Calpol

[trian]

a doctor recently suggested I give my baby Calpol. She's 6 wks, so which one of the many Calpols on the Tesco website should she take? I'm a bit housebound so can't go to the shop and read all the labels (or have time to click on them all on the website.
thanks for any help!

[YeOldeTrout]

why give her calpol, what is the problem?

[eastwest]

Can you double check this with your doctor by phone? The Calpol I have in the cupboard says not to be given to children under 2 months of age.
Or there might be info on the Calpol website (I assume they have a website). You don't want to get this wrong so best to check with the best authorities.
Actually I have just looked here www.calpol.co.uk/our-products/by-age/products-for-under-1s and there is a 'search by age' function, top right, pink text box.

[BooOzMoo]

We had to give our 12 hour old DS Calpol but the Hospital prescribed via weight rather than age. Would normally say 2.5 ml and he was so small he had 1.4ml.
Buy sugar free colour free Calpol!
Phone Dr and ask how much to give !

[Topsy34]

I think it depends why the doctor said to give it

[boopdoop]

Recommend the colour free sugar free one...

[trian]

thanks all. Why the hell are they putting colour in it in the first place? The doc just mentioned it if I had some in the house. Will try the search by age function. It was when she had bad wind

[dementedpixie]

I don't see how calpol would help for wind plus she is too young for it.

[dementedpixie]

Are you sure he didn't say infacol? It is used for wind and can be given from birth

[Topsy34]

I would agree with dementedpixie, are you sure it wasnt infacol?

Calpol is pain relief so wouldnt help with getting rid of wind

[ByThePrickingOfMyThumbs]

Please dongle check the doctor didn't mean infacol. This can be given from birth to treat wind.

Calpol should not normally be given until after 2 months. If your baby has need of it before this, then a doctor should advise you of the modified dosage as 2.5ml would be too much for a 6 week old.

[ByThePrickingOfMyThumbs]

*double not dongle!

[Feeches]

Calpol for a baby that age needs to be prescribed by a doctor. The dosage would be based on the baby's weight. Has he/she written you a script? If not, it sounds like you've misheard and they meant Infacol which sounds more likely as this helps with wind.

[FannyFifer]

Calpol is no use at all for wind, you must have misunderstood.

[eastmidswarwicknightnanny]

If a dctir wanted calpol for baby that age they would prescribe it and most doctors would say paracetamol rathe than use a brand name so its highly likely they said infacol . if you went to a pharmacy they wouldn't sell you paracetamol for a 6week old so you would have to just buy off the shelf.

For in the future just buy generic paracetamol suspension from any supermarket or chemist for £1.50-£2 a bottle rather than calpo at £2.50-3 a bottle same active ingredient.

[trian]

eastmids, that;s useful advice about the generic version

i'm sure he said calpol and I don't put anything past the medical profession, there are so many good people working in that profession and then some people who just deserve booting out and never being allowed back in! But that's another thread!

I noticed that she shouldn't be having calpol (I haven't given her any) but we're both already on unlicensed meds by docs orders so it makes you wonder what to believe

[eastmidswarwicknightnanny]

A lot of meds are unlicensed for children due to ethics of trialling meds on children. Ds2 is 13mtgs and has been on rantidine since 6weeks old def not licensed for babies but is,safe if dosed correctly the same as paracetamol if it needs to be used under 2-3mths then prescribed by a qualified person based on weight etc and monitored.

[trian]

yes, this licensed and unlicensed thing is ridiculous, it basically means that one doc will give you what you need whilst another will refuse and let both you and your baby suffer. So utterly fed up of it (it's affected our lives quite a bit)