Spoons are for Soup, Milliliters are for Medicine

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Back to the Feature Protect Your Children: Store & Use Medicines Safely

Spoons are for soup. Do not use household spoons to measure medicine. Us the oral syringe or dosing cup that comes with your liquid medicine.

Spoons are for Soup

  • Do not use household spoons to give medicines.
  • Spoons come in all shapes and sizes. Using a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon can mean 3 times too much medicine for your child.

Milliliters (mL) are for Medicine

  • Use the oral syringe or dosing cup that comes with your liquid medicine to make sure your child gets the right amount.
  • Ask your pharmacist if you don’t have one.

To learn more, visit CDC’s Medication Safety Program website.

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Page last reviewed: February 25, 2020
Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)