about the syringes they've started putting with medicines?

[MinimumPayment]

The ones you get with Calpol etc these days.

I'm sure the reason is supposed to be to make sure the dose is measured accurately but I'm not convinced it actually helps on that front, it really isn't that hard with a spoon and does the difference between 5ml and 4.75 ml really matter?

The syringes are difficult to clean, it's more plastic for landfill (because how many do you really need?) and they're fiddly and messy to use. I'm sure they lead to more waste too as I end up with medicine down the outside of the bottle.

AIBU or does anyone prefer them?

[SnotQueen]

I prefer them as they can be knocked out my hand by a flailing feverish toddler and not spill everywhere.

[AnyRailway]

I prefer them to spoons and find them much less messy.

[Anaffaquine]

It is much easier to get the medicine in to little ones on the syringe. Don't think they need to be in every box though. Although I suppose they could probably be recycled.

[originalusernamefail]

My DS prefers them . Won't take medicine off a spoon but will open his chops for anything in syringe form. Also the measurement thing if you measure out 5.5 four times a day that's an extra half a dose.

[PerspicaciaTick]

But they are much, much easier to slip into a child's mouth and avoid sticky Calpol all over their face, PJs and bedding. Not 100% reliable but much better. Ditto using a Calpol 5ml sachet and spooning it in in 2 small portions instead of one dangerously overloaded spoonful.

[RuddyHellItsSoftCell]

I think you should buy them separately. I have way too many of the things cluttering up my cutlery drawer.

[AnMum]

I love them! Still use them with my 4.5 year old. Saves sticky mess over clothes, hands, carpets!

[Olivo]

I prefer them, even for my 8 yo. We use them in bath once they are worn and chewed. Make great mini water pistols....

[YouMakeMyHeartSmile]

I prefer them, DD always knocks the spoon out of my hand/dribbles it down her chin etc. Much less wastage. I've never spilt any putting it in the syringe. I wash them just like I would a spoon but in 2 parts.
Agree you don't need one in every box, but I guess the same could be said about the plastic spoons.

[Happening]

I love them. Didn't discover them with DC1. So much easier to get the medicine into the child without mess. Not hard to clean either - just rinse out??

[RatOnnaStick]

Its a damn sight easier to squirt medicine into the corner of the mouth of an upset baby and its a lot less likely to end up all down their front. They are very easy to clean by sucking up hot soapy water a few times and shaking around. I love those syringes.

[chanie44]

I thought the syringes were given because they are easier to give medicine to children than by the spoon or cup.

My children love having medicine via the syringe.

[FriendofBill]

I don't like them.
V inconvenient if you lose the syringe.
Also, looks a bit off.
Seen children gagging having medicine syringed down their throat.

[tattychicken]

I prefer them too. Easier to use with distressed/half asleep child. Easier to give a little bit at a time, with a spoon the Calpol would end up all down them. Easy to clean in hot soapy water.

[PHANTOMnamechanger]

i much prefer them, much easier to get an uncooperative toddler to take some drip by drip, without spilling a spoonful, without them spitting it all down themselves and you not knowing how much they have had and whether its safe to give more, or wait till the next dose.

genuine question and feel free not to answer - do you/did you use only washable eco friendly nappies, wipes and sanitary towels? whats a few plastic syringes compared to the millions of these that are being binned in the UK every day?

[madreloco]

Well yes, accurate dosages do matter, of course. They are much better than spoons, more accurate, cleaner, easier to use, less spillages.
And to clean you just pull water into it and shoot it out again.

I can't imagine anyone complaining about them, tbh. I suppose people will complain about anything.....

[BertieBotts]

I preferred them when DS was younger but I don't understand why they do them for the 6+ medicines. They have special openings on the bottles too so if you try to use a spoon it drips out at about 0.2ml per 3 seconds, which is too long when it's 2am and I have a whining child and I can't be bothered to look for the syringe. I thought that we had run out of calpol last time but we have half a bottle left.

They go sticky if you just rinse them out.

[YouMakeMyHeartSmile]

Friendof that's an issue with the parenting, not the syringes!

[BackforGood]

They are hardly new - my dc had these and the eldest is an adult now....

But they are much easier that spoons for all the reasons stated above.

[0utForAWalkBitch]

I love them, much less mess! I never get any calpol down the side of the bottle with the syringe but it's so messy with the spoon. To wash I just put them in a cup of boiling water with soap, soak, rinse, done. Easy peasy.

[scratchandsniff]

So much better than using a spoon which always results in some being spilt. Much easier to get in their mouth if they're being awkward.

I use them to give the baby gripe water After nearly choking ds1 when trying to administer with a spoon.

[brusselsproutwarning]

Don't really get the problem. You can still buy those medicines with a spoon if you prefer.
Also, if you're bothered by landfill filled with those syringes ..... What about all those plastic spoons?

[Chunkymonkey79]

I find it almost impossible to get the whole dose in with a spoon, especially with a 2 month old post injections screaming their little head off!

[aliasjoey]

I hate them - find them hard to use as you need several hands.

Note: Sainsburys own brands make them with spoons not syringes! (and they're cheaper)

[popmimiboo]

My eldest is 15 and we've always had these things for meds in France. I used to worry pfbishly about the quantities being wrong whenever my DC were ill in England and we only had calpol with spoons

My youngest won't have the paracetamol syringe anywhere near her though, so I dutifully measure it out with the syringe and squirt it into a spoon for her.