Always read the label before giving your child medicine and follow the dosage instructions carefully.
3. Nursery bugs and childhood fevers: navigating the first illnesses
As children spend more time around others, whether at nursery or other childcare settings, they may come into contact with more new germs. Coughs, colds and other common childhood illnesses are a normal part of growing up as their immune system develops.
Research from University College London (UCL) suggests it's common for children to experience frequent infections during their first year of nursery, including respiratory viruses, tummy bugs and rash-causing illnesses
While it can feel like your child is constantly unwell, many common childhood illnesses improve by themselves and can be managed at home with plenty of rest, fluids and comfort. The NHS advises that vomiting and diarrhoea illnesses are common in children and that the most important thing is helping your child avoid dehydration by offering plenty of fluids.
How can you help when your child has a fever?
A high temperature is 38°C or more. It’s the body's natural response to fighting infections such as coughs and colds.
If your child has a fever, the NHS advises:
Giving them plenty of fluids to help prevent dehydration
Offering food if they want it, but not worrying if they have less appetite than usual
Checking on them regularly, including during the night
Keeping them at home until their temperature has gone
Using children’s paracetamol or ibuprofen if they’re distressed or unwell, following the instructions on the label.
Parents often find their own ways to help their child feel more comfortable while they recover, particularly when symptoms are affecting sleep. As Mumsnet user pizzaHeart shares: “When DD was unwell, I gave her CALPOL® throughout the day timing the last dose for just before bed or just once before bed [...].”
Please note it is important to take CALPOL® Infant Suspension as directed in the patient information leaflet.
4. Growing pains: understanding aches and pains as your child develops
As children become more active, you may notice them occasionally complaining about aches and pains, particularly in their legs. According to the NHS, growing pains are common in children aged three to 12 and are usually harmless, with symptoms often improving on their own.
Despite the name, growing pains are not thought to be caused directly by growing. They often happen later in the day or at night and usually affect both legs, particularly the muscles around the calves, thighs or behind the knees.
How to ease growing pains
Simple measures can often help, including:
Gently massaging your child’s legs
Using a warm bath or heat pad
Encouraging stretching exercises – particularly for the calves, hamstrings and quadricep muscles
Offering suitable pain relief if needed.
As Mumsnet user Cityzen74 shares: "My DS (7) is waking up quite a lot in the night with what I assume are growing pains in his legs. They are so bad he is crying in pain. [...] I give him CALPOL® which helps."
Please note it is important to take CALPOL® Infant Suspension as directed in the patient information leaflet.
Speak to your GP or healthcare practitioner if your child has pain in just one leg, pain that affects their ability to walk, swelling, bruising, a rash, a high temperature or if something doesn’t feel right.
About CALPOL®
For generations, mums and dads have reached for CALPOL® products when their children feel poorly. From stuffy noses and sore throats, to aches and pains, fevers and teething, CALPOL® has carefully developed a family of effective medicines and non-medicines to help you take great care of your little one.
At CALPOL®, we understand that when your little one is feeling unwell, all you want is to see a happy smile on their face again. We know that your love and care are more important than anything else when it comes to making your baby feel better. And we know that cuddles can go a long, long way.
But we also know that – sometimes – everyone needs a little help. For over 60 years, parents have used our medicines when their children are unwell.
When they are unwell, our products can help soothe them. When they’re in pain, our products can bring reassuring relief.
Each one of our medicines is the fruit of years of experience, research and knowledge. Which means you can choose them for the people you value most of all – your children.