Experts warn parents to avoid using household spoons for measuring children’s medication
Medical experts are warning parents not to use household spoons when they giving medication to their children. “The variations between the domestic spoon sizes was considerable and in some case bore no relation to the proper calibrated spoons included in many commercially available children’s medicines,” said Professor Matthew Falagas. The study looked at 71 teaspoons and 49 tablespoons collected from 25 households in Attica, Greece and found the capacity of the teaspoons ranged from 2.5ml to 7.3ml. The discrepancy could mean some children received 192 per cent more medication than was recommended and some received far less than the prescribed dose. The solution? Use a medicine syringe.