Nigerian pharmacists have issued a strong warning to parents, urging them to stop the dangerous habit of administering medicines to babies using kitchen spoons. The health professionals cautioned that this widespread practice could result in severe dosing errors, leading to serious complications such as organ damage, prolonged illness, or even death in extreme cases.

According to the pharmacists, the improper use of tablespoons or teaspoons as substitutes for medically approved measuring devices is a major contributor to the growing number of medication errors involving infants across the country.

Kitchen Utensils Are No Substitute for Precision

Pharmacist Olumide Obube, the Vice Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in Ogun State, told Frontpage Healthwise that infant medications are typically prescribed based on precise body weight calculations. These prescriptions often use milligram-per-kilogram (mg/kg) formulas, and therefore require accurate dosing tools like syringes, droppers, or calibrated cups.

“When parents use household spoons, they’re guessing the dosage,” Obube said. “If the dose is too low, the medicine may be ineffective. If it’s too high, it can damage the baby’s vital organs—such as the liver, kidneys, or even the brain.”

He warned that drug overdoses in infants can manifest as excessive drowsiness, vomiting, convulsions, or worse—coma and death. On the flip side, underdosing may result in persistent illness, worsening health conditions, or antibiotic resistance.

Infants Are Not Small Adults

Obube also highlighted that many Nigerian parents mistakenly give their children leftover or expired medications, or share prescriptions meant for siblings. These practices, he warned, are both medically unsound and dangerous.

“I’ve seen cases where a parent gives an infant antibiotics prescribed for a much older child, or even for an adult,” he said. “Some assume that any fever should be treated with antibiotics, which is not only false but potentially dangerous.”

He added that expired medications can degrade and become ineffective, or in some cases, harmful. “Always check the expiry date, and if in doubt, consult a pharmacist or doctor.”

He stressed the importance of using tools provided with medications or acquiring proper measuring devices from licensed pharmacies. These tools are designed specifically for medical dosing and are essential in ensuring children receive the correct amount of medicine.

Pharmacists Urge Parents to Prioritize Safety

Echoing Obube’s warnings, pharmacist Mrs. Tolani Adebanjo emphasized that incorrect dosages and improper administration practices can result in serious consequences, particularly for babies.

She explained that infants are highly sensitive to medications due to the immaturity of their liver and kidney functions, making them more prone to drug toxicity. According to Adebanjo, every drug administered to a baby should take into account multiple critical factors—such as the child’s age, weight, organ development, and medical history.

“Most baby medications are dosed in milligrams per kilogram,” she explained. “If a parent uses a kitchen spoon to estimate the amount, they’re essentially gambling with the child’s health. It’s a high-risk mistake.”

She also pointed out that many parents make avoidable but serious errors such as skipping doses, doubling doses after a missed one, using adult-strength medication, and failing to consult a healthcare provider.

“These are common mistakes that often go unnoticed until the baby becomes very sick,” she said. “No parent should ever assume they know the right dose. Every child is unique, and dosing must be tailored by a medical professional.”

Serious Consequences from Seemingly Harmless Habits

Both pharmacists agreed that many of these harmful practices stem from a lack of awareness, cultural norms, or misinformation passed down through generations. However, they emphasized that such habits have no place in modern child healthcare and must be corrected through proper education and community health interventions.

Adebanjo advised that only dosing syringes or droppers that come with a medication should be used, and in cases where such tools are not provided, parents should ask their pharmacist to supply an appropriate device. She also urged proper storage of medications, according to manufacturer guidelines, to prevent loss of potency.

Steps Parents Should Take

To prevent medication errors and protect their children’s health, the pharmacists provided the following recommendations for Nigerian parents and caregivers:

• Never use household spoons to measure or administer medicine to infants or children.

• Always read the medication label and follow the dosing instructions carefully.

• Use only the measuring device that comes with the medication or obtain a calibrated tool from a pharmacy.

• Consult a healthcare professional—such as a pharmacist or pediatrician—before giving any drug to a child.

• Do not share medications between siblings or give leftover prescriptions.

• Avoid expired drugs, and always check expiration dates before administering.

• Understand that not every fever requires antibiotics, and misuse can lead to resistance and treatment failure.

• Store medicines correctly, following the manufacturer’s storage instructions to maintain their effectiveness.

A Call for Public Health Education

The pharmacists called on the Ministry of Health and relevant government agencies to intensify public health education campaigns focused on medication safety for infants. They stressed that improved awareness, especially among rural and less literate populations, could significantly reduce the incidence of avoidable complications arising from poor medication practices.

“Education is the first line of defense,” said Obube. “When parents are properly informed, they’re empowered to make safer choices for their children.”

Adebanjo also urged primary healthcare centers to routinely educate mothers during immunization and child welfare clinics on the importance of proper drug administration.

Conclusion

Medication safety in infants is not a matter of guesswork—it requires precision, professional guidance, and appropriate tools. As Nigerian pharmacists raise red flags over the use of kitchen spoons and other unsafe practices, parents must take urgent steps to protect their children by adhering to proper dosing techniques and consulting qualified health professionals. A small change in habit could mean the difference between health and harm.