Calpol double dose, 111, tired parents

[Rose2108]

Just a little vent to the world.

We stupidly double dosed our 12 month old with Calpol last night; he was up screaming the house down, we figured it could only be teeth as he cried for an hour and nothing would calm him (except ms Rachel on my phone in the end.... Don't judge me 🤣). I gave it, and then husband took over and I didn't tell him I'd given it.

Anyway I called 111 right away, at 1.41 and was told a clinician would call me back. It's now 6.20, and no call. I've basically been awake this whole time as I can't sleep thinking the phone is going to ring. Isnt that a shocker though? Has anyone ever actually had success using 111? I've never been able to get reassurance or advice.

I managed to get the baby down about 4, only for him to wake again at 5.30. husband was in with the four year old who woke up at 5, they'd both dosed off. Now we're both knackered, have work today, just the usual joys of parenting littles.

On the plus side I found a consultation paper online re the dosage review of Calpol / paracetamol in 2011, and prior to this date it was administered at 10ml for 6 months - 5 year olds. So that made me feel better!!!

Im quite surprised by this as whenever we've rung 111 for either of our under 5s, they have always rung back within the hour. (Usually either sending us to our local paeds a&e or getting us an ooo gp appointment). I assumed under 5s were treated as a priority.

Have you heard from them yet?

DH and I have a WhatsApp group called "dc medicine record". Whenever either of us give any medicine to the DC we send a message to the group with the medicine, dose and which DC it was. Then the message is obviously time and date stamped so we can refer back to it at any point. Might be worth doing something like that so in future, there's no risk of a mix up.

As long as you stay under the maximum amount allowed in 24 hours they should be fine. Have a longer gap before the next dose

111 have probably triaged your call and concluded there is absolutely no problem/emergency here and using their overnight staff for more urgent calls.

You might get a call back in office hours.

If said child had slugged the whole bottle you might have had quicker response!

I was surprised too. I've read a few suggestions about the WhatsApp group, it's a good idea! And yes I agree it was likely deemed low priority. But wish they could have told me that so I could have got some sleep! At 1am the mind spirals...

I got a text message at 4am which said our clinicians are aware of your call and will call you back soon. It said I could reply saying CANCEL, so I did that at 7am when he was seemingly fine and I had asked my nurse friend, who also reminded me that he is in fact absolutely huge (12.5kgs 🥴) and so that isn't far off what they would administer anyway.

It just made me laugh how my husband said "don't worry about it", rolled over, closed his eyes and was gone. I wish I could switch off like him!! I have a coffee in hand on the train, and nanny is keeping an eye on him.

Thanks all. Just feeling a bit disappointed with 111 as that's probably the fourth time I've had no call back over something the NHS website clearly says to contact 111 about.