--- In Autism-Mercury@y..., "annaeyoung" <young5@a...> wrote:
> I want to teach my 5 year old to swallow capsules. I am fairly
> confident she will be resistent at first and put up a good fight.
> I'd really appreciate it if anyone who's been successful at this
> would share their technique. Thanks.
> Kathy

Kathy,

My three year old has been swallowing pills for about 6 months now.
I started when she was 2-1/2. Some hints to help you.

1. Have a positive attitute. Expect that she will do it. Don't act
like it's a big deal. I don't know if your daughter is oppositional
or not, but if she is and senses this is important to you, she might
just clamp her mouth shut.

2. Put something in it for her. For example give her a sticker or
read her a story if she swallows the pill. She has to want to do
it. Remember--she's in control unless you want to literally shove
the pill down her throat (which I don't recommend if you want her to
ever take pills willingly.)

3. Start small and tasteless. A tiny capsule is easier to swallow
than a round uncoated pill. Glycine actually tastes good. Vitamin E
might not taste too bad. That way, if she happens to chew it at
first and it breaks open she wont have a bad memory about it.

4. At first you might want to put the pill in a spoonful of
applesauce. (I use the lower phenol baby food pear sauce). Her
instinct will be to swallow the sauce and the pill might just go
right along with it... It's really important to have a pill that
tastes good here since the sauce will start to dissolve the pill.

5. There are some step by step instructions on the enzymes and
autism site if I remember correctly. This is what I used when
teaching my kids.

6. Be patient. It's a little like potty training. Now if I could
just get my daughter completely potty trained....


Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Annissa