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AIBU?

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Original poster

Giving 5 year old a 6yo dose of calpol?

36 replies

MrsPreston11 · 03/05/2018 09:49

I have 2 DDs - 7 and 5.

So my youngest now has a really large dose of the under 6 calpol.

Fine at home with a bottle.

But for in my travel bag the stupid sachets (which for a 5 year old 1 dose is 2 of) burst and make everything else sticky. So when shopping yesterday (we're away next week for a few days) I grabbed the meltlet things for 6+ to pack to cover both girls. (£3.80 a pack and I really didn't want to buy both...)

I've said to DH surely when they say 6yo they have to be catering for the smallest 6yo, and I personally know 6yos smaller than our 5yo.

He thinks I'm breaking the law here.......what are your opinions?

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 03/05/2018 09:50

How old is she exactly and how big for her age?

KriticalSoul · 03/05/2018 09:51

I don't think it matters that much one spoonful of the 6+ is about the same as 2 of the 0+ I think.

SleepingStandingUp · 03/05/2018 09:51

I don't think its breaking the law but I think you need to consider what would happen if it was too much for her and it made her poorly and you had to take her in to hospital. So potentially a good lecture and some follow up

DougFargo · 03/05/2018 09:52

What law would that be exactly? How ridiculous of him!

the over 6 is merely more concentrated, if you weight adjust you can use either for any child.

Merryoldgoat · 03/05/2018 09:52

My DS was prescribed 6+ when he was 4 because he’s so big - the doctors and hospital actually calculate the dose on weight.

Google calpol dosage by weight and it will give you the correct amount.

It actually makes a big difference as my son was not getting enough medication at first so his symptoms weren’t being relieved.

HateSummer · 03/05/2018 09:52

Common sense. Take a measuring spoon with you and pour the sachet out into that according to how much she should be taking. She might not even need it though...

Imaystillbedrunk · 03/05/2018 09:53

There are websites that work out correct dosage bases on weight. Weigh the 5 year old, work out the dosage and go from there. I'd guess you'll be fine but better to work it out now than when you have a poorly screaming child

DougFargo · 03/05/2018 09:54

its not a sachet, you can't measure a meltlet.

Its fine, doing it by age means it has to be safe for the very smallest 6 year old possible, which will be the weight of some large 3 year olds. It's not dangerous, nobody needs hospital involvement, noone is breaking a law.

Teachtolive · 03/05/2018 09:55

Ring the local pharmacy and the pharmacist should be able to tell you how to adjust the dosage based on the childs weight

ThePencil · 03/05/2018 09:55

Yes, it goes by weight rather than age. Is she almost 6, or just turned 5?

The packet should tell you how much Paracetamol is in each one, so you could compare that to the dosage for her on the other bottle.

Be VERY careful with Paracetamol. Having said that, the recommended dosages on the bottle are well within safe limits.

Can you break the meltlets in half? That might be better.

Personally, if she's almost 6, a decent size for her age, and it's a one-off, I'd give her the meltlet. For repeated doses, I'd check with a pharmacist first.

Birdsgottafly · 03/05/2018 09:55

Its a common misconception that its to do with size. Its to do with the development of the Kidneys.

Once in a while isn't going to do real damage.

However we've stopped talking about Paracetamol damage and overdosing, which starts in childhood.

It was all over the News at one point, its still relevant, I suppose Obesity has taken over.

We should be teaching our children to take as little as possible.

TaurielTest · 03/05/2018 09:55

I once had to buy paracetamol suspension in France and instead of wide age bands (within which there'd be a lot of weight variation), the syringe it came with had weight markings for the child's weight in kg, which seemed really sensible.

Seeline · 03/05/2018 09:55

The Meltlets are tablets so measuring spoons won't work!

If your DD is above average size and/or nearly 6 I really wouldn't have thought it would matter.

My DD was always very small for her age, but I still followed the recommended dose for her (never advised not too) so no real difference.

unintentionalthreadkiller · 03/05/2018 09:58

They don't magically get more developed the day they turn 6. The French equivalent is much more sensible and always done on weight.

HateSummer · 03/05/2018 09:58

Oh I must have missed that ☺️. I don’t even know what meltlets are. I only ever buy the bottles.

Wishiwascrafty · 03/05/2018 09:59

Weigh her. It’s not illegal to use the different peeps. I keep 6+ and adjust for my kids weights.

Dose of calpol is 15mg/kg.

6+ calpol is 250mg/ml or 250mg per fast melt. If she’s over 16kg she can have one. She’d have to be over 33kg to have 2. At 5 though you might find you’re underdosing her with one tab and overdosing with 2. Overdose with paracetamol is spectacularly dangerous.

Wishiwascrafty · 03/05/2018 10:00

Should read 250mg/5ml

BuntyII · 03/05/2018 10:03

Does she even need Calpol or is this just in case?

DougFargo · 03/05/2018 10:08

Its a common misconception that its to do with size. Its to do with the development of the Kidneys

Nonsense, paracetemol dosage is done by weight in children. Ask any HCP. From the day they are born you can give calpol by weight dosage.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 03/05/2018 10:10

It’s a 10mg difference in paracetamol between the recommended dosage for 5 year old using infant paraceamol and a dosage for a 6 yr old using 6+.

Unless you are using it at maximum dosage every single day, I can’t see it being too much of an issue. It’s likely within the dosage guidelines for a 5 year old unless she’s particularly small.

Original poster
MrsPreston11 · 03/05/2018 10:11

Thanks all you seem to be in my camp.

The most likely thing is going to be that I don't even use the things. Neither of mine have had any painkillers yet this year.

And were we in a situation where one was properly poorly then I'd get to a pharmacy and buy some age appropriate medicine.

But say we're on the pain and suddenly the youngest has a fever, I'd crack out a meltlet. Rather than carry the two sachets for her and meltlet for 7yo.

OP posts:
kaytee87 · 03/05/2018 10:13

What law does your DH think you're breaking?! 😂
Saying that I'd always go with the instructions to be on the safe side as I don't have the medical knowledge to make a decision otherwise.
If almost 6 and over 50th centile it's probably fine.

Original poster
MrsPreston11 · 03/05/2018 10:15

Just checked and she's almost 19kg. So well into safe for a meltlet zone.
Hopefully that'll calm DH down.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 03/05/2018 10:19

From the link Puddock posted:

4 years to 6 years: 10ml of infant paracetamol suspension, given up to four times a day
6 years to 8 years: 5ml of paracetamol six-plus suspension, given up to four times a day

infant paracetamol suspension still contains 120mg of paracetamol for every 5ml of suspension
paracetamol six-plus suspension still contains 240/250mg of paracetamol for every 5ml of suspension.

So the 4-6 dose equates to 240mg and 6-8 equates to 240/250mg.