Toddler has temperature but won't take calpol

[Hogu]

I've tried everything, missing it with drinks, food, ice cream but he sniffs it out and refuses it. I've tried pinning him down and forcing it in his mouth but it's making him sick even if I do it in tiny amounts.
Temp is 38 and he's snotty, we've both got a bug.
Pharmacy can't offer me any alternative.
What else can I do? I'm finding to very stressful!

At 38 I wouldn’t fight it. I’d save your battles for if it rises or you need antibiotics at any point. At 39 plus I would get it in as I’ve generally found that is the point mine have become distressed.

Does he have a bottle? If so put the syringe in a bottle teat and push slowly x

Try the orange flavour Neurofen or I think there’s an own brand less flavoured paracetamol for children - ours was the same, would never have Calpol (and I don’t blame them, it smells so strong, like red bull!) but would accept other brands.

Observe him by the sound of it but trust your instinct. My dd couldn’tkeep calpol down when ill as a three year old. She was v unwell and I saw the GP who prescribed suppositories

My GP prescribed suppositories for my DS when he was little.

Children don’t need painkillers unless they’re in pain.

Overusing calpol can cause liver damage in later life. I read that when I was pregnant so Dd has had it twice in her life.

Just keep him cool (don’t sponge him down though) in light layers, and hydrated. The body needs to fight the infection so a temp is the way to do it. It’s only a concern if it shoots up suddenly.

My daughter will not take calpol ever, but will take supermarket own version.

You don't always need to treat a fever, so don't force the calpol down. Make sure he is cool by removing as many layers as possible. And keep him hydrated. Don't cool him down by cold sponging or fanning him.

@Ostryga

Children don’t need painkillers unless they’re in pain.

Overusing calpol can cause liver damage in later life. I read that when I was pregnant so Dd has had it twice in her life.

Just keep him cool (don’t sponge him down though) in light layers, and hydrated. The body needs to fight the infection so a temp is the way to do it. It’s only a concern if it shoots up suddenly.

I'd be interested to read your sources on the Calpol / liver damage @Ostryga

Nurofen?
Or a vapour plug?

I have one of these!! Will he take it in a bottle of milk or mixed in with a yoghurt or is he wise to that? Mine isn't yet thank god. Sending strength.

Listen to Sirzy!

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4145646/ worth reading.. fever is beneficial. Keep your child hydrated, ski to skin can help reduce temperature and calm your child. 38 degrees is OK and not a cause for serious concern.

38 isn't panic territory so don't fight it for now.

In the (perhaps near) future you can try suppositories (from the pharmacy) or just a different brand of liquid paracetamol or ibuprofen which will also bring down a temp.

Other brands are less sticky and sickly. My kids both had trouble with this and one of them really needed their temperature controlled.

The only way yo do it was to syringe it to the very back of their mouth so it would be swallowed before they had a chance to spit it out, and follow really quickly with water, preferably from a straw.

@Crunchymum

I think this was the article I read: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/children-put-at-risk-as-parents-misuse-calpol-7g825z3gf

It was made by the Professor of general paediatrics at UCL at the time (maybe still currently) so I took a definite note.

I have never used calpol for teething, jabs or a fever ever. Just when Dd had an ear infection and was in pain. I’d never forgive myself if I got slap happy with calpol and made her poorly.

Are Calpol melts still available? I’m afraid I told them they were sweets. I know, but it worked.

Please remember that Calpol et al are banking on you using them, because they make money off of your fear of fevers. They’re not out to help your child, just put millions in their pockets.

You can get different flavours at a chemist. Might work

Go for a walk wrap up well shove them in the pushchair and walk for a bit

Nurofen? It comes in a different flavour. Mine wouldn't have calpol at first either.

My LO 2 hates medicine. Refuses, knows as well if I put in drink. Now I just strip him down, put fan on and keep offering water. I sleep in same room when he ill so keep checking. Once his temp did go over 40 when checked him in night but he was very sleepy so managed to get 2.5 ml down him. Otherwise we just get through it. Temp never lasted more than 2 days either.

Does he take a dummy? You could put a bit on it and when he tastes it he might go for the rest. Works with our LO. Need to kick the dummy habit soon though

If he needs pain relief could you try nurofen instead? DD would never take calpol but is fine with that. If he doesn’t need pain relief and it’s just that his temperature is a little bit high I wouldn’t bother.

How old is your baby? If old enough to be on the 5ml dose of baby calpol you can give half of a 6+ calpol fast melt. Your baby will eat it and it'll dissolve in the mouth.