When would you wake 3yo with high temp to give calpol?

[Babychewtoy]

DS has had a high temperature on and off for the last couple of days. I checked on him at 1am last night and it was 37.7 (high but not an official “fever”). He was sleeping soundly.

I woke him up to give him calpol and he did not go back to sleep for THREE HOURS (until 4am). He wasn’t upset, just couldn’t get back to sleep. He will probably have a temperature over night tonight, so it got me thinking.. when would you wake a child to give calpol and when would you leave them to sleep it off?

I wouldn't. He needs rest to get better. If he wakes up then yes give him calpol but definitely don't wake the poor kid to give it him.

With that fever I’d just cool the room down and leave him to sleep, fever is a natural defence of the body and with a mild fever in a child sleeping soundly id just keep an eye out. If it was a very high fever or there were other symptoms such as rapid breathing I’d try and wake them.

I don’t think I would wake a child for calpol.
Sleep is good for healing too.

I would sleep in the same room as them, within touching distance, so I could respond quickly, make sure the room temperature was cool enough etc.

But I have never woken a poorly child just to give calpol.

None of my children slept well so I absolutely would not have woken them to give calpol. I'd give a dose before bed and again on waking.

It seems I’m in the minority - I’ve always been able to wake him, give him calpol and he falls back asleep instantly. Same when we take him to the toilet before we go to bed, he goes straight back to sleep (still in nappies at night).
So him staying awake was an unpleasant surprise!

No I wouldn't wake to give calpol either

I wouldn’t with that sort of temp (nurse here). I’d put him in light layers and cool the room as much as possible. By all means give him Calpol when he wakes but from what you’re describing he’d do better to be allowed to rest

I wouldn't wake him for Calpol. I don't give Calpol for high temperatures unless the child is in pain or the temperature is making them feel distressed or uncomfortable. A high temperature is the bodies way of fighting off infections.

I don't give paracetamol for a fever. Only for pain or discomfort. A happily sleeping child, I would leave.

Don't wake unless really high.

When they wake give more calpol.

When DD was unwell I gave her Calpol throughout the day timing the last dose for just before bed or just once before bed if she was okeish during the day. I wouldn’t wake her up for 37.7 but would for higher temperature more like 38.5 or higher.

I think my concern is that I’ll fall back asleep and his temperature will continue to rise.. so while I’m awake I think I’ll treat it now to pre-empt it. But perhaps I just need to leave him and keep checking.

I wouldn't wake a sleeping child__

I wouldn’t wake them- an ill child needs rest

I had to decide this this week and I left him to sleep. Unless it was creeping towards 40 I think uninterrupted sleep is more important.

Nurse here also. We say treat the child not the fever so if they're sleeping soundly, no need to wake for medicine.

You also don't need to wake him to take him for a wee if he is still in nappies. Leave the poor kid to sleep!

In my defence he was weeing a lot at night, nappy kept leaking and he was waking soaking wet and upset… so the toilet trip does actually help him sleep.

But I will take everyone’s advice and leave him alone! Will just hover with my thermometer all night..

I've never woken a sleeping child to administer calpol. I would give then calpol if they woke up and were in pain/discomfort. Not even if their fever was 38/39.

I would never wake sleeping child to dose for a fever.

If it was 40+ degrees or there was a reason, such as managing surgical pain or something then yes. Otherwise no chance!

I would not wake mine, and tbh I can't see why you would for a temp of 37.7 - I understand some people may be cautious with a high temp, but 37.7 isn't particularly high.

I’ve never woken for medication, I wouldn’t check them overly either. Unlikely I’d treat a low grade fever either unless they were uncomfortable or in pain. I’d make sure they didn’t have too many layers on and the room wasn’t too hot (but not too cool/no fan) .

Treat the symptoms, not the fever, and it sounds like he wasn't symptomatic at all. That temp really isn't very high at all. I'd only treat that when awake if he was grizzly.

When they wake naturally

Well I feel a lot more confident about leaving him sleeping with a temperature in future, thank you.

And it has restored my faith in mumsnet that everyone managed to give this unanimous advice without telling me I’m being overly anxious etc.