Quick opinions on waking overnight for Calpol/neurofen

[NellyBluth]

I never remember to ask all the right questions at the doctors! So I always end up on here that and I'm a useless neurotic worrier when DD is ill

What's the MN opinion on waking babies overnight for extra Calpol or neurofen if they have a temperature?

As background, 10mo has an ear infection and a stinking cold. She had hit a temperature of 40 earlier but has responded well to a mix of Calpol and neurofen (only just got antibiotics so has only had one dose), and has finally managed to go to sleep. She's only in a babygrow, no vest or sleeping bag, and in a room which is normally about 18-19 degrees.

She doesn't normally wake naturally in the night, so I would have to wake her. Should I let her sleep, or wake her at 2/3am for some more medicine?

[Panzee]

Sleep. If she's in pain she will wake.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Sleep

[PartyFops]

The sleep will help her get better, like Panzee says she will wake if she is in pain.

[PartyFops]

sorry, meant to add, I hope she is better soon.

[soundevenfruity]

I wake up DS only if his temperature climbs over 39 degrees. He normally wakes up and just lies there listlessly but if he doesn't I do wake him up. It means I set my alarm clock to go off every 2,5 hours during the night and go to his room to do a quick check with a forehead thermometer. I don't know how you do it but I collect little syringes from Ibuprofen for children and use them. It's quick and not messy at all so DS can go back to sleep quickly.

[NellyBluth]

Will the temperature cause her pain and wake her? She's a surprisingly cheerful little soul, she just potters on through raging illnesses and doesn't let us know how ill she is! Which lead to the snotty git of a doctor basically having a go at me earlier about how bad her ear infection was, and then muttering on about febrile convulsions for five minutes

[lapsedorienteerer]

Let her sleep! Give said medicine if (and when) she wakes.

[NellyBluth]

Well, she just woke herself up coughing and absolutely refused to have an cough medicine, so it looks like slipping it in isn't an option (I was thinking of trying what you said, soundeven).

Sleep it is then!

Thanks everyone

[Jokat]

Before dd1 had her tonsils removed she frequently got tonsilitis with a raging fever. Like soundevenfruity, I would set my alarm clock to every 1.5 hours or so and check her temperature and wake her up for meds if it was over 39.5. She didn't necessarily wake up of her own accord, even when her fever was over 40 degrees. I cross my fingers that the antibiotics do their magic soon!

[soundevenfruity]

Just in case you will be using syringes to give medicine: you need to aim the syringe to the inside of her cheek (not point down her throat) and push it all in one smooth move. Hope she is better soon.

[NellyBluth]

Not a bad night - I didn't set my alarm but as she was back in our room I didn't sleep deeply and could listen to see if her breathing got quicker. Temperature has seemed to stay down. Bloody ear infections! Thanks all for your advice.

[soundevenfruity]

Glad she is better. I normally end up sleeping in my DS's room if he has high temperature - change in his breathing wakes me up.

[forevergreek]

Sleep. Apparently an extra hour and a half sleep( even for adults) is the equivalent of taking some paracetamol

( so actually sleeping the whole day is still the best remedy for sickness)