Never Use Household Spoons for Children’s Medicine Dosing: Why It’s Dangerous and What to Use Instead
Feb, 9 2026
Using a kitchen spoon to give your child medicine might seem quick and easy - but it’s one of the most common and dangerous mistakes parents make. Every year, more than 10,000 calls to poison control centers in the U.S. alone are about kids getting the wrong dose of liquid medicine. And in most cases, it’s not because the prescription was wrong. It’s because someone used a spoon from the drawer.
Why Household Spoons Are a Recipe for Trouble
A teaspoon sounds simple. But not all teaspoons are the same. A medical teaspoon is exactly 5 milliliters (mL). That’s the standard used by doctors and pharmacists. But the spoon you use to stir your coffee? It could hold anywhere from 3 mL to 7 mL. That’s a 40% difference. One spoon might give your child too little medicine. Another might give them too much - and too much can be deadly. The CDC calls this the "Spoons are for Soup" problem. Their campaign reminds parents: if it’s not labeled for medicine, it shouldn’t be used for medicine. A tablespoon? That’s three times the dose of a teaspoon. If you think you’re giving 5 mL but you’re using a tablespoon, you’re giving 15 mL - three times the intended dose. For a toddler, that could mean vomiting, drowsiness, breathing trouble, or even hospitalization. A 2014 study in Pediatrics found that nearly 40% of parents made mistakes when measuring liquid medicine with kitchen spoons. Over 41% gave the wrong amount - even when they thought they were doing it right. And the problem isn’t just about confusion. It’s about how labels are written. When a bottle says "give 1 tsp," 33% of parents reached for a kitchen spoon. But when it said "5 mL," less than 10% did. The word "teaspoon" itself is the problem.What You Should Use Instead
The safest tool for giving liquid medicine to a child is an oral syringe. These are small, plastic, needle-free syringes with clear milliliter markings. They’re designed to measure as precisely as 0.1 mL. That’s critical because many pediatric doses aren’t neat numbers. A 3.5 mL dose? A 2.3 mL dose? You can’t measure those with a cup or a spoon. But you can with a syringe. Oral syringes are also easy to use. You draw up the right amount, then gently squirt the medicine between your child’s cheek and gum - not straight to the back of the throat. That reduces choking risk and helps them swallow more easily. Most pharmacies now give these out for free when you pick up liquid medicine. If they don’t, ask. Pharmacists say they’re happy to provide one. Dosing cups are okay - but only if they’re the one that came with the medicine and have milliliter markings. Many cups only show 5 mL, 10 mL, 15 mL. That’s useless for a 7 mL dose. And if you’re using someone else’s cup - like one from a different medicine - you’re risking a mistake.Why Milliliters Are the Only Way to Go
Milliliters (mL) are the universal language of medicine. Not teaspoons. Not tablespoons. Not drops. Just mL. Every liquid medicine for children should be labeled in milliliters - and only milliliters. The FDA and the American Academy of Pediatrics have pushed for this for years. And it’s working. When pharmacies switched from labeling medicine in "tsp" to "mL," dosing errors dropped by 20 percentage points. That’s huge. It means fewer trips to the ER. Fewer hospital stays. Fewer scared parents. Even if the label still says "teaspoon," always convert it. Ask your pharmacist: "How many milliliters is that?" Write it down. Then use the syringe. Don’t rely on memory. Don’t guess. Your child’s body is small. Their system reacts fast. A little too much can cause serious harm. A little too little won’t help them get better.
What to Do When You’re Not Sure
If you open a bottle and there’s no measuring device inside - don’t guess. Don’t use a spoon. Don’t use a regular cup. Call your pharmacist. Ask them to give you a proper syringe or dosing cup. Most will give you one at no cost. If you’re at the doctor’s office, ask for one before you leave. If you’re giving medicine to more than one child, keep their dosing tools separate. Label them with tape or a marker: "Emma’s Syringe," "Liam’s Cup." Never mix them up. Even a small mix-up can lead to a serious mistake. Always measure at eye level. Tilt the syringe or cup so you can see the line clearly. Don’t hold it up high. Don’t look down at it. That’s how you get off by even a few drops. And always double-check the dose. Read the label. Read the syringe. Read it again.The Bigger Picture
This isn’t just about being careful. It’s about changing a habit that’s been around for decades. Many parents grew up using spoons. Their parents did. Their grandparents did. It feels normal. But normal doesn’t mean safe. The data is clear. Using kitchen spoons leads to mistakes. Using milliliter-measured tools leads to accuracy. The American Academy of Pediatrics first warned about this in 1978. Yet today, 75% of Americans still use spoons to give medicine. That’s three out of four families. That’s a public health failure. Pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics are slowly changing. More labels now say "mL" only. More syringes are included with prescriptions. But the biggest change has to come from parents. You have to refuse to use a spoon. You have to ask for the right tool. You have to teach others.
What to Keep in Your Medicine Kit
Make sure you have these on hand for liquid medicines:- At least one oral syringe with clear mL markings (0.1 mL increments)
- A dosing cup that came with the medicine (and only use that one)
- A permanent marker to label each tool by child’s name
- A small notebook to write down doses and times
Final Reminder
Medicine isn’t candy. It’s not something you pour by eye. It’s not something you estimate. For children, precision saves lives. A single teaspoon of error can mean the difference between healing and harm. Use the syringe. Read the mL. Measure at eye level. Ask if you’re unsure. And never - ever - use a household spoon again.Can I use a regular kitchen spoon if I don’t have a measuring tool?
No. Household spoons vary too much in size - some hold as little as 3 mL, others up to 7 mL. A medical teaspoon is exactly 5 mL. Using a kitchen spoon can lead to a 40% overdose or underdose. Always ask your pharmacist for a free oral syringe or dosing cup. Never guess.
Why do medicine labels still say "teaspoon" if it’s dangerous?
Some labels still use "teaspoon" because older printing standards haven’t changed everywhere. But the FDA and American Academy of Pediatrics now require milliliter-only labeling for new products. If you see "tsp" or "teaspoon," ask your pharmacist to convert it to mL. Write it on the bottle. Then use a syringe.
Is a dropper better than a spoon?
A dropper is better than a spoon - but not as good as an oral syringe. Droppers can drip, leak, or be hard to read. They often don’t have clear mL markings. Oral syringes are designed for precision. They’re easier to control, easier to read, and give the most accurate dose - especially for small amounts like 1.5 mL or 3.2 mL.
What if my child spits out the medicine?
Don’t give another full dose right away. Call your pharmacist or doctor. They’ll tell you whether to repeat the dose or wait. Giving extra medicine because your child spit it out is a common cause of overdose. Always check before giving more.
Do pharmacies still give out measuring tools?
Yes. Most pharmacies now include an oral syringe or dosing cup with every liquid pediatric prescription - even if you didn’t ask. If they don’t, ask. They’re required to provide one if you need it. Many also offer them for free to anyone who brings in an empty bottle. Never assume you don’t need one.