told me about this. Start out with tic tacs or mini M&Ms and put it on the back of their tongue. Follow with a big gulp of water to help wash it down. Good luck!

Michelle - posted on 10/09/2009

I gave my oldest his first pill with Jello and told him to slurp the jello down he had so much fun doing this that he did not even realize the pill was in his mouth and swallowed it on the first try. He was only 6 then (now 15) and I have actually caught him doing on bigger pills now that he is older :) Good Luck!!!

Heather - posted on 10/09/2009

My son started taking capsules when he was 5. It was a nightmare, he'ed gag and spit them out. We started him out with putting it in a spoonful of his favorite flavoured oatmeal. When he was able to handle that (after only a few days, we moved onto applesauce, pudding or yogurt. Now 6 months later, he just takes them with water. He can even take the huge omega 3 pills! Good luck!

Kelly - posted on 10/09/2009

like someone else said, try tic tacs. They worked for my son and it only took a couple of tries!

Angela - posted on 10/08/2009

We started with something smaller, like a cheerio. Like pills, if dry can be hard to get down. It took my son a few tries but he finally got it. Hope that helps.

Sonja - posted on 10/08/2009

I taught my kids by having them practice swallowing (shelled) sunflower seeds. I only took a few tries..... then they could do any size.... It was funny seeing them put a little water in their mouths, the seed, then look up to get it to the back..... swallow! Good luck!

Beth - posted on 10/08/2009

when I was younger I had to take pills. MY mom use to wrap it in bread. Bribes also work well. ome type of reward for taking her medicine,little things like extra tv or a bigger reward for taking it all week, A bigger reward might be a night out with just mom

Mindy - posted on 10/08/2009

Well my 5 yr old just started taking a pill morning and night for about a couple of weeks now and it is not that she doesnt like taking it but they taste funny and sometimes dont go down so easy. So we started making it a game for the both of us. She drinks the water then she puts some in her mouth and holds it. Then I take the pill and have her open her mouth with the h2o in there and stick the pill in as far as i can before she tries to bite me. Sounds silly but when she laughs it goes straight down. Now she will take it by herself with out the help. I hope this helps you.

Nadja - posted on 10/08/2009

my grandma used to open them put it on a spoon with sugar and handing water to it. worked everytime on me. lol

Krista - posted on 10/08/2009

My son takes a daily capsule too and he's 6, so the pediatrician had him practice with m&m's. Also, if all else fails....try bribing her with a candy or special treat in her lunchbox, etc...whatever works until its habit! Good luck!

Angie - posted on 10/07/2009

What ever you do, don't take the capsule apart - they are in a capsule for a reason! I give them to my kids like I do my dog - in a piece of cheese - I tell them to swallow it whole and for some reason they can

Joy - posted on 10/07/2009

My son has just started taking capsule vitamins and he is 7. I offered him his favorite drink instead of water, so that he could try as many times as he liked without feeling frustrated. He watched me take my vitamins and then practiced a few times. Now he does it without any problem and is excited to be so "grown up". He takes it with water now without a fuss. Good luck to you.

Michelle - posted on 10/07/2009

All I did was tell my daughter to fill her mouth up with the water, then she can slowly push the pill in her mouth (without letting all that water fall out). Once it's in there she won't feel it because it's floating in the water and all she has to do is swallow.

I think they get scared because they can feel the pill in their mouth and don't think they can swallow it.

My daughter did this on her first try and has had no issues since, now she only wants to take pill form and no more liquids!

I hope this helps!, Good luck!

Lisa - posted on 10/07/2009

My eldest daughter wouldn't take pills so I always asked for medication in liquid form. I guess if you already have it you may not want to get another script, but perhaps it's something worth thinking about in future?

If it's a tablet that can be crushed I've done that and put it in a bit of jam too. Capsules are harder, as Stephanie said sometimes they are in a capsule for a reason. Perhaps check with your GP or even a pharmacist.

Stephanie - posted on 10/06/2009

I wouldn't take it out of the capsule because sometimes theirs a reason why because some of the meds have to take longer then the time to release in the bloodstream unless if the Dr. approves of it but applesauce is fine. I actually work at a group home and I pass out meds with applesauce and if I can fool them then you can fool your child but then after she takes it with applesauce always offer her a drink of juice or something that she likes to drink

Emily - posted on 10/06/2009

You can practice with tic tacs.

Robin - posted on 10/06/2009

you can also put the whole capsule in a spoonfull of applesauce, yogurt, or pudding.

Katie - posted on 10/06/2009

take the capsule and pour it into some applesause and have her take it that way. When my oldest daughter was placed on adderal a few years ago, she could not swallow and that is what her doctor said to do until she learned to swallow them.