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.

My LB had all 4 back molars come through at once...he had calpol every night for about 2.5 weeks as he would just not settle at all. Thinking about it all of his teeth have come through in groups of 3 or 4 so we went through a phase where he was having calpol every night for weeks.
If your child is in pain why on earth would you not give them painkillers.

@SqidgeBum

I use scalpel for teething. That's it. And I know when she is teething and when she is just being moany. There are the same signs with teething every time (change in poo, red cheeks, chewing her fingers, refusing food). She probably will get calpol twice a day for 2 days and then not again til the next batch of teeth, which could be months. I dont use it unless I have to.

I do think it can be overused. My SIL shoved it down her sons neck neatly everyday from month 4. Everything was "might be teething. Give him calpol". She even told her mom to give it to him ever 4 hours when he was being minded by her "just in case". He basically lives on the stuff.

Please tell me you don’t use a scalpel when your baby’s teething!!😜

[quote Poliosmolio123]@Igotthemheavyboobs I have never once stated that every single person should be using it under the advice of a HCP. Obviously we all use our own judgement to tell when our children need Calpol or not. You are correct in the assumption that it is my friends and family, which is what I have seemily mentioned repeatedly in this thread yet, PP's think it is a backlash or a stab in the back to them, which it is not. I've been accused a few times of under using it from both pp and FM's. Majority of the comments here are stating they have 'never experienced anyone do this so why are you so uptight regarding it' but, it is not mine? I've seen it multiple times from multiple different people I know. Just because you haven't experienced it doesn't mean I nor others have like other PP's have mentioned on this thread. There's even articles regarding the ove ruse of Calpol. Many comments regarding the sleep and tbey just must be in pain or needed it. Not every case I've seen first hand has been the same. Literally one cry or one upset and the immediate reaction is to get the Calpol out. This is NOT what I was 'shaming' others for.

If your child is obviously inconsolable, you have tried everything, they are red raw teething with other symptoms etc. Then yes! Of fucking course give them Calpol!

My POINT here is people who hear one cry or a baby has a 37.3 degree temp OR just to put them to sleep because they have been 'shitty' all day I do not PERSONALLY agree with and I won't do it myself, but, maybe I do not give it enough or when I should.

I have been very lucky and had a daughter who has only been ill on two separate occasions, been really good with her teething and generally isn't a sad child. I understand not every baby is the same but imo it's often over used and is most definitely in my households and that is the only gauge I have!

If you take medication 'just in case' of getting a headache or anything else, that labels yourself an addict. I've witnessed first hand what this is like. No one should take any medication 'just incase'.

There's issues around giving children extensive overused medication, from liver problems, 'apparent' ADHD, dependacy etc etc.

Im signing off from this now so have your dues and twist my words all you like.[/quote]
But earlier you said you came here to see if you should be using it more. This is clearly bollocks, if your child doesn't need it, why would you give it to them?

I think the thread didn't go how you wanted it to so you keep changing your reasons for posting. When people call you out on this you claim people think you are a bad mother for not using medication 'just in case'.

I don't really understand why you posted this thread or what you wanted out of it.

@Igotthemheavyboobs What on earth are you even talking about? That was my inital question, after our BBQ and being shamed for not using it. I wouldn't, hence why I don't? But seems a lot of people give it for a number of reasons. My inital question was to see if people use it regularly or not. You are twisting my words here again.

I didn’t think anbesol was for kids? People do over medicate, yes.

@PablosHoney

I didn’t think anbesol was for kids? People do over medicate, yes.

It's literally called "anbesol teething gel", and states that it's 'effective soothing relief from teething pain'

Jeez I never bought it whatever it is ‘literally’ called 😂 people used to use bonjela on their kids until recent years when they linked aspirin to Reye’s syndrome in under 16’s so it’s not an unreasonable question.

We have a 7 month old and haven't used any yet.

We've been using teetha granules and gel for teething and he settles quickly after using it. If he didn't we'd resort to calpol.

Surely they just get used to it if it's constantly used?

Anbesol has been used for decades.

It’s not a new invention.

