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.

If you're using the sugar free one switch to the sugar one - made all the difference here.

Never had a problem with calpol. I only got the one with the real sugar. DC love Calpol. Easier now they give you a syringe.

Mix it with jam

@ChilliHeeler

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

Are you a pharmacist or doctor who can confirm that this is safe?

I would expect that most parents do not have 1ml syringes in order to get an accurate 0.4ml dose measured out.

Don't put it in food or drinks. It may put them off trusting what's in it again. Especially fluid. If a child needs paracetamol they need fluids and I've seen many a little one refuse after having a medicine mixed into it and even admitted dehydrated as a result. Wrap in a large towel, lie on the floor with a pillow under their head, then syringe into the side of the cheek. Small amount at a time. By being on the floor there's no risk of injury trying to hold a protesting child.

Never squirt it straight down the back of the throat. Always turn syringe to side of the mouth instead. Never had a drop spilled doing it that way.

If you mix it with something else they have to take all of it or it’s a suboptimal dose and hardly worth giving it, if it doesn’t work you can’t repeat for 4/6hours. Wrap in a sheet so she is still. Squirt medicine into side of cheek and blow in face which stimulates a swallow rubbing cheek also. Try different flavours too. If she has a dummy you can squirt in and give dummy to suck it away or in the side of mouth. You need to be quite firm with them, it is upsetting, but taking medicine is hard when it taste horrid but it’s good if they’ll take it. I have 3 that do one who refused until he could understand it helped him. He spat it out he made himself sick he was a strong willed nightmare sometimes.

Get one of these:
www.amazon.co.uk/Safe-Sound-Childrens-Medicine-Dispenser/dp/B07DGDTM43?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

@IvanTheDragon - oh bugger, sorry she’s reacting to jabs. I hope some of these suggestions work. My 2 used to love calpol so I never had this problem. They’d still have it now if they could and they are teenagers!

Thank you, I’m sure one of these will work!

I texted my sister yesterday to say I didn’t know how to do the restraining and the squirting at the same time and said “that’s another reason why single mums are heroes” - I knew people must be able to do it but rather than try and come up with my own way I thought I’d ask.

I’d second(?) the sugar calpol rather than the sugar free. The sugar free made my child vomit within minutes of having it but the sugar one didn’t. On close examination the sugar free looks much thicker and so possibly unpleasant to swallow.

Get the suppositories.

If your child is used to a bottle then take one of the teats and stick the syringe into the back of it.

I had to give my (then) two year old antibiotics which were rancid.

I did 1/2ml at a time, followed by a chocolate button. Rinse abs repeat every 5 mins until dose is done.

Hard to spit out such a small dose. Plus she clocked onto the chocolate abs became much more compliant after the second dose

@Southwestrunningmum

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.

You clearly did not see my son shooting one right across a hospital ward!!

I have to pin my 9 month old down and wait until he cries to squirt it in. Sounds so brutal but obviously for his own good... I don’t hurt him obviously .

@Thatisnotwhatisaid

I have to pin my 9 month old down and wait until he cries to squirt it in. Sounds so brutal but obviously for his own good... I don’t hurt him obviously .

That's how I always did it - short and fast.

I buy them in suppository form, it's paracetamol & neurofen - very small. Nappy change, in the bum and that's it. It also takes affect within 30 minutes which is quicker than syrup.

I personally find it a lot easier but I am from Germany where it's completely normal. I have received funny looks as it's nor common in the UK.

I meant or, not and. We have paracetamol suppositories and neurofen (ibuprofen) suppositories.

Lay across lap, head on left knee, my right leg over her body and go on tip toes with left knee so her head is more upright. She can't twist and turn that way. Wait till mouth opens and shoot it in a bit at a time in cheek. This sounds brutal, but I wasn't squashing or anything so it's really not bad and surprisingly effective.

I've also put her in her car seat as there was less room for her to move around and couldn't turn head away as much.

Also, she'll take ibuprofen way better than paracetamol. She hates paracetamol. Also, atm ibuprofen is a smaller dose so less to get in.

mine always spat out calpol, in the cheek or not.

Suppositories! Normal in my part if the EU. Totally easy and zero spill risk so you know they get the right dose. Child doesn't feel a thing.
I can't believe so many people in the UK have to resort to pinning children down to administer syringes of sticky pink stuff when they could do it the easy way...!

Draw up the syringe
(If right handed)
Pick them up onto left hip
Put their right arm under your left put your left arm around them to hold their left arm firm against their body
Syringe in side of mouth, squirt some of the medicine. When they've stalled that, squirt the remainder.

Job done.

I'm old enough that I remember the deep joy when they introduced the syringes, spoons were far more difficult.

Hope she's feeling better soon.

@Gastropod

Suppositories! Normal in my part if the EU. Totally easy and zero spill risk so you know they get the right dose. Child doesn't feel a thing. I can't believe so many people in the UK have to resort to pinning children down to administer syringes of sticky pink stuff when they could do it the easy way...!

Most kids don't mind it anyway, but for the ones that do, it's a few seconds of holding them firmly and getting on with it. I've never pinned them to the floor or wrapped them in stuff, just hold them firmly.

Far better than shoving stuff up their bum.

I trick mine, I have something she wants and likes on a spoon and the calpol on another spoon and get it in when her mouth opens for the nicer thing! But mean but necessary!