• Oral syringes have a non-Luer tip, so they cannot connect to a needle or an IV line, and are for giving medication by mouth. Usually, in the UK and Europe, oral syringes are purple in colour.
• Clear syringes with a Luer slip or Luer lock tip are used to inject medicines into the body (through an IV, into a muscle (IM), or just under the skin (sub-Q)).

We wrote a piece on our blog about this, it's called trypanophobia. It can affect everyone, from young or old, and usually stems from a traumatic experience https://oralsyringes.uk/trypanophobia-is-the-fear-of-injections/

Yes, it is. People generally tend to use the term medicine syringe instead of oral syringe.

1. Ensure your hands are clean
2. Gently shake the medicine bottle before you open it, if you shake it too much then you risk filling the liquid with air bubbles, and this will probably reduce the amount of medication being given. We always suggest using a gentle rocking motion, back and forth between 10 and 20 times.
3. If you are using a bottle bung then insert it into the open bottle if necessary or put the tip of the syringe into the medicine.
4. Draw up the required dose of medicine using the oral syringe.
5. Turn the syringe in your hand so that the tip points upwards and then gently flick the barrel to remove air bubbles.
6. Put the tip of the oral syringe inside the mouth and towards the cheek.
7. Gently and slowly push the plunger to push small amounts of medicine into the mouth.
8. Allow the person to swallow before you push the plunger again.
9. Give the person a drink to wash down the medicine.
10. When you have given the whole dose, wash the syringe and bottle bung (if used) in warm soapy water and use it for the next dose.

We also recommend using the information available via Great Ormond Street Hospital

Check out this video from the Dana-Farba Cancer institute for further clarity:

What is colostrum?
Colostrum is the first milk produced after birth. It is thick, golden, and rich in antibodies and nutrients. Even a few drops provide essential protection for a newborn baby.

Why use 1ml oral syringes?
Colostrum is produced in very small amounts. A 1ml oral syringe is the ideal size to collect, store, and feed these precious drops without waste. The clear barrel shows precisely how much has been expressed, and the cap keeps it secure and clean.

How is colostrum collected?
Parents usually hand-express colostrum in the first hours or days after birth. The drops can be expressed straight into the syringe or onto a sterile spoon and then drawn up. Each syringe should be capped and labelled.

How long can colostrum be stored?
Typical NHS guidance is:

• At room temperature up to 25°C: up to 4 hours

• In a refrigerator at 2–4°C: up to 24 to 48 hours

• In a freezer at –18°C or colder: up to 3 to 6 months
  Once thawed, colostrum should be used within 12 to 24 hours and never refrozen.

How is colostrum given to the baby?
The syringe allows gentle feeding, drop by drop, onto the inside of the baby's cheek or gums. In neonatal care, colostrum may also be used for "mouth care" in very small or premature babies.

⚠️ This FAQ is provided for information only. Please always follow the advice of your midwife, neonatal team, or healthcare professional.

Yes, a medicine teaspoon is 5ml, also called a 5 millilitre spoon.
Half a medicine teaspoon is 2.5ml.
Not all medicine spoons are the correct measurement, and it can be difficult to use a medicine spoon accurately.
Read this article to understand why we always suggest using a syringe over a spoon: Medicine Spoon or Oral Syringe? Which one is better and why?

Each syringe can hold its title amount:

• A 1ml oral syringe can hold up to 1ml
• A 3ml oral syringe can hold up to 3ml
• A 5ml oral syringe can hold up to 5ml
• A 10ml oral syringe can hold up to 10ml

The bung (or bottle adaptor) that comes fitted inside Calpol bottles is designed mainly for use with the small 5ml syringes supplied with the product. These bungs have a narrow internal opening that can restrict the use of larger syringes.

When using a 10ml oral syringe:

• Better fit – The wider tip of a 10ml syringe often does not sit securely inside the narrow bung opening. This can lead to leakage, air bubbles, or difficulty drawing up the full dose.

