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.

@Clymene

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

I wondered the same.

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.

This ^

Hold her down, it's not nice but we've all had to do it, for nappy changes or whatever. Use a syringe. Job done.

Things like this make me laugh being a single parent , I never had anyone to help you find a way 🤷

I mixed in a bit of ice cream. Egg cup full.

Sit on the floor, put each of her arms under each of your knees, her head in between your thighs and put the syringe in her cheek and squeeze it in little by little. It’s not very nice but it’s over with quickly.

If you have an older child or can get out buy 6+ and give 2.4ml - less to get in them.

Paracetamol suppositories are 100x easier than fighting with calpol. You can buy them in a pharmacy tomorrow morning. It is a safe and very effective way of giving the medicine

Syringe.

Hold on lap her legs between yours.
One arm behind

images.app.goo.gl/GNWkyuEJrYw7iFm37

Personally, I would fill the syringe 2/3 full of Calpol then add some liquid she likes. Quick sharp shot - done!

@Clymene @Maggiesfarm OP has already stated that the baby has had a reaction to one year jabs and needs it - to bring temperature down!! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Pin down, squirt into mouth and squeeze cheeks to make her swallow

@Happycat1212

Things like this make me laugh being a single parent , I never had anyone to help you find a way 🤷

Same!

make sure you squirt it to the side of her mouth, not straight down.

My 1 year old used to hate it too until we gave her the stringe to do it herself, so she's be sucking it out like she does her fruit pouches with a few slow pushes up to get more out now and again. A few goes like this and she's enjoys it now. I don't think she liked it when it was being forced down her,.

She might be OK tomorrow (strictly speaking, today), and not need it so don't worry. Alternatively your husband could help you give one dose early before he goes to work.

I hope she gets over the post-vacc reaction soon, that would be better than taking paracetamol regularly.

I'm full of admiration. I remember Calpol being prescribed by GP for mine; they took it from a spoon, no problem, but brought it up within five minutes! I thought it was a one off but, no, it was every time. It just wasn't suitable. Can't remember what was used as an alternative if anything or maybe the need disappeared quickly.

Good luck.

Wrap like a cat. Pin to still on floor. Squirt in mouth.

when they are a bit older you can have dispersible paracetamol, as recommended by the GP who used to dissolve his kids pain killers in coke. (not sure that is a great idea but ribena works ok)

If you think calpol is bad, try the antibiotics that have to be given on an empty stomach an hour before food and taste vile. neat ribena, with a spoon of sugar stirred in dulled the vileness slightly. and chocolate. also ice pops to freeze the taste buds. may help but not exactly fulfilling the empty stomach criteria. combined with the eye drops twice or so a day, oh god that was hell.

Do the suppositories hurt them? (Mine would have calpol for every meal if she was allowed so I’ve no need for them, just interested!)

We had the same issue with DD.

if you haven't already tried it switch to the calpol with sugar. DD takes it no trouble.

Not ideal, but teeth are cleaned and she only has it when poorly/teething. Figured bit of sugar better than a lot of distress

when they are a bit older you can have dispersible paracetamol, as recommended by the GP who used to dissolve his kids pain killers in coke. (not sure that is a great idea but ribena works ok)

Lol we do the same and DH is a doctor! I don't use pure Coke as DD is still small but I dilute it heavily with water. Coke has the same sugar content as most types of juice so it really doesn't make big difference, except for the psychological factor. It's the ultimate forbidden treat so DD will gulp the entire thing down no matter how poorly she feels. It also disguises the taste of orange Nurofen perfectly.

We had that issue too for a while but my son has seemed to have grown out of it now. I think it’s the syringe that puts them off, if she takes bottles I found taking a teet from one of them and put the syringe inside that & give it through it, worked for us! Or as others have said mix it with milk or yogurt - MIL suggested this at Christmas when we were wrestling to give him antibiotics 🙃