Buzz
It may seem logical to grab a teaspoon when measuring out medicine, but kitchen spoons come in various sizes. Using them could result in an incorrect dose of medication.
A teaspoon is equal to 5 milliliters, while a tablespoon is three times larger, at 15 milliliters. Labeled measuring spoons provide accurate measurements, but kitchen spoons vary greatly in size, meaning a tea spoon might not hold a teaspoonful.
A study in Pediatrics asked parents to show how they measured liquid medicine for their child’s prescription. Despite its simplicity, nearly 40% of them made errors that led to incorrect dosing, with kitchen spoons among the main culprits.
Another common mistake was confusing teaspoons with tablespoons, resulting in doses that were either too large or too small. The researchers suggested using metric measurements instead, noting that parents who measured in milliliters were more likely to choose a proper tool and administer the correct dose.
When picking up liquid medications, most pharmacies offer free dosing cups, syringes, or measuring spoons. Some over-the-counter medicines even come with their own. In a pinch, you can use the measuring spoons you typically use for baking ingredients (you *do* use proper measuring spoons for that, right?) and reserve teaspoons for tea stirring.
Photo by Liz West.
