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teething and Calpol

10 replies

Pebs · 23/02/2005 18:20

DS is 8 months and has been teething badly for the last 3 weeks. Every day his cheeks go so red it looks like he will pop and he has disrupted day sleep and is then even more cranky. I've tried gel, giving him stuff to chew on etc. but the only thing that seems to calm him is Calpol. I've been holding out all morning and giving him 5ml before his lunch sleep and then another 5 ml before bedtime. I know that this is not the maximum dose but I've been giving him this for 3 weeks (still no teeth!) and it seems exessive to me. Am I doing him any "harm" by giving him 2 daily doses? I want my DS back to his usual happy self without the medication or without feeling guilty about it!

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lilsmum · 23/02/2005 18:21

anbesol liquid is really good, its better than any gel because it doesnt slide of the gums, and really works, i use it myself also, for ulcers

hth

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Amanda3266 · 23/02/2005 18:24

Hi Pebs,

Have you tried Nurofen for infants - I found it much better than Calpol because of the anti-inflammatory effect. And - as long as you are not exceeding the stated dose then you are not doing any harm. Might be worth speaking to a pharmacist (or a HV) for advice about other stuff out there though to see if something else might suit him better. Teething is awful - my DS used to suffer for weeks before anything came through.

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Twiglett · 23/02/2005 18:26

I don't see why you would hold out giving him the maximum doses when he is obviously in pain .. no it will do no damage .. and he will be allowed it up to 4 x a day .. it will probably help him sleep

if you are worried .. check with the GP .. but I am sure it is still short-term even if it feels like its going on a long time

you could switch to nurofen which lasts for longer 6 hours between doses instead of 4

under-medicating can be detrimental .. IMHO if he needs it give him it

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Twiglett · 23/02/2005 18:26

oh and ashton & palmers teething powders are an alternative solution and quite miraculous in my view

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lilsmum · 23/02/2005 18:27

but surely at 8mth he can 5ml anyway? its only when they get to 12mth they can have 10ml

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Twiglett · 23/02/2005 18:31

5ml is fine per dose.. it goes by weight .. took DD to hospital for high fever when she was 6 months old .. she weighed 18lbs and they gave her 5ml ...

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iota · 23/02/2005 18:32

You say that you've been doing this for 3 weeks - I hate to say this but it says on the packet that you should only give calpol for 3 days before consulting a doctor

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NotQuiteCockney · 23/02/2005 18:46

Which gel have you been using? I find Calgel doesn't do much, but Bonjela (which is ok from 4 months) seems a lot stronger - at least it does something to my mouth, while Calgel does nothing.

I think the 3 days of Calpol thing is about giving maxdose, which isn't what Pebs is talking about.

Oh, cold things to chew on seem to help, too.

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Frizbe · 23/02/2005 18:48

the homopathic teething powders are good too, nelsons I think

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Pebs · 24/02/2005 09:29

It sounds as if the general consensus is that 2x5ml each day is not over-medicating. How are you supposed to know what is over or under medicating when all your health visitor says is that it's fine so long as you are following the instructions on the box and that "every baby is different". Very true, but infuriating and not helpful! You've given me lots more alternatives to try too.
Has anyone else had teething hell? I'm sure that DS has got his whole set coming through with the dribbling, chewing, redness of cheeks and crankyness! Is he going to be teething permanently until he's 2 years old?