Calpol - I literally don't know what to do

[Wednesdayafternoon]

My son will not take any form of medicine. I've tried absolutely everything. Literally everything.
Put it in food put it in a drink pinned him down... literally everything I can think of but he won't take any medicine. He also won't eat.
I'm absolutely at my whits end. He's unwell but I can't give him anything. I am considering ringing the doctors up but even if I do I won't be able to get him to take the medicine.
I have 2 poorly boys at home and I feel like I'm going to have a nervous breakdown :(
He's still having breast milk and water. He's 2.

Please does anyone have any ideas?!

Iirc calpol doesn't actually fix things, it just makes the sufferer more comfortable so its not such a crisis if he won't take it?

What does he need the calpol for? It might not be strictly necessary.

You could probably get suppositories

What’s wrong with him?

Calpol is not worth pinning him down for. He will be fine for a couple of days without eating if he is still getting breast milk/ staying hydrated. Maybe offer things like ice lollies/ice cream to get extra calories into him if he will take them. If not then just breastfeed as much as possible and wait it out.

Depending on what type of medication you're trying to give him you can request a prescription for it in suppository form. It's very common in Europe for children's painkillers to be supplied in this way but GPs here don't offer then as standard as they are stupidly expensive.
It was a real game changer for us when my son was about the same age as yours. He will take Calpol now but I make sure we have a stock of suppositories just in case.

He's had a temp so I've needed to use calpol/ibuprofen to lower the temperature. Last night I couldn't get any in him at all and he was sweating and soaking wet!

I've literally never heard of this before?!
How does it actually work?

It’s a suppository that you put up their bum which has their paracetamol in it, and then the medication is absorbed rectally instead.

How high is his temp and how long has he had it? Have you read the nhs page on fevers. Temperatures themselves don’t need to be treated but calpol will make him feel better.

Are you right handed? If so:

1. sit him on your left leg, facing forwards.


2. With the calpol syringe in your right hand, tuck him in against the side of your body with your left arm round him, so his right arm is pinned against your body and his left arm is held down by your arm around him.


3. Tip him back slightly, using your body and the arm around him.


4. squirt a small amount of the calpol into the side of his cheek, and then immediately, with the free fingers of the hand holding the syringe, stroke under his chin and down his neck several times, firmly but not roughly - this makes them swallow.


5. Repeat with another small amount until it’s gone.

it takes practice, but it’s safe for you, not uncomfortable for them, and it does the job!

You should be able to buy them over the counter.

I have 2 medicine refusers and it can be so hard.
If he’s taking breast milk and water, then I wouldn’t panic about Calpol or food for now. For me, that was one of the best benefits of extended breastfeeding.
For medicines that have to be taken, we resort to a combination of bribery (usually favourite berries or a sweet), permission to do their loudest ‘bleurgh’ yell and pull a disgusted face, and choice as to how it’s given (hollow spoon is usually their preferred option as it puts them in control).
With Calpol, from about 3 ish, they got to the stage where they understood that it might help them feel better, so if they’re feeling really, really bad they might begrudgingly consent.

Get it in suppository form from gp. Pop it up the bum. Other European countries are amazed we don't!

My DC2, also 2 yo would never take Calpol until recently, it wasn’t worth the trauma of trying to get her to take it. Suppositories were a lifesaver, I bought them online but my GP friend suggested the Dr. could prescribe them as they’re pricey.

We used suppositories at that age - not pleasant but did the job. Was a different story with antibiotics though as they weren't available in suppository form - that was a case of wrapping her in a towel, holding her down and trying to get it into her mouth with a syringe, while feeling like the worst parent in the world. She was fine with medicine in liquid form by about 4 though, so don't worry, this won't be forever.

Thanks so much everyone!
Maybe I should request some suppository treatment but I am worried about hurting him! How far do you have to put it in their bottom? Sorry about having to ask that :(

You just literally pop it in, as soon as it’s disappeared from view it’s done. It’s probably an idea to try and time it with a nappy change and having it ready and unwrapped so that you’re just cleaning him and then you put it in and carry on cleaning and nappy goes on and it’s all one swift seamless process, and he’s probably none the wiser.

Same here. Absolutely wasn’t worth the trauma of trying.

we just didn’t give it. Fevers are there for a purpose, to raise the body’s temp to a point bacteria and viruses etc can’t survive or reproduce.

we got them comfortable on the couch, light blanket, lots of fluids, and rode it out.

i taught them to take tablets using peas and tictacs asap.

Agree with suppositories
I used a tiny bit of vaseline on the end and the bum sort of swallows it up on its own. You hardly have to push at all.

The brand name calpol with sugar tastes much better than the free calpol own brand ones with sweeteners. Try it! They have a weird almost spicy taste. The branded calpol is sweet and an appealing pink colour. My little one annoyingly would only take that… Also try syringe.

Have you tried ibuprofen liquid instead of calpol? He might prefer the taste.

also known people have good success using smaller amounts of the double strength 6+ calpol but 2 sounds very young to mess about with that. Also it doesn’t come in the good sugary version!

This is bizzare advice written down, but my 3 year old had to have emergency steroids at the hospital a few weeks ago. He does NOT take medicine for me at all. Never. So the doctor put him in his push chair. I sort of held the pram back as if going up a big kerb and he made him laugh and put it into his mouth and he swallowed it because he held the syringe there. It worked. And amazingly, after he realised it helped a little bit. He became a bit less reluctant to take it again. It’s not nice seeing them suffer. But honestly, I’d never have thought of that and it may be worth a try. I hope your kids are better soon.

Try a different flavour, mine liked cherry best.
i have 4 kids one was a refuser ended up putting it in a small amount of very strong orange juice which he took. I wouldn’t advise that for meds as if they don’t finish it they are under dosed and you can’t give more for 4/6 hours.

for the temp, as well as anti pyretics strip down to vest and nappy, ensure good ventilation in home and drink plenty, ice lollies is good if he’ll take them or ice poles, slushies can be good also. I’m a mum but also a paeds nurse and have had medicine spat all over me many times, I often tell parents to blow gently on the baby/child face as well as the stroking cheek & squirting small amounts into cheek but also wrap in a Muslin or sheet for older babies especially if you’re on your own. I’ve been there as a parent and at work and it’s not easy. I would only give if my child was notably distressed/in pain with a temp pr illness if they are content and happy playing no I wouldn’t.

I've never known a baby or toddler be uncomfortable from a suppository, they hardly even feel them. I think we make a bigger thing of it in our minds more than anything. Stick a YouTube video on your phone for them to hold during a nappy change and it's done in seconds.