How to teach teen to swallow pills

amother

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:22 pm

My teen DD is not able to swallow any pills. Any advice how I can get her to do that?

amother

Hosta

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:25 pm

I think I practiced on cheerios as a kid

amother

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:26 pm

amother Hosta wrote:

I think I practiced on cheerios as a kid

Hmmm. That’s interesting. I’ll try that. Thanks!

bakingmom

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:29 pm

Buy mini chocolate lentils, or other tiny candy and start with those. Then work up to bigger candy.

It helps to take a mouthful of water and put your head down (chin to chest) to swallow. It's counterintuitive but it helps with swallowing.

amother

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:32 pm

bakingmom wrote:

Great advice. So helpful. Thank you so much!

Brit in Israel

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:32 pm

My DD 6 takes a bite of food and chews it, just before swallowing it she puts in the pill and swallows it with the chewed food.

I was told the reflex of not swallowing starts at age 5 so ideal is to train them from before daily with cheerio or candy coated chocolate so at 5 they don't have the 'fear'
I want to try it now on my 4 yr old

amother

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:34 pm

It makes sense cuz my other kids just ‘got it’ at a very young age

amother

Yellow

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:37 pm

Use a straw. It’ll help the water go way back. This is how the pediatricians at the hospital I work at teach kids

amother

Camellia

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:46 pm

My kids practice on tik taks very small
And easy to swallow

amother

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:46 pm

amother Yellow wrote:

Use a straw. It’ll help the water go way back. This is how the pediatricians at the hospital I work at teach kids

To clarify, put the pill on your tongue, then drink water with a straw?

amother

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:47 pm

amother Camellia wrote:

My kids practice on tik taks very small
And easy to swallow

What’s that?

amother

Steel

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:51 pm

My DH who is a Hatzolah member has helped many kids learn to do this. Somehow trying for the first few times while standing right near someone who can help if they Chas veshalom choke (not that anyone ever did BH) helps them feel more confident.

amother

Jetblack

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:55 pm

Instead of water drink something fizzy like soda. It really helps

amother

White

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 7:57 pm

According to my pediatrician the difficulty in swallowing pills comes from the fear of choking.
So you have to work to overcome the fear and tell yourself it's ok then keep your head straight, not tilted back because that causes the tongue reflex to protect the throat, put the pill or candy on your tongue and take a sip of water.

amother

Yellow

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 8:00 pm

amother OP wrote:

To clarify, put the pill on your tongue, then drink water with a straw?

Yup

amother

Teal

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 8:46 pm

Had similar situation with my teen daughter. I always told her to put the pill towards the back of her tongue but that always caused her to gag. Recently read to place the pill in the middle of the tongue and take a drink and since then she has been able to swallow.

amother

Blueberry

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 9:33 pm

Try putting the pill in a spoon of ice cream. Slides down easily and camouflages the feeling of the pill. And is yummy.

amother

DarkCyan

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 9:34 pm

I find it much easier to swallow large pills with a smoothie. You can start with a thicker smoothie, swallowing chocolate lentils or something, and then progress to a thinner smoothie. I still use commercial smoothie juice (like Naked or Golden Flow) when I have to swallow very large pills.

newmother

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 9:36 pm

Use a taffy. First have dd swallow a small piece of taffy without chewing, the wrap the pill in taffy (thin layer) and swallow

amother

Outerspace

Sat, Feb 03 2024, 10:02 pm

amother Steel wrote:

How does he teach them?
My 19 y old still can't swallow pills...
Tried with smoothies, ice cream, mini lentils, chin down, etc. She can't swallow without chewing.