How do I give my 1 year old calpol on my own?

[IvanTheDragon]

My 13 month old hates calpol (not uncommon I’m guessing) but me and her dad can just about manage to get the majority of the dose in if one of us holds her still and the other operates the syringe. He has been working at home every time we’ve needed to give it to her, but what do I do now he’s having to go out to work again? One of those skills in normal times I would have learnt earlier (and probably when she wasn’t so strong!). Any tips appreciated! We used to go softly softly and let her hold the syringe, but she now wrestles it away given the chance. Same with it on a spoon.

My LO doesn't like Calpol but likes Nurofen as it's orange flavoured. It might be worth trying a different flavour first. When I give Nurofen to my LO I put her right arm under my left arm and lie her down and use my other hand to potentially hold her left hand back. Then I coax her and put a little into the side of her mouth near her cheek and left her swallow it and continue. Initially it's odd as it's something unnatural but after the first bit we're usually fine.

Bribe with something like chocolate buttons?

Hide it in squash.

Is it likely to be a problem? Do you need to give it that regularly?

There are other liquid paracetamols available with different flavours.

Hold her down, pinch her nose and shoot it in her mouth. It’s what we’ve all done. Two seconds and it’s over.

Might it mix in with yoghurt quite well? I seem to remember my mum doing this with something I didn’t want to take. Good luck

I used to swaddle ds when I did it on my own!

Mix it in to yoghurt?

Wrap her in a towel?

Wrap in towel, put syringe into her cheek pocket all the way at the back then blow in her face one fast puff to make her swallow. But first I'd try bribery!

I used to put at the very top of a yoghurt, so first spoonful all calpol

Going slowly and a favourite book or telly programme is what worked for me sometimes. If I tried to go faster it was a disaster, I hate doing calpol, sorry you're having to.

@Inastatus

Is it likely to be a problem? Do you need to give it that regularly?

She’s right in the thick of the reaction to her one year jabs, having a miserable time of it and he’s out tomorrow! Sod’s law.

Thanks for the suggestions! @Alpines that sounds like a good idea for getting her to swallow. She’s not quite far enough on to comprehend a bribe I don’t think, but I’ll keep that in the back pocket for when she’s a few months older!

Pin them down and squirt it in

Does she drink milk out of a bottle? If so, a small amount of milk (to make sure she gets the full dose) and it shouldn’t be a problem.

Alternative is to get suppositories.

Had problems getting my ds to take anything, worked out it was actually just the syringes he hates. So, I started putting it on a spoon (I measure it out of sight). He takes it off a spoon with no issues, he thinks it's a tasty treat

Yes, blow in the face to make her swallow. Works with cats too...

DS hates calpol, but tesco own brand is cherry flavour and apparently perfectly acceptable! Syringe into the back of the cheek rather than over the tongue seems to help too, and stickers.

How often is this an issue? I think I gave my baby calpol less than a a handful of times.

It's not something you should give unless your baby has a temperature really

Smarties are the answer.

We used to mix it in with milk

My daughter was terrible after her jabs too!

We had to use the cherry own brand from Asda or boots minor ailments.

Hope it goes ok 💖

Oh goodness just get a suppository for paracetamol from the doctor and pop it up his bottom. I have absolutely no idea why parents try and give such small children calpol like this.