A Measure of Caution

Have you ever finished up medicine too soon? Were you using a teaspoon you got out of your kitchen to give your child his medicine? A medically defined teaspoon contains an exact 5 cc of liquid.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, common household teaspoons may vary from 1/2 to 1 1/2 "teaspoons" and problems occur when there's a difference of 10% more or less for most medications. There can be problems of toxicity and complications. There are other factors which make the common teaspoon a poor choice. The same teaspoon can hold as little as 3 cc or as much as 7 cc when different people do the pouring.