Snotty Noses Happy Parents Raising Healthy Kids by Dr Orlena Kerek, Paediatrician

Two nights ago, my daughter was unwell. She had a high temperature and started vomiting. Everywhere. Normally, I would give her a dose of medicine, but I knew she’d just vomit it back up again. What are you supposed to do when your child is vomiting and has a fever?

I awoke, dragged from my delicious bed by the cries of my daughter. She doesn’t normally wake at night so I knew something was wrong.

I staggered into her room, my feet clumsy in the dark.

I knelt down and stroked her. She was hot. Hot as toast hot. I knew she had a fever but she was adamant that she didn’t want any medicine.

I offered her the “bottom medicine” so that she didn’t have to swallow the nasty taste.

“My don’t want it up my bottom!” she complained. And who could blame her? I’m not sure I would.

I gave her a sip of water and tucked her back into bed, hoping that she’d sleep until the morning when she’d feel better.

Sometime later, I heard her crying out again. She was gagging and crying. I managed to get her to the bathroom just before she vomited everywhere.

I’ll spare you the details.

She was still hot, hotter than before. I knew that she’d feel so much more comfortable if she had some medicine in her. Her temperature would come down and she’d be able to sleep.

This time I didn’t give her a choice. I told her gently that this was what I was going to do.

I was going to pop some medicine into her bottom.

I can understand why the thought is scary, both to children and parents who aren’t used to it. But actually, giving children a suppository (the posh name for medicine that goes up your bottom) is actually a great idea. It’s really easy and very effective, especially if they are vomiting or don’t like the taste of a medicine.

How to Give Your Child a Suppository

You just lie her down, I find on her side easier but you can do it on their back if that’s what you prefer. Bend her knees up and gently push the suppository up her bottom. You need to make sure it goes in properly otherwise it’ll be uncomfortable and feel like she needs to do a poo. Just make sure it’s gone further in that the edge of the anus (the bit where the poo comes out.)

Wash your hands afterwards. (It’s no worse than wiping a child’s bottom. In fact, there isn’t any poo in sight.)

I know that we may think of a suppository as a little distasteful but it’s just that we aren’t used to it. In Europe, it’s perfectly normal for parents to give their children suppositories. They don’t think anything of it. It’s just what they do. Giving suppositories to children is the cultural norm.

Advantages of Using Suppositories to Give Kids Medicine.

• Great for vomiting children.
• Great for children who are likely to spit out medicine.
• Quick and Easy to do
• You give medicine when they are asleep.

You can buy paracetamol (acetaminophen) suppositories over the counter. Just tell the pharmacist how old your child is and they’ll get you the correct dose. (It’s different from the oral dose.)

I popped the suppository in, gave her a cuddle and tucked her back into bed. It wasn’t as bad as she thought. Done in half a second. She snuggled back into bed and went to sleep, the best thing for a child who is vomiting and has a fever.