DS (4m) won't take calpol or neurofen

[FlingonTheValiant]

He had his 16 week imms yesterday, and now has a slight temp and is very miserable.

But if I try to give him either (nb these are attempts since yesterday eve, not both this morning) he just spits it all back out, or just now chokes and vomits his entire stomach contents.

He's never been sick like that before. Should I worry, or is it just because he choked?

I fed him 7 times in 8 hours overnight. I'm knackered and I I can't think straight, so would love someone to tell me if this is ok or not.

Thanks!

use a small syringe and gently syringe the contents into the side of his cheek towards the back of his mouth but not directly down the back. This will make him swallow, tiny bit at a time.

HTH

lie him on his back on the floor, use one of those small baby syringes, when his mouth is open shoot it down his throat, he'll swallow it before he knows it

that worked for my 2

He is probably feeling a bit queasy with the temp and after the jab anyway so that is likely why he is vomiting after being given medicine. Some babies can feel really awful after jabs and some are absolutely fine.

Have you tried syringing a tiny amount at a time like one ml would even make a difference in a tiny baby.

In experience with DD an awful meds taker (even now at 4)when you shoot it down the throat the reflex comes right back up again, tiny amounts slowly works better for us.

I use a syringe, tiny amounts (0.5ml, maybe less), aimed to the side and back, like for feeding. He's having none of it. Once it reaches the back of his mouth his makes a rasping, gagging sound and bring it straight back up. Apart from the one time a bit went down, and then he choked and vomitted :(

None of them like medicine, I don't think. Agree with the others - we used to tip them back and use a syringe to dribble the meds into the side of the mouth. Seem to remember being advised to stroke their throats to trigger the swallw reflex, too.

Also, now he wants feeding, but he only likes it when theres a big let down, and theres not because he's fed so much in the last few hours, so he's refusing to feed :(

Oh. I guess you'll have to grin and bear a cranky day then, unless you are somewhere you can get suppositories?

When ds was in hospital they showed me a really good way to get meds in him, put the syringe in the side of the mouth and squirt a teeny bit at a time into the cheek, then stroke his throat gently which will encourage him to swallow. If he has a dummy then put a little in, then put the dummy in so that he swallows when he starts sucking. It takes a while but at least he shouldn't just throw it all up again.

Another thing I found was that he would only take the fully sugared calpol, sugar free is very bitter.

Good luck.

Flingon - if you are BF you can also try and gently insert the syringe during a feed; it's sticky and feels a bit awkward but has worked for us

syringe but tiny tiny amounts...like 1ml at a time into his cheek, no the back of his throat...that will set of his gag reflex and thats why he will vomit.

hazey, that's a good idea with the dummy. He's just cried himself to sleep on me, but I'll try when he wakes up.

Might be something to do with the flavour, he pulls a face like he's sucking a lemon when I give it to him. I have no idea whether it's sugar free or not, I'll check. Is baby neurofen bitter too?

Acanthus I may see if I can get suppositories somewhere, I don't fancy repeating this in the future! I wonder if I can get them over the counter...

Thanks everyone :)

oricella, I'll give that a try too, thanks!

You can get suppositries over the counter but not all pharmacists have them in stock but they will order them. However, they are really expensive - £13 a packet or something like that. Your gp will give you a prescription. I ordered some online but they took ages to come.
Ds is 2.5 and still refuses medicine when he's ill so I'm still using the suppositries when in dire straits. It is soooo much easier than all the choking and vomiting and refusing - and you know they've had a full dose.

definitely worth trying different flavours, sugary etc, you want to find one he likes before teething kicks in!

Even now my dds (3 and 4) won't take sugar free. it tastes like 'yack' apparantly!

Ouch paddy, that's so expensive! I think I'll stock up next time we go to see ILs in France. They can't be that expensive there, everyone uses them!

I think I'll try a different flavour for now though.

Thanks again!

If you explain to your doctors the situation they will write you a prescription for suppositories. Mine do.

Thanks again everyone! The doctor faxed a prescription for suppositories to the pharmacist and we can get them tomorrow. In the meantime, my brother is out hunting for full-sugar calpol. Phew! :o

Now I just need to sleep...

I mixed all medicine into the bottled milk. Works a treat.