Giving 5 year old a 6yo dose of calpol?

[MrsPreston11]

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?

To confirm it definitely is by weight. I found this out after having DS, I'm very light and the nurses would only give me 1 and a half paracetomal because I didn't weigh enough for 2. Despite being 28 at the time and following the guidelines on the packets that say "over 12 years 2 paracetamol tablets".

Will they take the meltlets?
My 9 year old wont

It's definitely calculated by weight my 6 month old baby was prescribed the 6 plus Calpol (but only 2.4ml of it) because she was very poorly and was difficult to get the whole 5ml of Calpol into her.
But the melt things are a full dose arent they? I would give it as a one off but stick to the infant one as a rule.

He thinks you're breaking the law?!

The dosage instructions on Calpol are designed to be idiot proof, and I'm sure there is plenty of margin for error built in. When visiting Hong Kong we bought some Calpol equivalent, and there were no guidelines based on age on the bottle. Instead the concentration of paracetamol in the syrup was given, and there was a formula relating the weight of the child to the appropriate dose of paracetamol (ie not the amount of the syrup they need). They clearly have more confidence in the basic numeracy skills of their population than we do!

I’ve looked at the dosages. It’s mad to give a 4 yo and 7/8 yo the same. My dd has stopped growing at the moment but was very tall for her age. That explains why at 7 the smaller dose no longer worked and I was having to give her the 8-10 dose. She’s nearly 10 and the 8-10 dosage still works because she’s not grown much.

Your dh made me laugh at this being against the law. Glad you’re sorted and I hope your dds feel better soon.

I was going to say it's by weight in France. Thoroughly sensible in my opinion.

All DC medicines are by weight here, including antibiotics. I know a 6 year old who is 20kg. And another who weighs 25 kg....they don't need the same amount!

Wish
May i ask, is the 15mg/kg the same for adults?

So a 50kg adult should only have 750mg of paracetamol (1.5 tablets)?

Thank you and sorry to interrupt the thread.

No he knows it's not really breaking the law - but he's a sensible sort and is acting as if I were considering doing something illegal. I sort of admire it as it shows how much he cares.

But also annoying as he's insinuating I'd put my child at risk.....

persian yes. There were a few reports 5 or so years ago of people under 50kgcoming to harm from unintentional od. This was mostly if admin but the mhra issued guidance.

www.nhsborders.scot.nhs.uk/media/207503/MSAC-Para-safety.pdf

persian yes. There were a few reports 5 or so years ago of people under 50kgcoming to harm from unintentional od. This was mostly if admin but the mhra issued guidance
Thank you very much for that.

It is making me consider whether 8 * 500mg paracetamol tablets is really a good idea for an older lady who is probably just 50Kg