What do you mean by ‘apparent’ adhd?
Capol doesn’t make children sleepy or knock them out. Paracetamol doesn’t cause drowsiness. My children have rarely needed pain relief as they are rarely ill and I’ve never come across anyone who uses it the minute their child is discontented etc so think you are seeing more extreme cases with this. I’m sure some people use pain relief too readily but imagine they are very much in a minority. The vast majority of parents do their absolute best and I don’t believe the loads are drugging their kids unnecessarily.
You aren’t alone and unusual in not giving your child pain relief at every wimpier , you also sound like someone with a very placid child who hasn’t been ill much . Tbh I doubt many small children and babies born in the last year , year and a half will have been ill much as there’s no way with the current constant sterilization of everything that their immune systems have met with any bugs or bacteria ( which is v unnatural and worrying tbh....

@PablosHoney

Jeez I never bought it whatever it is ‘literally’ called 😂 people used to use bonjela on their kids until recent years when they linked aspirin to Reye’s syndrome in under 16’s so it’s not an unreasonable question.

No need to use inverted commas, i was using literally in the literal sense - that is what is written on the tube.

I think think there is, you could have simply said ‘yes, it is’ I wouldn’t have argued, the ‘it literally says it on the packet’ was unnecessary and I think you probably actually know that.

[quote Poliosmolio123]@Igotthemheavyboobs What on earth are you even talking about? That was my inital question, after our BBQ and being shamed for not using it. I wouldn't, hence why I don't? But seems a lot of people give it for a number of reasons. My inital question was to see if people use it regularly or not. You are twisting my words here again.[/quote]
Twisting words? That's a but rich from the person who said the following:

Obviously I just don't give a crap about my child enough to give her Calpol at every whim or every cry

Where was this insinuated on this thread? Please can you quote where someone said this to you? You did some real comprehension gymnastics to think anyone said you didn't give a crap about your child for not giving calpol at every whim!

OP there was a segment on a programme about the over use of calpol, I’ll try and rack my brain to remember what it was.

I use paracetamol suspension whenever I think my baby needs it. Can’t have gone wrong because he started crawling at 6 months and now, at nearly 8 months, is saying his first words (like I did) and cruising (like DH did).

I don’t think there is a problem with using it but some people (coming from a very loving place) overuse it.

@PablosHoney

I don’t think there is a problem with using it but some people (coming from a very loving place) overuse it.

People use it because it works. Calpol won't make a well child sleep - if you give your unsettled baby painkillers and they then settle, surely the message there is that your child was in pain or unwell?

Babies can't tell us what's wrong. If you've fed, changed, cuddled, sung, bounced, burped etc and your baby is still miserable, calpol is the logical next step. Why would you risk leaving your precious tiny baby to suffer if there was something you could do to potentially help?

I didn’t mention sleep? I also said some not all people overuse it, especially first time mums the woman on the programme I watched even admitted it! Am I criticising her and those like her, no, as I said they were coming from a place of love. Some parents give their babies Calpol pre vaccinations to take the edge off the pain and that in itself is loving but dangerous as could mask side effects

Yes I think you’re right, you do have a complex and are paranoid about the use of calpol.
You need to relax & if your child was screaming at the bbq and your mil was worried she was in pain she was coming from a good place.

I don’t think many people think the calpol is a sedative that send children to sleep, rather it settles pain , allowing the child to calmly go to sleep. There is a connection.
If there are addiction problems in your family and you’re concerned about the ramifications of using pain medication seek help, that is understandable.

Pain in infants is a very real thing, no child is the same, it all children let their pain be known. One of my children is so placid that he would never tell you he was in pain and I generally feel terrible when he’s been a bit off himself and all of a sudden he has a couple of new teeth. I feel bad that he has of course been in pain but his nature means he doesn’t cry out a lot or cause a fuss. I would much prefer he had some pain relief.

You should absolutely not give calpol before vaccinations, this is very outdated advice.
I’m sure your HV and practice nurse who administered your child’s jabs explained that they are NOT to be given calpol until after.
You are meant to administer calpol post vaccinations to aid with the temperature that is often present after the meningitis vacc.

Just ever so slightly off topic but I found nurofen for children to be much more effective for teething than calpol due to nature of the pain.

Are you talking to me @sauvignonblancplz?

I use calpol/nurofen only for pain/sore screams. Anything else and I try not to medicate. When we were going through teething with my oldest I assumed nurofen was the same as calpol and it turned out I overdosed him for about a week ( a sleepless, climbing the walls, horrible week) then realised and now I’m super super careful about how much I give and when.
I have also had a health visitor tell me “I don’t know why we don’t just bathe them in calpol” referring to my son crying after the heel prick test, so I’m a bit funny about it!

I think some adults are like this too though for themselves, relying so heavily on paracetamol xx

Why deny painkillers?

Do you take them yourself?