To be reluctant to give calpol to DD

[wispywoo1]

DD (4 months) hasn't quite been right the past few days. She's been off her milk and started waking in the night when she has been sleeping 7-7 previously. She's slightly snuffly but happy end cheerful all day. I think it may just be a slight cold (which DH has), a wonder week or the dreaded 4 month sleep regression .

A few times my DM has said 'oh just dose her up on calpol, she will sleep better'. I'm very reluctant to do this and I don't know why. My DM keeps saying I'd be taking paracetamol/beechams if I had a cold. DD doesn't have a temp. Is this a normal thing to just give calpol willy nilly? Am I being mean by withholding?

I give Calpol only if my children are in obvious discomfort or have a high temperature.
Drugging my children to make them sleep (whilst tempting!) doesn't sit well with me.

I'd give calpol as it'll make her feel more comfortable and sleep better. As long as you're careful with the dose I can't see a problem.

My DM is acting like I'm the world worst! It just doesn't sit right with me!

I'd say give it a try if she has a cold and seems uncomfortable or more upset than usual. It's not meant to be used as a treatment just for a temperature - it's more supposed to be for pain relief of symptoms.

I felt like you until my FIL (doctor) pointed out that it was arguably cruel not to give pain relief to a suffering child.

It's paracetamol not a sedative. If you think she is possibly in discomfort then I don't see the harm in giving it a go.

I'm not sure why you would let you child suffer unnecessarily.

Some things that go along with colds, eg sinusitis, ear infections, aches bones etc, can be really hard to spot in little ones.

Calpol is only paracetamol, and will only make her sleep better if she's not sleeping due to pain. It's not a sedative! I would give it if i thought my DS was uncomfortable due to a cold, in the same way as I would take paracetamol myself.

Agree with xmasbaby Follow the guidelines and see how she goes.Hope she picks up soon.< wish there was a sympathy emoticon > Mx.

Moonface the doesn't seem to be suffering. I believe I can read my DD well and she doesn't appear to be in pain. Isn't crying, clingy, whingey etc. Just waking up which could be due to several things.

YABU.I bet if you have a headache etc you reach for the paracetamol .Don't try out your half -baked ideas on your innocent baby

Why would you not even try it?

Snuffley cold symptoms tend to worsen at night and when lying down. If I had a cold and was struggling to sleep I would take a cold and flu remedy to help me sleep.

However I would be reluctant because you say she's "slightly snuffley" ... Not convinced I would give it for slight sniffles. I would just accept a few sleepless nights.

It's paracetamol suspension so if you give it to her and she sleeps, she was in pain

I get she's tiny and you don't want to give her something unnecessarily. But deliberately withholding pain relief doesn't sit right with me

It'd be different if you were giving it to her for days on end.

Some drugs like Medised used to have a sedative affect.
If my children are unwell then of course I will give medication. If they have a cold I use Olbas Oil.
Calpol is for pain or fever.

YANBU

FWIW my DS has never had it in his life. He's 3. I could have given it on several occasions - but cuddles worked just fine

Unless it's a super high temp (although in that case I'd be more concerned about what's causing the high temp than the actual temp and probably not want to mask symptoms with Calpol anyhow) I don't see the necessity

He doesn't seem to have suffered for it and HCPs have told me it can actually prolong illness anyhow as the body takes longer to fight the infection if you reduce a mild temp sometimes. Iv never been told off for not giving Calpol by any HCP

If you came on saying should I give antibiotics or steroids or some other medicine that actually fights illness - I may think YABU but withholding Calpol from a mildly poorly yet happy baby - YANBU

If she is waking because she is uncomfortable the Capol may well help. If she isn't then it won't do her any harm but you will know that you have done everything you can to ensure that she isn't in any pain or discomfort. As others have said Calol is not a sedative. If it works you will know that she was in pain it uncomfortable and now that has lessened. If there is no change it is likely to be something else. From your daughter's point of view she can only gain from your trying.

Sometimes if nothing else works I give calpol in case it could be pain. My ds is teething so I feel this is reasonable. It's not a sedative so it won't help sleep any more than taking two paracetamol would in an adult. And they do go through stages of waking up at night again so yes it could be that. Equally if she's got a bit of a cold and off her milk she may well be feeling a bit rotton so there's no harm in trying it if nothing else helps.

There are no sedatives left, which is a shame because medised was mint for adult flu.

From what you're saying it's just the classic 4 monthlys and they don't need painkillers, just caffeine for you the next day.

I would try a room humidifier and saline nose drops - cal pol won't help a blocked nose.

She may be in pain/discomfort.

I think YABU to not try the paracetamol.