Calpol - how to give if baby refuses syringe

[Bunny2021]

My 8.5mo baby has a temp (over 39 degrees) but is clamping his mouth shut and refusing to let us give him calpol or ibuprofen. Any tips on how to get him to take the medicine?

My daughters were the same at that age. On the advice of my GP we always kept in a supply of suppositories as well.

They flat out refused to take the Calpol but eventually did start taking the orange Nurofen instead, but until that point the suppositories did the job well enough.

You could try disguising it if it’s practical. I used to put medicine in a petit filous (the dessert chocolate vanilla or chocolate ones if the medicine was particularly bad) but you could try mixing with a chocolate spread or jam.

Add it to his milk/food

We would squish cheeks slightly enough to get the syringe to the side of the cheek then slowly give it whilst gently stroking the throat to encourage swallowing.

My ds would always refuse when he had a high temp but just had to get it in him!

My little one hates the syringe but will take it from a spoon no bother since about 6 months ! To start with I used out her in the high chair and pretend it was food but now she will just take it from a spoon no problem as it’s delicious 😂

Suppositories were the only way for my now 5yo to be able to have paracetamol. Your gp can prescribe them. They don't have all the dodgy E numbers and other questionable ingredients that are in capol either which is a massive bonus.

Thanks all! We’re going to the GP in an hour so will see what he says. I didn’t realise that calpol came in suppository form - will definitely need to give that a go as he had a total meltdown when I tried to give it earlier!

Lie your child on their back on the work surface. When they open their mouth to wail/protest/scream, squirt the calpol in then. Ours were never enormously chuffed when we did this but it worked a treat.