From Hospital to Home: How to Confidently Care for Your Child’s Medication Needs at Home

Moving your child from hospital care to home means learning a lot of new responsibilities. From hospital to home I had to become comfortable with syringes, medicine math, and the frightening responsibility of giving medications that can be dangerous if given incorrectly. If you are in that place, you are not alone. Allow yourself to grieve what you expected parenting to be, then use that energy to become a confident, smart caregiver.

Don’t Underestimate Yourself

Never underestimate your capability to learn how to read medicine bottles, to learn how to use syringes, to know how to give your child medication.

Let yourself be uncomfortable. Cry if you need to. Mourning the loss of an expected “normal” childhood does not make you weak. It can motivate you to learn the details that keep your child safe once they leave the hospital.

Reading Medication Labels and Basic Medication Math

Start with the label. Find the concentration line: it will say something like “2 mg / ml.

” Read that as mg per ml. If the label says give 3.75 ml twice a day, multiply the concentration by the volume to know how many milligrams you are giving.

• Example: a medicine labeled 2 mg per ml given at 3.75 ml per dose means 2 mg/ml × 3.75 ml = 7.5 mg per dose.
• Given twice a day that equals 15 mg per day.

Knowing mg versus ml is essential. Milligrams measure drug amount. Milliliters measure fluid volume. Confusing them can be dangerous.

Types of Syringes and When to Use Them

Common syringe sizes you will use at home:

Syringes have one large tick mark per ml and 10 smaller ticks between whole numbers. Learn to read the small ticks to get 0.1 ml precision when needed.

Dealing with air bubbles and viscous medications

Air bubbles in a syringe are common, especially with thick, gloopy medicines. Here is the practical method I use:

1. Draw a little extra medicine (for example, if you need 2.1 ml draw to 2.3 ml).
2. Tap the syringe to move the bubble to the top.
3. Push gently to expel the bubble until the liquid sits exactly at the desired mark.

For very thick solutions you might need to pull extra, tap hard, then gently push back to the exact mark. If only tablets are available, crush and mix with water – this can be pretty difficult, but you’ll get the hang of it – remember, you don’t need to be perfect.

Preparing Multiple Medications and the Flush

Many children have several meds morning and night. I prepare syringes for each medication, plus a flush. The flush is just clean water drawn in a larger syringe (often 10 to 12 ml) to clear the tubing after meds. Always give the flush between or after meds as instructed to prevent clogging and interactions in the tube.

G-tube Extension: Connecting, Locking, and Giving meds

The extension set (Mickey extension in my case) gets changed regularly. These are the steps to connect the extension to the g-button to give your child their medications: 

1. Locate the G-button and the dash alignment on the extension.
2. Line up the dashes, press until it clicks in, then turn clockwise to lock.
3. Rotate the extension gently during feeding to help prevent clogging. It does not hurt the child when done properly.
4. Secure the extension so your child cannot pull it out. Use clothing or buckles to limit access.

To give multiple syringed medications:

1. Screw the syringe onto the extension securely.
2. Open the clamp, push the medication, then clamp and unscrew the syringe.
3. Repeat for each medication in the prescribed order.
4. Finish with the water flush to clear the tube.

Practical Safety Tips

• Know which meds require strict accuracy (for example, benzodiazepines like Ativan).
• Check concentrations and dosing each time you prepare meds.
• Change the extension per your schedule and clean the site daily to avoid irritation and clogging.
• Label syringes if you prepare multiple at once to avoid mix-ups.
• Call your pharmacist or provider if a concentration or instruction is unclear – but make sure to do your own research, too!

Final Encouragement

From hospital to home you will learn a lot quickly. You can become the calm, capable “Dr. Mom” or “Dr. Dad” your child needs. Study the labels, practice syringe technique, learn to do the math, and take care of yourself emotionally. With practice you will be confident and safe in caring for your child at home. Don’t be ashamed, to be Dr. Mom.