How to Feed Baby Chinese Medicine?
Feeding a baby with Chinese medicine that has a bad smell and a bitter taste can be challenging. How to feed the baby Chinese medicine to ensure they take it smoothly? Here are some tips to help your baby take Chinese medicine.
How to Feed Baby Chinese Medicine? What to Do if Baby Refuses to Take Chinese Medicine?
Clearly, babies do not appreciate the effort parents put into making them take Chinese medicine. As soon as the medicine reaches their mouth, they spit it out and cry as a protest. It's not surprising, considering how bitter Chinese medicine is. So, how can we make it easier for babies to drink Chinese herbal decoctions? Here are four tips to help you.
How to Feed Baby Chinese Medicine?
In some diseases, Chinese medicine has unique therapeutic effects, and children have to rely on herbal soups to relieve their pain. However, because Chinese medicine has a bitter taste and is difficult to swallow, it is always a challenge to give it to children. In fact, as long as we consider the characteristics of babies at different stages and the properties of different medicines, and use different methods, giving Chinese medicine to babies is not difficult.
When giving medicine to newborns, the daily dosage should be 30-50 milliliters, divided into 9-10 times. Since the taste buds of newborns are not fully developed, you can directly put the medicine juice in a bottle for them to suck on their own, or slowly drop it into their mouth using a dropper.
For infants aged 1-3, the daily dosage is around 100 milliliters, divided into 6-7 times. At this stage, infants have very sensitive taste buds, so the feeding method is crucial. First, the temperature of the medicine juice should be lower than 37°C, which can reduce the bitterness. In addition, without affecting the efficacy of the medicine, you can add some rock sugar or white sugar to the juice to reduce the bitterness.
For children aged 4-7, the daily dosage is around 300 milliliters, which can be divided into 3-4 times. At this stage, children have the ability to take medicine on their own, so you can guide and reason with them. It is important not to use rough scolding and punishment, as it may lead to a resistant attitude.
For a very small number of children who refuse to take Chinese medicine, passive feeding can be used. First, place the child in a semi-reclining position, with the head raised and a towel placed under the neck for support. Fix their hands and feet, fill the medicine juice into a straw, and slowly squeeze it between the mucous membranes of the child's mouth and molars. When passively feeding the medicine, be careful not to pinch the nose to prevent the medicine juice from entering the trachea and causing suffocation.
