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Original poster

Calpol refuser

51 replies

frillseeking · 05/10/2021 15:20

My DS is teething really badly at the moment but refuses calpol or any kind of medicine. I manage to get away with putting some in his bedtime bottle but then he wakes up at midnight screaming and I can't do anything or give him anything. I've tried giving it to him but he gags and then makes himself sick. Any advice or tips?? Tia

OP posts:
LouLou198 · 05/10/2021 15:24

How old is he? If you have weaned him could you maybe give with a yogurt?

Original poster
frillseeking · 05/10/2021 15:27

He's 18 months so he would eat a yoghurt but might be tricky if he's half asleep, I'm not sure, might be worth a try

OP posts:
PippinStar · 05/10/2021 15:29

My 12 month old is like this. I give her a suppository when changing her nappy, before she even realises what’s happening!

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Ozanj · 05/10/2021 15:31

If he won’t drink it then leave it. Just focus on other remedies. Teething powders, teething rings, a spoonful of brandy with the alcohol burned off, all work too.

misstilly · 05/10/2021 15:33

Does he have a dummy? I used to put the syringe in at the side of the dummy, as he sucked he swallowed the Calpol too.

MotherOfDragon20 · 05/10/2021 15:34

Sorry if this seems obvious but have you tired off a spoon, my daughter absolutely will not tolerate it being syringes into her mouth but will happily take it off a spoon?

H0cusP0cus · 05/10/2021 15:35

Try teething powders op

Original poster
frillseeking · 05/10/2021 15:36

@MotherOfDragon20

Sorry if this seems obvious but have you tired off a spoon, my daughter absolutely will not tolerate it being syringes into her mouth but will happily take it off a spoon?
Do you know I don't know if I have tried that actually.. we just always try the syringe! I'll try that and see, such an obvious idea!
OP posts:
Original poster
frillseeking · 05/10/2021 15:36

@misstilly

Does he have a dummy? I used to put the syringe in at the side of the dummy, as he sucked he swallowed the Calpol too.
No dummy, I used to do that with my DD too! Now I've got the dummy battle on my hands 🙈 it's swings and roundabouts hey
OP posts:
WashableVelvet · 05/10/2021 15:37

I used to hate forcing it down DS while he writhed and gagged. Felt like I was torturing him. Then at about 18 months I once tried letting him take the syringe, play with it a bit, he stuck it in his mouth and took the Calpol himself, I just needed to help very gently with the plunger and let him have it over a few goes. Might be worth a try but no guarantees, they’re all so different.

Original poster
frillseeking · 05/10/2021 15:37

@Ozanj

If he won’t drink it then leave it. Just focus on other remedies. Teething powders, teething rings, a spoonful of brandy with the alcohol burned off, all work too.
Brandy sounds interesting.. I think we're going through the 18 month regression so it's double whammy at the moment and sleepless hell
OP posts:
Original poster
frillseeking · 05/10/2021 15:38

He sleeps well for the first part of the night so I'm thinking the teething is kicking in when the calpol wears off and the symptoms are always heightened at that time of night anyway aren't they

OP posts:
Allthesefolks · 05/10/2021 15:39

Suppositories worked for me too when I got desperate, much easier than the trauma of trying to get her to take Calpol

Ozanj · 05/10/2021 15:40

Brandy has been a lifesaver for me. My Gp recommended it as a way to reduce DS’ calpol intake (he takes it for teething) and it works just as well.

elliejjtiny · 05/10/2021 15:46

Are you using the branded one with sugar in? My 8 year old won't take the own brand version of calpol they have in hospital. I have to bring branded calpol in with us. Apparently the sugar free calpol tastes awful too. When I worked in a chemist we used to recommend medicines with sugar in to the parents of medicine refusers.

Fallagain · 05/10/2021 15:49

Teething powders don’t contain any medicine - you may as well give him a a spoon of sugar as it will have the same effect. Try nurofen it’s better for teething, squirt in small amount to the back of the cheek. Anbesol liquid (not gel) it also really good.

olidora63 · 05/10/2021 15:50

Unfortunately it has to be a suppository for my granddaughter…have tried literally everything to get either calpol or neurofen down her ! Ask gP to prescribe because the suppository are so expensive!

farfallarocks · 05/10/2021 15:52

We used suppositories with my son who did the same. This is how infants get given paracetamol as standard in France and Italy. Actually much better as it bypasses
The stomach and is very fast. Are they available in uk?

Orchidflower1 · 05/10/2021 15:53

Where do you get the suppositories? My dc are past that’s part but DN is having a tough time and SIL can’t get anything into him, compounded by ASD.

Do you get them from the chemist or on prescription?

Original poster
frillseeking · 05/10/2021 16:07

@farfallarocks

We used suppositories with my son who did the same. This is how infants get given paracetamol as standard in France and Italy. Actually much better as it bypasses The stomach and is very fast. Are they available in uk?
I've heard people on the continent swear by suppositories but i thought they were used for constipation! I wonder where you can get them from here in the uk?
OP posts:
Toolateplanting · 05/10/2021 16:10

I second the recommendation for branded calpol if you are uses the non branded stuff - my picky DD spurned the (free) calpol and would only take the expensive stuff! Very annoying. I did try them both myself and to be fair she had a point.

HungryHippo20 · 05/10/2021 16:12

My little girl wouldn't take it from syringe either, she choked on it most of the time! But when we started weaning she was able to take it really well from a spoon!

Porfre · 05/10/2021 16:12

You can get suppositories from a chemist

SRK16 · 05/10/2021 16:22

Are you sure it’s teething? Teething pain is usually only a few days at a time. Could be developmental or needs change in nap routine etc? Just a thought.

ArthurApples · 05/10/2021 16:25

Anbesol liquid is absolutely brilliant for teething.