Giving medicine to your baby or young child does not have to be a chore for either of you. Just follow these steps:

1. Prepare the medicine and place it and other things you will need on a table within reach of the hand you will feed with.
2. Hold the baby on your lap. If you are right handed, hold the baby on your left (if left handed, on your right).
3. With your left hand, hold baby's left arm; baby's right arm should go under your left arm, around your back.
4. Support baby's head and shoulder firmly between your left arm and chest, and tilt the head back a little bit.
5. Squirt small amounts of medicine into the side of the baby's mouth alongside the back of the tongue on the side closest to your body (baby will have a hard time spitting and will not choke).
6. Keep baby's mouth closed and hold baby's body upright until the medicine is swallowed.

• For liquids, use a soft plastic dropper or syringe.
• Try mixing medicine in food for spoon-feeding.
• Sit in a firm, comfortable chair.
• Put a bib or towel on baby.
• Stay calm and use a soft voice.
• Reward baby with juice or water to rinse the mouth.