In recent years, the safety and human-centered design of children's medicines have drawn increasing attention. However, research on infant medication and its packaging remains limited. Infants aged 0 to 3 years are particularly vulnerable, as their immune systems are not fully developed, making them prone to illness. Psychologically, they lack the understanding of why they need to take medicine. As a result, administering medication becomes a crucial yet challenging task for parents. How to reduce the stress on parents and minimize discomfort for infants through improved pharmaceutical packaging has become an important issue in current healthcare.
Challenges in Infant Medicines and Packaging
1. Tablets, Granules, and Powdered Medications
Administering tablets to infants is often complicated. The dosage is typically divided into 1/3 or 1/4, but it is difficult for parents to split the tablet evenly. Once broken, the tablet must be ground into powder and mixed with water before being given with a spoon—this process is time-consuming and messy. Granules and powders are slightly more convenient, but they still require multiple doses from a single package, which can lead to uneven measurement. Additionally, some powders may not dissolve completely, settling at the bottom of the container, which can cause the infant to miss part of the dose and affect treatment efficacy.
Moreover, many infant medications are coated with sugar or brightly colored layers to improve taste. This can pique the curiosity of young children, increasing the risk of accidental ingestion. The packaging is often in small bags that require multiple uses, and if left unattended, infants may consume the medicine, posing serious health risks.
2. Liquid Medications
Liquid medications are generally easier to administer, as they can be fed directly using a small spoon. Most liquid packages come with measuring scales, allowing for more accurate dosing. However, there are still issues with precision—often, the dose needs to be measured multiple times, leading to waste and increased feeding volume. Some manufacturers have introduced droppers that combine measurement and feeding functions, offering a more efficient solution. Yet, these droppers still face several challenges.
(1) After each use, the dropper must be cleaned, dried, and stored properly to avoid contamination. This adds extra steps to the feeding process. When parents are busy or stressed, they might forget to clean it, or misplace it, making it unusable for the next dose.
(2) Some infants over six months old start developing teeth. If they bite the soft dropper, it could pose a choking hazard or damage the device, creating a safety risk.
(3) As infants become more mobile, they may play with the dropper after the medicine is finished, leading to loss or damage. This makes the dropper unavailable for future use.
Improved Design for Infant Medicine Packaging
1. Specific Improvement Design
(1) Reducing the packaging size to match the appropriate dose for infants. For example, granules or powdered medications usually require 3–6g per dose, while liquid medications need 3–6ml. The improved packaging is designed to hold about 8ml, making it more suitable for infants. The structural design is illustrated in Figure 1.
This new design aims to simplify the process of administering medication, reduce the risk of errors, and make it safer and more user-friendly for both parents and infants. By focusing on the unique needs of this vulnerable group, we hope to encourage more attention and innovation in the field of infant pharmaceutical packaging.
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