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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

How do you administer Calpol when baby gets so distressed??

30 replies

Taler · 26/08/2014 11:51

Occasionally she will take it voluntarily, but most of the time it's a massive battle which results in her getting so distressed. I feel awful and she's so worked up and I can rarely manage to get the full dose in her.

Anyone else come across this?

OP posts:

biscuitsandbandages · 26/08/2014 11:59

It depends a bit on how old.

You can put it in a small amount of milk aslong as its small enough she will drink it all.

Squirting with a syringe is the easiest option. Either in an older baby by negotiation (mine would do it themselves by a year) or if not a firm but gentle approach.

Hold baby close to you with their arm behind you and your free arm holding their free arm close to their body. Squirt calpol into cheek pocket near the back. Wait until swallowed, release and reward.

itstheyearzero · 26/08/2014 11:59

Use a syringe and squirt it into her cheek. That's what used to work for DS

treadheavily · 26/08/2014 12:01

I did the syringe thing too. Worked well for my dc

biscuitsandbandages · 26/08/2014 12:04

Its also worth getting generic paracetamol suspension rather than calpol which has a very unpleasant taste. The asda one isnt too awful and all chemists will be able to sell you an unbranded one which is cheaper than calpol brand and may be better tolerated.

flanjabelle · 26/08/2014 16:46

I will sound like an abusive mother here, but dd has been on lots of medication since she was born and hasn't always been cooperative to say the least. If she is refusing to take it I have to force her :(

If they won't open their mouths, the best way is to grab their cheeks with your thumb one side and fingers the other and squeeze so they are pulling a fish face. Then slide the syringe in to the back of the cheek and give the medication.

Try not to put it in as they take a breath as they may choke.

It's not nice, but sometimes it has to be done.

Right now, dd has a uti and I'm having to force 3x anti bs, 4x calpol and 3x nurofen a day :( the alternative is having her admitted to hospital because her temperature has been so high. Not nice.

CSLewis · 26/08/2014 16:47

Suppositories!

Original poster

Taler · 26/08/2014 21:27

Flanjabelle that sounds awful! You poor thing! And your DD. Hope she feels better soon.

OP posts:

Original poster

Taler · 26/08/2014 21:29

I always use syringe but her mouth is clamped tight!!!

Earlier today I put the 5ml in a bowl and mixed it with Ella's Kitchen Banana & Apple, which worked great!

I didn't know Calpol had a horrible taste ?? Thought it was strawberry? All other babies seem to love the stuff except my DD.

The unbranded ones sound like a good idea - thanks

OP posts:

AndThisIsTrue · 26/08/2014 21:41

I used to do it just before I put the bottle in DSs mouth so he would open his mouth thinking it is milk coming. Now he is older (16 months) he likes the pop noise the syringe makes coming out the bottle so I do that a few times inbetween mouthfuls.

hollie84 · 26/08/2014 21:43

Does she definitely need it?

chemenger · 26/08/2014 21:48

We are past the calpol stage but I used to get the one with sugar, it tasted much nicer than the sugar free which just tastes of artificial sweetener. Of course it's possible that the delicious sugary one is no longer made.

NotCitrus · 26/08/2014 22:14

Ask a vet. :)
Ideally I got a spoonful or syringeful into the cheek of baby, which would then get swallowed and couldn't be spit out. If they don't open their mouth, hold their nose and they will. The trick is to hold them between your knees with one arm over their shoulder to hold them still, then get the stuff onto your spoon in that hand, then into child.

daluze · 26/08/2014 22:28

Ask GP to prescribe suppositories. So simple and no battles at all. It was impossible to give any Calpol to my DS until he was around 1, as he knew how to spit it out even if we managed to get any in. In many countries suppositories is the main method to administer medicines, and not just for children. They are ridiculously expensive here over the counter, but GP can prescribe.

AChickenCalledKorma · 26/08/2014 22:34

When too young to reason with, I used to hold DC's noses. They have to open their mouths - quick squirt with the syringe and a big cuddle before they have the chance to realise anything happened.

They are 9 and 12 now and don't appear particularly traumatised .

Sparklesandglitter · 27/08/2014 07:43

Depending on age have you tried the medicine dummy? This worked for my DC and meant I could give medicine at night too

Original poster

Taler · 27/08/2014 07:59

Medicine dummy????

OP posts:

Annietheacrobat · 27/08/2014 08:05

Calpol is delicious. Have been known to sneak a spoonful along with DD.

Agree might be worth trying the one with sugar.

SweetPea3 · 27/08/2014 09:47

When DD was little I used to get syringes like this from the chemist - you can slip the pointed bit into the corner of baby's mouth.

www.amazon.co.uk/Syringe-5ml-Pack-of-2/dp/B004BF4HUY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1409129148&sr=8-2&keywords=baby+syringe

Now DD is older she loves Calpol so the standard flat ended ones are fine for us.

Poppet45 · 27/08/2014 15:29

Dd came home on 16 meds and I agree w the poster above that you just have to grit yr teeth n get on with it. Syringe not spoon, side of mouth not back of throat to avoid choking. Lo may be v upset, this might tear you up into little bits, but them getting better trumps never upsetting them. Ditto for holding them down for bloods, x-rays, lumbar lunctures, nasal cannulas...

Tipsykisses · 27/08/2014 16:33

My eldest was in hospital a lot and at times when we got home we had to wrap her in a blanket and squirt it in her cheek as she had to have the medicine , it is not nice but it works .

This is a dormal they are good for babies .

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B000VBGT3K?pc_redir=1408122559&robot_redir=1

Cookiepants · 27/08/2014 16:38

Pre-weaning I just used to use a syringe and do it tiny bit by tiny bit so DS didn't spit it out. Now I give it in a spoon of his favourite yoghurt.

StillWishihadabs · 27/08/2014 16:39

Use suppositories if still in nappies (soo much easier and they cant spit it out or sick it up)

AuntieStella · 27/08/2014 16:44

By the time I was on to DC3, I managed to persuade GP to prescribe suppositories and damn the expense (which I would have paid had I been able to just buy the sodding things without prescription).

I shall always remember the look of utter shock on that baby's face the first time I deployed one.

Beastofburden · 27/08/2014 16:44

Sugar free is much nastier than with sugar, the texture is weird as well as the taste. Honestly the amount of calpol they are likely to be getting through, a bit of sugar is the least of our worries.

With a much bigger disabled child (six Foot but mental age of two) I put it into a sports drink and let him suck it slowly. Less chance of it all being puked straight back up, which is what otherwise happens. Suppositories work fine while you are still much bigger than they are, but are not really an option with an unwilling 18 year old

Beastofburden · 27/08/2014 16:46

The other good thing about sports drinks is that if they are dehydrated, they rehydrate them much better than water does. Just make sure you get the ones without caffeine....

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