Why on earth are these Enumbers in Calpol?

[nickeldaisical]

just looking at the ingredients, and googles the E-numbers on the calpol bottle.

found this

calpol has got:
e420, e218, e216 and e214.

all of the 2s are preservatives recommended not to be used in children's food, so why medicine?

they're banned in some countries!

Here in Belgium most babies/young children that need it are given paracetamol as a suppository. No mess, no fuss, no sweeteners or artificial colours to worry about! Very easy to dose, and quick to act as well.

Like you, silverfrog I excluded that list of nasties from DS1's diet when he was young (ADHD). Even a small amount caused an adverse reaction.

I taught my DCs to take standard tablets from an early age (around 5) so that when necessary, medication (including antibiotics, as I didn't want them to take the disgusting syrups) could be flavouring/colouring/sweetener free.

You will not kill a child if you give the correct paracetamol dose for their age/weight. This can be easily achieved for a young child by careful division of a 500g soluble tablet. My GP knew that I did this, and when DCs were babies he prescribed paracetamol suppositories for them - as he understands my concerns re additives. (He's fab, and is something of an expert regarding ADHD too.)

From school age, when my DCs needed paracetamol, they swallowed a portion of an adult tablet with water. Job done.

Mandinga79,are you saying you only parent to a certain degree.
That you dont do your very best for your children?

The dosage of actual paracetamol is on the Calpol box, and the only reason they stopped recommending fractions of normal paracetamol tablets is that many people are crap at arithmetic (esp at 4am with screaming child) and there's a big risk of overdose.

My parents just gave me aspirin or paracetamol mushed up in Apple sauce or Yoghurt, and I've done it when I've run out of calpol. But then I'm used to doing those calculations.

Surely a pharmacist could work out how much paracetamol would be a safe dose for anyone who can't use child-specific meds for their child?

how about suppositories? they contain nothing but the active ingredient and a wax that holds them together --and dc will not through it up again or spit it out.

Are suppositories available in the UK? Is a good idea for pain relievers.
Don't think it would work for antibiotics though, and these are often bad for colourings. There is a particularly nasty orange penicillin with azo dyes. Erythromycin is much better iirc, with just natural colouring.

Yes, suppositories are available here.

I really can't see why they aren't more commonly used. Maybe it's because, as a nation, we're so uptight regarding all things bottom-related.

(Except on Friday nights of course. )