Calpol substitute

[Bumptious22]

With Calpol nearly 4 quid for a small bottle, has anyone come across a cheaper substitute? My DC's are 14 and 10.

I remember when I was a kid (back in 70's/80's😳) just being given soluble aspirin when I was unwell?

Most supermarkets do their own brand of children's paracetamol. I've never bought calpol just the cheap supermarket version

Check put home bargains or asda

There is also an own brand version for just over a pound.

Lots of supermarkets do their own brand paracetamol which is fine

Have you checked the packet to see what age children can start taking adult tablets? I’d have thought yours would be fine to do so

You can generic ones, like Asda or Tesco's own. They all contain the same ingredients, just much cheaper.
It's the same with paracetamol as well, just buy generic ones.

At 14 and 10 your children can take normal paracetamol tablets. If they can't swallow tablets, get the dissolvable ones.

The 14yo should be able to take adult tablets - pack of own brand about 26p.

But yes- just go to the supermarket or chemist and get own brand/non-brand versions.

At 10 and 14 they can take paracetamol tablets!

Boots sell their own version which is cheaper

Cheap pack of paracetamol at about 20p at their ages!

We have chewable tablets for young kids in Australia, available at pharmacies and some big supermarkets. But mine are younger than yours and take one adult paracetamol tablet. Split it in half and it's way easier for them to swallow. I'd go broke trying to dose a 45kg tween on children's liquid medications. 😳

Always have got asda or tesco own. Its basically the same. Same strength, different flavour.

But as other posters said give them tablets.

Please don’t give a child under 16 any aspirin containing products! It can cause Reye’s syndrome.

As above- most pharmacies will stock an “own brand” paracetamol solution which is vastly cheaper than calpol but failing that the older one should be able to manage to swallow a tablet especially if halved first.

You’re giving a 14 year old calpol???😂😂😂 that’s hilarious

Paracetamol tablets are suitable for 6+ according to the pack here. Get caplets as they’re easier to swallow and follow the dose suggested. Over 12 is an adult…I’m pretty sure because they’re usually the size of at least a small adult.

Just buy paracetamol tablets. Plenty of tips online for teaching people how to swallow tablets if that’s the issue. My son aged 9 has the tablets now.

You can get a huge bottle of paracetamol suspension from the chemist. My 13 year old can't swallow tablets so that's what I use. I've never used branded calpol as too expensive. Speak to chemist they keep it behind the counter and they have versions suitable for adults or children

Thanks all- older one is funny about swallowing stuff. Never come across chewable paracetamol, will look into it.

chewable paracetamol is disgusting

They are going to have to learn how to do swallow tablets.

In a few years time they will be at college, in a work place or even sports team where people will offer them pain killers in tablet form because they complain of headache or whatever pain.

Start with caplets or tablets coated in plastic so they can gulp them down when they have a mouthful of water.

All supermarkets, chemist and pound shops do generic calpol and ibuprofen, same as they do for adults.

I'd get the 14 yo taking tablets though.

Yes tablets or dissolvable ones. Maybe get them to practice swallowing tic tacs or something similar, at least if it goes wrong they won't get the horrid paracetamol taste.

Own brand calpol or soluble paracetamol for the 14 year old. The soluble stuff is so gross they’ll cheerfully take a tablet after trying it once.

My 15 year old has asd and had trouble swallowing tablets. We practised though because it really is important if they are ill in future that they can do it. He practiced with tictacs until he could. I wouldn't be fussing around with calpol for a 14 year old.

Sainsbury's one is pretty much the same stuff same flavour.

Sainsbury's is cherry and my children won't take it

Sorry, Tesco's is cherry

at those ages I would go for tablets or melting tablets. a lot cheaper.

at the beginning of the covid lockdowns when the shops were unpredictable we practiced swallowing with m&m and tictacs.

Tablets