Calpol!

[Poliosmolio123]

Why does everyone always jump to using Calpol straight away and it's always the first bit of advice they give?

Baby sad, ah must give them calpol
Baby teething Calpol!
Baby has a temperature raised by 0.2 of a degree, oh they need calpol
Baby not sleeping - give them Calpol!

Like, is it only me who just doesn't like the stuff or want to medicate my child willy nilly?

Its the first thing any of my family members do or say and it makes me feel like a shitty parent for not wanting to give it to them! Obviously I would if I was advised by a HC professional.

Is this totally unreasonable?

YABU - I use Calpol all the time
YANBU - I don't use it all the time

Don't get me started about anbesol.

Thank you @Comefromaway. I should've googled really.

@MulberryPeony in finding out here, that it isn't! Learn something new every day, I've also just looked up and these are old ingredients so I retract my earlier statement

I rarely had to use it but I had no hesitation in using it if I felt my baby was in pain or had a temperature

@Happyspud

I know equally as many parents who leave their child to suffer rather than give Calpol as ones who give it for anything and everything. Be careful you're not the former either OP.

Agree with this.

@frazzled13 No, I didn't, I appreciate that - just sat at a bbq (all be it socially distanced) with my DC screaming over something she shouldn't have to my DM claiming 'oh she's only grotty because she's aggy from a bad night sleep, how about give her some Calpol and she has a nice nap, aye darling?' 😅

I agree with you 're Calpol, but not with Anbesol. It was fantastic when my children were teething. I can assure people it is quite safe to use too as my then 2 year old once gave the entire bottle to my 1 year old to drink. One call to the poisons unit in Leeds, I believe it was, later, he had absolutely no ill effects and I was told even a whole bottles worth was safe.

@Happyspud @GlassOfFizzPlease I'm thinking I may be! But, honestly, how do you even know when it's needed? When all I've been around it people trying to force feed it down my daughters throat? I'm even anxious about her staying round incase she has a bad night asleep from being apart and that's the first thing they give her

@SmileEachDay

If my baby - or child - is in pain, Calpol is amazing. It’s a painkiller. Why wouldn’t I use it?

^ - this!

[quote Poliosmolio123]@frazzled13 No, I didn't, I appreciate that - just sat at a bbq (all be it socially distanced) with my DC screaming over something she shouldn't have to my DM claiming 'oh she's only grotty because she's aggy from a bad night sleep, how about give her some Calpol and she has a nice nap, aye darling?' 😅[/quote]
Calpol won't make her nap . I never understand why people think this. It's paracetamol. Have you ever zonked out after a couple of panadol? Bizarre of her to say that.

don’t use much calpol but what’s wrong with anbesol? It’s a topical pain relief and I’ve used it myself just recently (until discovering it was a few years out of date).

I think it is banned in some countries as there are very very rarely side effects (pretty much like any medicine).

[quote Poliosmolio123]@Todaywewilldobetter no i dont actually no how to use it! 😅 I just heard from other parents how they used it purely because 'it's knocks em out, it's like giving a little, bit of brandy, doesn't hurt'[/quote]
No, you dont use it like that... maybe look it up before you assume people are giving it as a tranquilizer...

It can be really hard to tell if a little one is in pain or just grumpy. If I have a headache (or whatever) then I'd take something. It's a pretty safe drug taken properly so for me the benefits outweigh any risk.

Anbesol is a teething liquid, you rub it on the gums. Even if it were 100 perfect alcohol, the amount that would actually get in the baby's system is miniscule. It works because it numbs the gums, I use it myself for mouth ulcers the odd time.

@BranchAndPoppy oh I know this! But she's fed it into all my DF that it will and in my honest opinion it's over used in our household, hence my question here! Which has obviously upset some people.

I don't think it's many parents' first port of call.

When they're small you go through everything(
hungry, wet, hair around toe, too hot/cold, uncomfortable, overtired, teething...) and if they all turn a blank then a dose of calpol would be next.

As they get older you can gauge things a bit more before determining if it's pain or not but, when they're tiny and you're playing a frustrating/tiring/upsetting game of Cluedo, it's always good to have it as an option.

[quote Poliosmolio123]@Todaywewilldobetter no i dont actually no how to use it! 😅 I just heard from other parents how they used it purely because 'it's knocks em out, it's like giving a little, bit of brandy, doesn't hurt'[/quote]
So you criticise anbesol but you don’t know how to use it?

Well done

@soubriquet Are yoy actually going to give any constructive replies or just sit and pick at my comments to others? 😉

YANBU

Already did on page one but still

calpol is not dangerous when used appropriately. I'm not sure why you would need to ask if you are using it enough - if you are as well tuned to your childs cry as you say you are, surely you know if you should be using it more because you would know if your child was in pain..

also, I think the under tone of "drugging" your child comment is totally not needed - it is a pain relief and I take it myself when in pain. I'm not going to begrudge my child that same relief out of misfounded paranoia

I go through phases, so my 17 month olds gums are bleeding from teething so he’s had it every day for about 2 weeks.

My soon to be 4 year old has probably had 4 doses ( when he was in hospital) in 2 years.

If I’m in pain I take Paracetamol, so I will do the same to my children.

If I had a baby or toddler who was uncharacteristically grumpy and I didn't know why, I would certainly be considering the possibility that they were feeling under the weather and contemplating a dose of Calpol either there and then or at bedtime.

I have maybe used it three times under doctors instructions in 13 months.
My daughter had 16 teeth by 13 months. We practically had shares in Calpol. She needed it and wouldn't sleep or settle without it. Let other people parent their kids and you parent yours.

Obviously I would if I was advised by a HC professional.

But most run of the mill things requiring a bit of pain relief don't need a HCP. You are allowed to take responsibility.

Drugs work, no point trying to be a hero about it.