All kids come down with colds and fevers from time to time, and when mine do I automatically reach for the Calpol.

Calpol make a variety of medicines for children: CalCough is a cough mixture, CalCold is a cold remedy, Calpol Night is a night time cold remedy and the two best known products, Calpol Original and Calprufen are both pain and fever relievers.

I've tried all the Calpol products in the past, but the only two I keep in stock now are Calpol Original and Calprufen. I find these are perfect as good all-round medicines when my kids are poorly. Because Calpol contains paracetamol as an active ingredient and Calprufen contains iboprufen, you can alternate the two every few hours so your child has contant relief. Calpol has provided effective relief from fevers, colds, teething and the after-effects of immunisations, but if you are in any doubt always see your GP!

Calpol comes in a glass bottle inside a cardboard box and you get a measuring spoon included. Calpol's packaging is purple and Calprufen's pagaging is silver, so it's easy to tell them apart. The only thing I'd mention about the packaging is that the bottle lets medicine dribble down the side, so you always need to wipe the bottle afterwards.

The Calpol itself is a viscous translucent pink liquid that smells of artificial strawberries - kind of nasty, but the babies seem to like it! It tastes sweet (although it is sugar free) and a bit of paracetamol. Calprufen is of the same consistancy, but is translucent white and tasted of sweet aspirin. Again, my kids seem to like it so that's the main thing.

To administer, I find it easiest to lay my children back a bit - they automatically open their mouths when they see a spoon, so it's quite easy to then pour the medicine in and you don't get bright pink liquid all over their chins and clothes. You can also use a plastic syringe, but my two hate them.

The recommended dose is one or two 2.5ml spoons up to four times a day for babies of three months and up and one or two 5ml spoons up to four times a day for children between one and six years. Calpol do a seperate medicine called SixPlus for children over six.

Calpol and Calprufen cost about £2.50 a bottle and they are available from all pharmacies and supermarkets and even my local corner shop.

The Calpol website is worth a look for more information on childhood ailments - www.calpol.co.uk.