What should a nurse include in teaching a parent about administering oral medications to an infant?

When teaching a parent about administering oral medications to an infant, it is crucial to ensure that the child can tolerate and accept the medication easily. Requesting that the pharmacy add flavoring to the medication is beneficial because many medications can have unpleasant tastes that may cause the infant to resist taking them. By masking the taste with a flavoring that is more palatable, it increases the likelihood of successful administration without distress to the child.

Flavoring can significantly enhance the acceptance of the medication, making it a valuable strategy for parents who might struggle with getting their child to take what could be a necessary medication. It's essential to ensure that the flavored medication is still safe and appropriate for the infant, and consulting with a pharmacist can help verify this.

Other methods, such as using a universal dropper, adding medication to a formula bottle, or using a nipple from a bottle, could lead to complications or are not recommended best practices for various reasons. Each of these alternatives can result in incorrect dosing, decreased efficacy of the medication, or refusal by the infant due to unpleasant taste without the enhancement of flavoring, which is why the approach of adding flavoring stands out as the most helpful option for the parent.