How do I get Calpol into my poor LO?

[kimlie]

DS2 (7 and a half months) is under the weather with a horrible cold and fever and is obviously feeling rubbish. I would really like to give him some paracetemol to ease his distress and bring his fever down, but I just can't get him to take it. I've tried gently with a syringe, and he either gets upset and squirts it straight back out of his mouth, or gently dribbles it out of one side just when I think it's gone in. I've tried giving it to him on my finger but he won't let me, and he refuses to take a spoon. I don't want to push it, and I'm trying to bring his temperature down by keeping him cool, but does anyone have any suggestions? Any help greatly appreciated.

Point the syringe into his cheek and dispense slowly - don't shoot it in, that can make them gag.

I hope this works and that your ds feels better soon xx

you just have get it in. i used to wrap ds in a towel. if you can get someone else to help then do, one to hold firmly, the other to squirt it in.

also have you got any children's ibuprofen? i have always found it much better for getting temp down than paracetamol and you can use both at once.

Try giving him the syringe. Mine prefered to put it in their mouths themselves.

Then I gradually squeezed a bit in as they sucked on it.

If he takes a bottle, you could mix it with his milk.

My DS hates Calpol and always has - loves Nurofen though. Maybe try that as different taste - orange flavour. Calpol is vile.

another vote for putting in the milk. Also nurofen much better for getting a temp down. Hope your lo gets better soon

we gave up and gave dd tepid baths and a fan instead

nb have you got the sugar-free one? apparently the sugary one is marginally less vile

we were unable to get any meds into ds when he was ill so we got some paracetamol suppositries (Spelling !) from the GP which were fantastic.
As soon as he was feeling better he was more receptive to neurofen too.

I believe that this is the usual way of medicating children on the continent.

We had the same problem with DD for a long time. One night her temp was so high I called NHS Direct and they told me we just had to get some Calpol into her. DH had to hold her down while I held her nose and tipped it in. Awful while we were doing it, but effective. I also gently wrap a muslin round her neck to catch any drips.
We now use a crocodile medicine spoon which we find works well for us.
Hope it improves for you - I feel your pain!

my kids don't have calpol etc. we used tepid baths and cooling fans etc. It does help. When DD was in hospital they used this to assist her. Children don't 'have' to have calpol as long as you can cool them and make them as comfortable as possible.
i only say that so you don't expend huge energy trying to get this down him when a fan and cool flannel may help just as much and be more calming for him.
good luck

We put most meds in milk for dd, though she'll down Calpol (and most meds) in water too. Not from a spoon or syringe for some reason, but ok in liquid

The suppositories are fantastic. No spitting out and screaching, no sticky mess, no fuss, no additives to make it taste better. You can get them on prescription or in the chemist for about £20 for 10.

I've come across this that is meant to be good, although no idea where to get it in the UK!

cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120240074598&ssPageName=MERC_VI_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BIN_Stor esIT&refitem=120240074072&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=activeviewitem&usedrule1=CrossSellLogicX&refw idgettype=crosspromotwidget&trksid=p284.m184&trkparms=algo%3DCRX%26its%3DS%252BI%252BSS%26itu%3D ISS%252BUCI%252BSI%26otn%3D4

get the suppositries (sp?) then they have no choice!

The syringes that you get in baby nurofen bottles work best for us. A paediatric nurse told me to gently squeeze it into the baby's cheek and very gently stroke her throat - stimulates a swallowing reflex. Was a 2 man job for a while, but now she takes it just fine. Keep talking calmly while doing everything very gently.

i wa sgoing to say that im sure you can get them dummies in argos or boots i know its one of them lol was going to get my ds one when he was a baby but syringe worked great in the end

Mine absolutely refuses syringes - clamps his jaw shut. So I favour the in a bottle of milk method.

my clever GP said use 6+ calpol, just 2.5mls, totally different texture

The sachets of Calpol are more expensive but do the trick for us.

We use a syringe and blow on ds's face after we've put some in his mouth, this makes a baby swallow. Very effective!

I always hid calpol in fromage frais - the teeniest pots available and only mixed into the top half. Cold and smooth worked a treat.

Lots of clever suggestions - thank you - I don't feel so defeated! Managed to get him to take some strawberry ibuprofen by stroking his cheek and calming him down whilst I approached with the syringe! And gently blowing on his face worked a treat although he did look a bit put out afterwards! It went in and I think he's now on the mend. Maybe it doesn't taste as vile as Calpol? He's still snuffly though and I can feel my throat starting to get sore - oh joy. Nothing 12 hours sleep wouldn't cure - hee hee - fat chance!!