HOW TO GIVE YOUR CHILD SUPPOSITORIES

Here is a guide written by the Great Ormond Street Hospital Pharmacy on how to give your child suppositories.

If you have any tips contact us and we’ll share them with other parents/carers

Remember suppositories should never be swallowed

instructions

  1. Sit your child on the toilet to see if he or she needs a poo
  2. Wash your hands
  3. Warm the suppository in your hands for a minute
  4. Remove the foil or plastic wrapping
  5. Get your child into any of these positions to give the suppository
    1. squatting down
    2. Lying on one side with one leg straight and the other bent
    3. Standing up with one leg raised
  6. Gently but firmly push the suppository into your child’s bottom
  7. Push it in far enough that it does not slip out again
  8. Ask your child to close his or her legs and hold your child’s buttocks together for a few minutes
  9. Wash your hands again

Looking after your child’s suppositories:

  • Keep the suppositories in a cool dark place according to the label
  • Read the instructions on the label and only use the suppositories as directed
  • Keep all medicines out of the reach of children