• Faster filling – With the bung removed, the 10ml syringe can be inserted directly into the bottle, allowing smooth and rapid drawing of the required amount without vacuum resistance.

• Reduced bubbles – A direct draw helps reduce air pockets, which are common when a larger syringe struggles against the narrow bung channel.

• Easier for multiple doses – If you're regularly drawing larger doses (e.g. for older children or split dosing), removing the bung makes repeated fills much quicker and less fiddly.

If you remove the bung, always take care to:

• Store the bottle upright and securely.

• Replace the cap tightly after each use.

• Avoid touching the bottle neck to keep it clean.

You can refit the bung at any time if switching back to a smaller syringe.

An oral syringe is the most accurate method for giving a person or animal medication. Read our article here to find out more:

Medicine Spoon or Oral Syringe? Which one is better and why?

We do not use any form of silicone gasket or grommet in our syringes. Our design is a clean, two-piece patented design that can be washed and used repeatedly without sticking or snagging.

Oral dosing syringe is another term for an oral syringe.

Oral syringes can be used for:

• Drinkable solutions
• Shop bought liquid medicine
• Suspensions
• Paediatric syrups
• Specials

Are these oral syringes, sterile?

Technically, the answer is no. However, they are manufactured and packed in a clean cell environment before being repacked by hand into the quantity you order.

Can I sterilise my Oral Syringes? Yes, you can.

Your options for cleaning are:

• Hot soapy water
• Dishwasher
• Coldwater steriliser

Always ensure the oral syringes are fully clean and dry before reusing. If you find that the barrel of the syringe is not moving smoothly, it may be due to the way dish soap interacts with the plastic. In this scenario, we recommend rinsing the syringe with water, drying it, and then putting the plunger back in. After that, move the plunger up and down to check that it's functioning correctly. Perform this movement again before administering medication with the syringe.

Using a dishwasher or steriliser may shorten the usable life of the oral syringe as these methods may degrade the visibility of the increments over time, but the Precision Oral Syringe will still outlast a cheaper oral syringe by at least 10 fold.

The 1 ml syringe has 10 x 0.1ml markings, so you can use this syringe to dose a very small amount making it suitable for:

• 0.1ml
  • 0.11ml
  • 0.12ml
  • 0.13ml
  • 0.14ml
  • 0.15ml
  • 0.16ml
  • 0.17ml
  • 0.18ml
  • 0.19ml
• 0.2ml
  • 0.25ml
• 0.3ml
  • 0.35ml
• 0.4ml
  • 0.45ml
• 0.5ml
  • 0.55ml
• 0.6ml
  • 0.65ml
• 0.7ml
  • 0.75ml
• 0.8ml
  • 0.85ml
• 0.9ml
  • 0.95ml
• 1ml

The 3 ml syringe has markings for 1m, 2ml & 3ml, with increments of 0.1ml, so you can use this syringe to dose a very small amount making it suitable for:

• • 0.1
  • 0.2
  • 0.3
  • 0.4
  • 0.5
  • 0.6
  • 0.7
  • 0.8
  • 0.9
• 1ml
  • 1.1
  • 1.2
  • 1.3
  • 1.4
  • 1.5
  • 1.6
  • 1.7
  • 1.8
  • 1.9
• 2ml
  • 2.1
  • 2.2
  • 2.3
  • 2.4
  • 2.5
  • 2.6
  • 2.7
  • 2.8
  • 2.9
• 3ml

The 5ml syringe has markings for 1m, 2ml & 3ml, with increments of 0.1ml, so you can use this syringe to dose a very small amount making it suitable for:

• • 0.2
  • 0.4
  • 0.6
  • 0.8
• 1ml
  • 1.2
  • 1.4
  • 1.6
  • 1.8
• 2ml
  • 2.2
  • 2.4
  • 2.6
  • 2.8
• 3ml
  • 3.2
  • 3.4
  • 3.6
  • 3.8
• 4ml
• • 4.2
  • 4.4
  • 4.6
  • 4.8
• 5ml

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