15 week old cold, calpol and vaccines

[Sammie1990]

Hi all
my 15 week old has a nasty cold, he’s had a couple but seems to be more distressed this time around. Earlier I went to the loo and he cried so hard he was sick (mum guilt overload). My first question should you give calpol for a cold? Secondly he is due his last set of vaccines tomorrow is it okay to ahead when he is unwell or should I rearrange? Thank you!

I would steam up room via the shower to help 'clear' his blocked nose or gently use the saline spray/snot suction to clear nostrils and would re arrange the vaccines until he is better/in good health.

If he has a temperature or is unsettled then you can give calpol. If he has a fever then you should delay the vaccinations.

Thank you, I have been using the spray and that is clearing his nose.

He's got a cold. I would ride it out and not give Calpol. Just do as others have said.

If he has a raised temperature then the vaccine can't go ahead, even if his temperature has been lowered by calpol. If he's just snotty and grumpy, then it's fine to go ahead. Personally I'd try to avoid the calpol, so you don't accidentally mask a high temperature, but if you feel he needs it, it's fine.

We've got a 17 week old, and we give Calpol for a cold with the blessing of both GP and pharmacist. I'd take paracetamol for a cold and if baby is in pain with a cold Calpol eases the pain and helps them sleep which is what they need when they're poorly! We just don't give it more than 2 days in a row without checking with the Dr in case it masks something, but if your child is hurting with a sore throat or headache they can't tell you about except by crying why wouldn't you give something safe for it?

Vaccines are safe if there's no fever (without Calpol), ours had a cold for his 12 week vaccinations because the surgery said better to have a couple of super grumpy days than risk exposure in the delay before the vaccine

Ed: spelling

I always gave Calpol for colds as I know myself I can have a sore throat , headache etc and no fever with a cold so didn’t want my dc suffering

I would give the Calpol as you can feel pretty miserable with a cold even without a temp - sore throat, headache etc as others have said.

I'd ring the surgery in the morning, if he doesn't have a temp they'll probably say to go ahead but they might hold off given he's so little. See what the experts say!

If he’s 3mo then you can give paracetamol, especially if he’s super grumpy and unsettled if he’s really not well you might have to delay vaccinations but speak to the nurse, he will also need his 3 doses of paracetamol for his men b if this is his 3rd set so be aware of how many doses he has had overnight, hard when sleepy. Hope he’s feeling better soon.

Hi
thanks for the replies. Probably a silly question but how do you know if they have a temperature? Do I need to take his temp with the under arm thermometer?

There are lots you can buy I use the Braun tempanic - we used these in the hospital I bought one when my last 2 were babies and it’s still working but have a look online and decide which you feel is best. Nhs inform should have some good info about temps in babies under a year, did you not have one to check after first and second imms?

Yes I have one but he was fine after his last vaccines so had no reason to use it. I wasn’t asking if I should have one more if that’s how you decide if they have a fever or do you go by if they are hot to the touch

I'd always check when they're in bad form, if only to rule it out. In practice the thermometer typically agrees with my impression of no temp/low temp/high temp from a kiss on the forehead but always best to check just in case. Sometimes they surprise you!

Hot to touch. Higher temp than 'norm' for your baby. No other environmental factors influencing the range in temp. So the illness has raised it

Ahh sorry I see, usually if they are grizzly and grumpy and feel warm, I will check a temp sometimes hands and feet can be quite cold, breathing fast, heart rate increased but I am a nurse so trained to look for these things.