I can't get Calpol into my 1yo and she's had a temperature for 2 days now ...

[babypowder]

DD has had a temperature hovering around 39C for the past 2 days. I have tried, and failed, to give her Calpol a number of times. Even with a syringe, she just holds it in her mouth and then spits it out.

At what stage do I have to worry about her not having paracetemol to bring her temperature down? I'm doing all the usual things (no clothes, loose sheet, plenty of BM, etc.)

Any advice gratefully received!

There is always the exception Melsy.

Where I live the paediatrician discourages use of paracetamol and akin unless the temp is at least 38.5° as it's counterproductve and unnecessary in the vast majority of children.

You don't need a prescription for paracetamol suppositories, you can get them over the counter. I had no problem the last time I was in the UK, the only problem was finding a chemist that stocked them. You do need to get the dosage established, but a good chemist will know that.

as suzi2 says the nurofen 3m is orange flavour and might appeal better (I don't blame her for not liking the sickly strawberry taste!)

If you aren't against homeopathic then belladonna is meant to bring down temps - they come in little sugary pills. Go to a health shop and ask which strength you should be giving though (or look up online) because I can't remember.

Actually babies/children at higher risk of febrile convulsions in the first few hours of an infection - it is the rise in temperature not the temperature per se that causes the problem. So more likely to get them even before you realise that they are ill.

The immune system works better at a slightly high temperature (that is why we get a temperature when we are poorly) and so if the baby/child is OK otherwise then it is OK to have a temperature.

Having said that my 2 are miserable with even a slightly high temp. One likes paracetamol, the other baby nurofen. I do the syringe into cheek and they tend to swallow it relatively easily.

Now that her temperature has stabilised at 38C I'm much less worried. It was quite scary during the night as it climbed to 39.5C, but is much lower now.

I hate giving Calpol, or any other meds, TBH, but I do understand that it can be important when temperatures are over 39.

Thanks again for all your tips. I'll definitely seek out the Belladonna (completely forgot about that!), and look forward to the day that I can bribe her!

glad its stabilised.

agree its fine for them to have a bit of a temp, but its scary when they go right up like that isnt it?

had nhs direct on the phone once telling me to get something down him to get the temp down (was way up and had been for a while) or hed have to go to hosp and theyd do it intravenously and he certainly wouldnt like that... i was saying 'ive tried! he pukes any up that i force down him!' and he was too, not sickness but temper/stubbornness! little sod she was having no truck with my predicament though.

i did get some down him in the end, bit by bit

Use suppositories. Best way to get drugs into little ones. It acts fast as well.

at the suggestion to give tiny pills to a 1 yr old. Needless to say, don't do it. Even if it were real medicine, it would not be worth the risk.