How to Give Tablets to Babies

Your baby may have been prescribed medication in tablet form. This video demonstrates how to prepare and give the medication to your baby and provides details to ensure that your baby receives the entire dose.
This video is provided for general information only. It does not replace a diagnosis or medical advice from a healthcare professional who has examined your child and understands their unique needs. Please speak with your doctor to check if the content is suitable for your situation.
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VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
How to give tablets to your baby.
This video explains how to give tablets to babies. This information does not apply to giving capsules or other forms of medication.
Please note: the images in this video are for illustrative purposes only and do not constitute the hospital's endorsement of a specific brand or product. Some babies may need to take medications
in tablet form, if their health care provider has prescribed them.
Since babies are unable to swallow tablets, you will need to crush the medication and finger-feed it to your baby. This video will guide you through the process. Please note that not all tablets can be given this way. Only follow the steps in this video if you have been instructed to
do so by your child's health-care provider.
Step one. Wash your hands.
Step two. Gather your supplies. You will need: your baby's medication. This may be in the medication bottle or their dosette, if you use one. A pill splitter. Your baby's health-care team will tell you if you need one. A pill crusher.
Step three. Take your child's dose out of the bottle or the dosette. If your child's dose requires you to split the pill, please follow the instructions in the next step.
Step four. Only follow this step if your health-care team has instructed you to split the pill in half.
Place the tablet at the top of the pill splitter. Close the pill splitter. The medication will be cut in half.
Remember, only follow this step if your health-care team has instructed you to split the pill in half
due to the dose.
Step five. Place your child's dose into the pill crusher. If you had to split the pill, place the other half of the tablet in a medication bottle or dosette for your baby's
next dose.
Step six. Place the lid on the pill crusher, then twist the top of the pill crusher to close it and crush the medication into a fine powder. You may have to twist the top several times to completely crush the medication.
Step seven. To give the crushed medicine to your baby, first moisten your finger with water, formula, expressed breast milk or your child's saliva. Then, dip your finger into the powdered medication to pick it up. The medicine should stick to your finger.
Do not forget the medicine on the top of the pill crusher. You may have to do this several times to ensure your baby gets the full dose. Do not leave any powder in the pill crusher.
Step eight. Finger feed the medication to your baby by putting your finger into the side of the cheek or allowing your baby to suck the medication from your finger. Make sure you have fed them all
the powdered medicine in the pill crusher. It is best to do this before a feed so that your baby is hungry.
Step nine. Clean the pill crusher and pill splitter (if using) with soap and water and allow
it to air dry so it is ready for your baby's next dose. Remember, if you have any questions about your child's dose or how to properly give the medication, contact your health-care team.
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