4 Mistakes Parents Make When Giving Medicine to Children

Dr. Sandip Gupta

This video covers four mistakes parents make while giving medicine to children. Mistake 1 — Not completing the antibiotic course. This is the biggest mistake. Parents often stop giving the antibiotic once the fever comes down after two days. Because of the incomplete antibiotic course, the fever comes back after five to seven days and parents are distressed again. Whenever you start an antibiotic for a child, give the full course for as many days as the doctor has prescribed. Mistake 2 — Measuring medicine with a spoon. Do not do this. Medicine should always be measured with a dropper or the medicine cap, so that the correct amount is measured. Mistake 3 — Not checking before food or after food. Note whether the doctor has said to give the medicine before food or after food. Acidity medicines and iron drops are usually given before food, while antibiotics, pain medicines and calcium syrup are given after food. So check whether the medicine is to be given before or after the child's meal. Mistake 4 — Storing medicine incorrectly. It is important to store medicine properly. Antibiotics usually have storage instructions written on them. For example, one antibiotic states that after mixing the powder and water, it should be stored in the fridge at 2 to 8 degrees temperature. Store it exactly as instructed. Relevant for: parents giving antibiotics to a child and asking whether to stop once the fever goes; parents whose child's fever returned after stopping medicine early; parents asking how to measure a child's medicine dose correctly; parents unsure whether a medicine goes before or after food; parents asking which medicines need refrigeration after mixing; and parents wanting to store children's medicines safely. Disclaimer: This video is for general information and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child is different — please follow your pediatrician's prescription for the medicine, dose and duration, and check the storage instructions printed on your medicine.