Mistake #1
- Guessing Weight
Dosages are frequently based on weight rather than age, so know how much your child weighs. Age recommendations are only general guidelines. If a medicine has weight guidelines, use those instead.
Mistake #2 - Guessing Dosage
Always give the exact dose recommended by the pediatrician. If a dosing cup, syringe or dropper is provided with the medicine, use it. Do not confuse tablespoons (Tbsp) and teaspoons (tsp). Use a measuring spoon rather than a kitchen spoon. When using a dropper, slowly squirt between cheek and teeth, where there are no taste buds and it is easier to swallow.
Mistake #3- Stopping Medications Too Early
When medicines are prescribed for a specified period of time, give the full course-especially with antibiotics.
Do not stop because your child is feeling better. That might make subsequent illnesses more difficult to treat. If you skip a dose, ask your pediatrician what to do.
Mistake #4 - Confusion About Medications
Find out the purpose of each medicine, read the drug label carefully and make sure you understand it. Note the active ingredient in all the medications your child is taking. If several medications contain the same active ingredients, talk to your child's pediatrician.
Mistake #5 - Hiding Medications
Do not hide medicine in food or drinks. The food or drink may affect how the medicine works, and your child may not get a full dose. Talk to your children about the importance of taking their medicines-and make sure they know to only take them with an adult present.
Mistake #6 - Not Calling Your Pediatrician
Ask your child's pediatrician questions. Make sure the doctor is aware of all medicines your child is taking, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs.
Mistake #7 - Too Much Treatment
If your child has a bad cough but is not sneezing, do not give medicine for sneezing. Cough and cold medicines may not work for young children, and they are not safe for children under two. Do not insist on antibiotics for every sore throat or ear infection-they only treat bacteria, not viruses.