To ask how often you give your baby paracetamol?

[Bumpandkind]

I've got a teething 7 month old and usually give chamomilla granules. However I give calpol when it seems worse but this feels like a slippery slope as it works so well! A friend of mine is constantly 'calpoling' her baby with no ill effects and another would only consider giving it if hers had a fever.

I'm curious about what other MNs do.

Some people use it as a sedative to settle their baby at bedtime which I have always thought odd as AFAIK plain paracetamol has no sedative properties.

I give it whenever my children appear to be in pain.

If he's in pain I give him calpol. Think about it, it's paracetamol, if you had a headache you'd take it.

I remember once at work a parent asking me to give their DD calpol as she was being noisy. I was like...wtf???

I can't remember how often but I gave it if DS seemed like he was in pain and the granules/gel wasn't helping. In bad periods it was probably every night for a few nights but then it could be months and months.

You don't necessarily have to give it for a fever, either, it's OK to see if it comes down by itself, unless it is particularly dangerous for your baby to get a fever for one reason or another. I only gave it for fever if DS seemed distressed or in pain as well as the fever if that makes sense.

I wouldn't give it very often. Only really if a fever and if it doesn't come down.

Nurofen works a lot better with teething than calpol

My dd (18mo) usually sleeps very well, but not when cutting a new tooth. I give it in the night when gels and powders haven't worked. It doesn't always work, anyway! I have also given it when she has been miserable with a cold. I reckon we've got through a bottle and a half in her 18 month life, so I don't think we're overdoing it.

I've never had to, but DS doesn't fuss with teething much and still breastfeeds so usually does that a lot if poorly and cheers up by himself.

Does anyone know of any negative effects of regular use? P Regular being about 4-5 times in a bad week.

DD is 4 and has only had it twice when teething seemed unbearable for her. I read an article about paracetamol accumulating in the babies liver with repeated doses so I made sure it was strictly limited. I cant believe people would risk their child's health to give it as a sedative.

coldlight I have heard that paracetamol is a gateway drug to morphine, whiskey in the bottle, hash in the rusks etc

Whenever he's indicating teething pain with red cheeks, pulling on ears, pain cry. He hasn't had any tonight but it's more often than not at the moment.

I give for any teething pain / cold and fever. It's a very safe drug and LO won't build up a tolerance to it to stop it being effective

this gives some idea of correct dosages/side effects OP

Another one here who only gives it for fever or if they are really really unsettled/in pain. I personally only take paracetamol if I've had a bad headache for a while and rest/drinking water hasn't helped.

I noticed when I was younger that if I took it more often it didn't seem to work as effectively - so it made sense to me to keep it for "special occasions"

Whenever my kids seem to be in pain.

Dd is 2 and we've hardly made a dent in one bottle. She's an amazing teether although perhaps boob was her drug of choice for the first year.

Wouldn't hesitate if she seemed sick or suffering.

Nurofen works better on inflammation or so I've been informed.
If teething pain, inflamed sore I'd see if gnawing the table wasn't working well and then I'd decide.

Thanks XICI interesting link.

why would you NOT give pain relief if your child appears to be in pain, or unexplained distress?

why would you NOT want to ease that?

folk seem to be fearful of taking painkillers, but why, if you stay within the well-researched dosage levels?

I really can't understand relying on homeopathic powders when ibuprofen/paracetamol could actually ease their pain. Just like I would want if my teeth were moving around in my gums (or whatever).

Paracetamol is a dangerous drug. You can overdose on it very easily, and many adults do, without going far over the recommended dose.

I can't imagine why anyone would risk it on their kids other than very occasionally.

I limit the use if any type of drug really. Obv if baby is really in pain then I will, but if I can calm/soothe another way then I will.

I'm the same with myself though. V rarely take painkillers myself, would rather sleep it off.

I know it's better to give several doses (every 4 hours) over a short period when baby is ill or in pain and then stop when all is well than to give one dose a day on a regular basis.

Just give when needed and follow what it says on the packet and you'll be fine. Don't want to leave them in pain. The danger comes if you start making it a daily thing to help them sleep or whatever I have heqrd.