Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Baby won’t take calpol

60 replies

Theskylight · 19/03/2026 18:16

Hit me with all your tips on getting baby to take calpol!

I’ve tried spoons, syringe in the back of cheek, blew in his face, tried different flavours, medicine dummy etc. Nothing works. I’ve never had any issues like these with my first child!

OP posts:
wyntersky · 21/03/2026 06:48

This has just triggered a memory! Ds26 was less than a year old and had a temperature, which he'd had for 2 days, but he kept spitting out the Calpol. I called the doctor who asked us to take him to paediatrics. The nurse was very stern, and we (exdp and I who were 19 at the time) had quite a telling off from her regarding our inability to get him to take it. So she drew up the syringe, popped into his mouth, held his mouth shut, counted to 10 and said 'see it's that simple!' And let go of his mouth. Ds then spat it all back out. The look on her face as she went bright red and I couldn't resist saying 'it's not that easy'. The Dr then gave us a different flavour suspension which thankfully he took. Turns out he had a UTI.

Original poster
Theskylight · 21/03/2026 08:40

nomeslice · 21/03/2026 04:49

I had one like this. I breastfed too. I'd get baby latched on and then put the syringe just in the corner of their mouth while they were feeding and just give a little bit at a time. They generally didn't notice but it was easier than wrestling with them.

@nomeslicedid you use a smaller syringe? I can’t imagine being able to slide the big calpol syringe in without breaking his seal or him noticing haha

sounds like a good trick though!

OP posts:
Original poster
Theskylight · 21/03/2026 08:42

Nosleepforthismum · 21/03/2026 05:40

Sit on the floor and lie the baby/child on the ground with their head closest to you and drop your legs to effectively pin their arms down. Then syringe the Calpol in the side of the cheek and wait for them to swallow.

Our DS was very poorly as a baby and needed to take antibiotics along with other medications and we were told by the hospital to do whatever was necessary for him to take them.

Sorry to hear you had a poorly child, I hope they’re much better now.

Mine is likely more susceptible to certain health issues as well due to some congenital issues which is why I’m hoping to find a method that works reliably. I’d like to avoid the wrestling him down but I know that’s what I’ll need to do if it’s needed.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General health General parenting
Original poster
Theskylight · 21/03/2026 08:46

Philandbill · 21/03/2026 05:50

Breastfeeding is great but it's not a universal panacea. DD was bf (until she was 3) but we had to use Calpol as if her temperature rocketed she'd be at risk of having another febrile convulsion and we absolutely wanted to avoid that. She loathed taking Calpol so you really have my sympathy OP. I used the sugary version not the sugar free as that helped very slightly. Not sure if you can get that now? I still remember the Calpol nights with a shudder and DD is in her twenties now🙄

Show quote history

@Philandbillthank you. I wish breastfeeding was able to help, but like you say it’s not a panacea.

febrile convulsions sound incredibly scary, I hope your daughter grew out of them quickly. I might have a look for the sugary version, just to see if that helps.

OP posts:
Original poster
Theskylight · 21/03/2026 08:47

gardenflowerposter · 21/03/2026 06:47

Hi OP! Just to share my DS refused calpol as a baby! It was a nightmare! Only thing that worked for us was purchasing sterile syringes that were much narrower/ thinner meaning I could get it into his mouth more easily and squirt little by little into back of his cheek. It was a life saver as the calpol ones are huge. Fast forward three years and he now likes the taste of calpol so it won’t be forever x

This is a great idea, thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
Theskylight · 21/03/2026 08:47

wyntersky · 21/03/2026 06:48

This has just triggered a memory! Ds26 was less than a year old and had a temperature, which he'd had for 2 days, but he kept spitting out the Calpol. I called the doctor who asked us to take him to paediatrics. The nurse was very stern, and we (exdp and I who were 19 at the time) had quite a telling off from her regarding our inability to get him to take it. So she drew up the syringe, popped into his mouth, held his mouth shut, counted to 10 and said 'see it's that simple!' And let go of his mouth. Ds then spat it all back out. The look on her face as she went bright red and I couldn't resist saying 'it's not that easy'. The Dr then gave us a different flavour suspension which thankfully he took. Turns out he had a UTI.

Oops…hahaha hopefully that taught the nurse not to be so judgemental!

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 21/03/2026 08:51

What are people’s indicators for calpol being necessary? I mean-necessary as in having to struggle to get it into them and make it worth causing distress?

nomeslice · 21/03/2026 11:07

Theskylight · 21/03/2026 08:40

@nomeslicedid you use a smaller syringe? I can’t imagine being able to slide the big calpol syringe in without breaking his seal or him noticing haha

sounds like a good trick though!

Show quote history

I think they just didn't seem to mind! used the same syringe

Superscientist · 21/03/2026 13:23

You might find that it is the technique rather than the taste that is the objection.
My daughter had severe reflux and at 8 months was having 9 doses of gaviscon, 2 doses of lactulose, 1 of omperazole and 3 doses of domperidone by syringe a day.

Sit him on your knee with his head towards your non-dominant hand. One of his arms behind your back and your arm around his shoulders holding his other arm. Pull him in tight to you this will gently immobilise his body.
Ditched the Calpol syringes they don't move very jerkily and it's is hard to smoothly and slowly give the medication so they get none and then a faceful. Look for syringes with a rubber o-ring on the plunger and a tip to the syringe. Slowly give the medication 0.5ml at a time pausing every 1ml to ensure it's been swallowed before giving more. Syringe into the back of the cheek and hold the syringe in his mouth between his gums until you have seen signs he has swallowed it.

StarsShiningOnANighttimeSea · 21/03/2026 20:28

Suppositories.

My daughter refused any and all oral medication for the first couple of years. After a few days fever a very kind 111 GP prescribed her paracetamol suppositories. Absolute game changer. They took effect faster and couldn't be spat out. I wish they were more readily available in the UK.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page