What’s the best way to give medication to a toddler?

What’s the best way to give medication to a toddler? Giving medicine to young children can be one of the most challenging parts of parenting. Whether it’s because of the taste, texture, or the sheer unfamiliarity of taking medicine, many toddlers and young children resist when it’s time for their dose. Thankfully, a compounding pharmacy can offer solutions that make the experience less stressful and more successful.

This fact sheet explains:

Why Taste and Texture Matter

Children are especially sensitive to taste and texture. A strong flavour or grainy consistency can quickly turn a routine dose into a daily battle. Compounded medications allow pharmacists to tailor both the taste and form of a medicine to suit your child:

  • Flavour options like bubble gum, tutti frutti (this is a favourite that we love), or strawberry can help make medicine more appealing.
  • Texture adjustments can make liquid medications smoother and easier to swallow.
  • By improving the sensory experience, your child may be more willing to take their medicine consistently.

Smaller Doses, Easier to Swallow

Most commercial medications come in standard tablet or capsule forms designed for adults. These aren’t always suitable for young children. A compounding pharmacist can prepare:

  • Liquid suspensions in appropriate strengths so your child only needs a small volume.
  • Alternative dosage forms that are easier to administer, such as dissolvable powders or lozenges (when suitable).
  • This flexibility can make a significant difference in how your child responds to treatment.

Tips for Easier Medicine Time

Beyond compounding, there are a few practical techniques that can help make medicine time go more smoothly:

  • Use a syringe or dropper: Aim to place the liquid on the side of the mouth, not the back of the throat, to avoid discomfort or gagging.
  • Offer a drink afterwards: A favourite juice or water can help wash away any lingering taste.
  • Mix with food (if safe): Some medications can be added to a small amount of yogurt or puree. Always check with your pharmacist first to make sure the medicine can be safely mixed with food.

When to Consider Compounding

If you’re consistently struggling to give your child their medicine, it might be time to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about a compounded solution. A compounding pharmacy can create a personalised medicine that:

Comes in a flavour your child prefers

  • Uses only the ingredients they need, avoiding unnecessary additives
  • Is formulated in a child-friendly dose and format
  • These adjustments can turn a difficult routine into a manageable part of daily care.

We’re Here to Help

You don’t have to struggle through medication time alone. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether a compounded medication might be right for your child. Our team is always happy to help you explore options that make treatment easier, safer, and more comfortable.


This fact sheet was written by Matt Bellgrove, Founder and pharmacist at National Custom Compounding.


Video Transcript

This is a really, really good question. I’ve had kids myself, so it’s one of those things—I understand when you’re a parent just how hard it is to give a toddler who’s learning the ways of life something they don’t want.

One of the things that we suggest is, point number one is just making the experience stress free and easy. Now, it’s easier said than done, but something like flavouring can be one of those things that a compounding pharmacy can change. And if the kid likes a flavour, hopefully they’ll take the medicine.

The other thing that might help, in the case of some medicines, is the dosage form that the medicine comes in. Obviously, a child can’t take a big tablet that you might be familiar with, but why not use a compounding pharmacy and we can make a suspension up with a nice flavour so that it’s only a small dose. And that way the child will take the dose easily.

The other thing too is, when you use a medicine dropper or syringe, try and put it on the outside of the mouth. There’s obviously oral sensory feelings that kids will experience. Just squirting liquid down their throat might surprise them, they might not enjoy it. And that can go on to not enjoying the next dose and next dose. So just try to put it in their mouth and if you can, after you give them the liquid medicine, why not give them a drink of water that they like?

Another option is you can actually put some medicines that are liquid or solids into yoghurts. And if your kid likes yoghurt, what a great way of hiding it so that they’ll just swallow the whole thing.

But certainly, if you need any clarity on this sort of stuff, always chat to your doctor or your pharmacist. And if for some reason you’re really struggling with a medicine, think about a compounding pharmacy, because we might be the sort of place that can make a personal custom medicine for your kids that they really don’t mind taking.

Tutti frutti, bubble gum flavours might be part of it, and it will just help you have that experience with your kids so that they don’t worry and become upset when taking medicine. And it’s an easy thing to keep doing.

So have a chat to us. Always happy to help.