Can you give a half dopse of 6+ Calpol to an under 6?

[PassTheTwiglets]

If 6+ paracetamol is 240mg per 5ml and under-6 paracetamol is 120mg, then can I safely halve the dose to give to an under 6? ie. if a 6yo can have 10ml of the 6+, then could a 4yo have 5ml? It makes mathematical sense but are there any reasons why I shouldn't do this? I will check with a pharmacist later but just wondered if anybody knew.

DOH, title should read "half-dose".

Yes, 5ml of the 6+ is fine! ( pharmacist)

My doctor recently prescribed 5ml doses of Calpol 6+ for my son who has just turned 5.

Hurrah, thanks all! Especially saladcream as you have saved me a trip to town to ask a pharmacist then :)

One of the own brand calpols (possibly Lloyds) give dosing instructions for under 6's on their over 6 paracetamol, so I would think it's ok. It's half of the over 6 dose.

If he is a big boy he may need a higher dose anyway.
calculate dose by weight as it is 240mg dose then halve the result.

Hi I was just wondering if I give a 5 year old 6+ After 4 hours can I give him the right one for his age

Years ago when my 5 week old was in hospital with a UTI the doctors gave him 6+ calpol! It’s all about the right dosage for the weight of the child.

The thing with the 6+ is it’s less liquid so we do give in hospital as kids are sick so don’t always want to take as much or any meds and they are calculated by weight. The bottle is actually 250mg per 5ml the infant is 120mg per 5 ml. Kids often want the pink calpol but we mostly have generic cheap brands in orange or cherry which they then don’t like.

I always used 6+ for mine, my 11 year old now prefers tablets as he gets migraine and calpol sat in his tummy would make him vomit. 10 year old happy with liquid for now. I think if you’re sensible and can work out the equivalent then go for it.

@Wholnowa why would you give 2 different types. If you give 6+ just keep giving it, it’s the same medicine just a different strength.

So for a 5 year old you’d give 10ml of infant paracetamol

Or 5ml of 6+ Paracetamol there is a tiny bit more paracetamol in the 5ml of 6+ Hope that makes sense

These are from the HSE, Ireland's NHS equivalent. Weight based doseages for both infant and 6+ versions of both paracetamol and ibuprofen (Calpol and Neurofen)

12 YEAR OLD THREAD , dont thing OP is interested any more!!!!!!!!!!!