Urgent question Calpol - can you give it to a seven week year old

[roberta]

My seven week year old baby has got a cold and a slight temperature (caught it from his sister who's been streaming all week) and is pretty miserable. Calpol bottle says only give after 3 months unless doctor says otherwise. Can't get through to a doctor - does anyone know if it's ok to give a small dose?

I wouldn't. How slight is slight? Have you undressed him? And why not try NHS Direct - the telephone number is in the phone book - they're always very helpful.

I know the GP & Practice Nurses advise it's OK to give a small dose (2.5 ml I think - tiny end of spoon) before and 4 hours after immunisations at 2 months (i.e. 8 weeks) so you're not far off. In fact I think even the box includes this information. I'm sure body weight must be a factor too - e.g. wouldn't give it to an underweight premature baby at 7 weeks.
However I'm sure one dose would be OK if you're desperate - but wouldn't keep doing 4-hrly or anything.
Have you tried all the other things - baby breatheasy cream/ Karvol (might also be 3 months actually..) Vicks in hot water in the room.

You could give NHS Direct a call if you're really worried, but I suspect you'll just get the offical line...

Actually - I've just gone to look at the official information from the Electronic Medicines Compendium
emc.vhn.net/public/

Here's what it says:
Infants under 3 months:

Oral. A 2.5ml (60 mg) dose is suitable for babies who develop post vaccination fever at 2 months followed, if necessary, by a second dose 4 to 6 hours later. In other cases, or if fever persists, use under medical supervision only.

HTH

Roberta is your baby breastfed? If so just keep feeding and your body will produce antibodies in the breastmilk to fight off the infection. This was discussed here recently.

Having said that my bf baby had a streaming snotty cold nonstop from about 2m - 6m!

A friend of mine whose sister is a doctor says it's fine to give Calpol at this age. However, wouldn't want to use this as gospel so I'd check with nhs direct first if poss.

I would check with doctor but my ds was given it after he was born because he had forceps delivery and his head was very bruised. Saying that he was a big baby - 9lbs 10oz so he wasn't the usual size of a newborn. I would imagine it would be ok but please check it out first. If you phoned your doctors, there should be somebody on call, they would be able to advise over the phone. Hope baby gets better soon.

Thanks everyone,
We gave a small dose as he's due his injections as you guys reminded me they recommend calpol beforehand. It did seem to help - couldn't get through to the doctors surgery - engaged all night - NHS direct said go to casualty. I am breastfeeding but he sadly got the flu lurgy from my daughter before i did (I've got it now and it's lousy). Anyway he's still a bit miserable but not nearly as bad as he was and his temperature's come right down. I on the otherhand feel terrible and am off to bed.