Am I giving my ds (6 mnths)painkiller too often?

[peggotty]

He is the teether from hell. 6 months old, with two bottom teeth. Top teeth appear to be pending but hass had awful teething symptoms on and off for weeks. I would say that he has some form of painkiller, calpol or nurofen every week, sometimes every day for a week (not up to the maximum doses, more confined to nightime - maybe going to bed on nurofen and calpol if he wakes in obvious distress). I am also using bonjela/teething powders etc in conjunction with painkillers. I'm a bit concerned he's having it too often, but it really seems to help. Can babies be given painkiller too much?

SO long as you are within the specified dose and baby doesn't have any long term health probs, then nothing to worry about.

You have my sympathies - ds was a nightmare!

No he never has any more than the recommended 3 doses in 24 hours, but I certainly do give him it for more than 3 days on the trot when he's really bad.

Stella, am weaning, will try the cucumber. He loves just gnawing on his teething ring as well. I am hoping that this latest bout will produce more than two poxy teeth - should be at least 6 to show from it, based on the intensity of screaming/grumpiness etc!!

It's fine, I had to do the same with DD - obviously it's not ideal - all painkillers need to be excreted from the body and put the liver under pressure but in healthy children, within recommended levels, it's fine, though it's best to do two days of ibuprofen, then two days of paracetamol if you are continuously medicating.

My DS1 had a lot of painkillers when he was teething, as they seemed to cause him such pain. He is now 2.5 and seems fine! We never exceeded the dosage or frequency, but there were definitely weeks when he was dosed every day - I fretted about it, but felt there was no viable alternative (powders, bonjela etc didn't seem to help a lot) and that I had to trust the manufacturers that their dosage instructions were OK.

Stella - it may (or may not) cheer you to know that DS1 went through hell with his front teeth and canines, but they dreaded molars actually weren't too bad!

Now we just have to wait for DS2 to start - sigh.

I wouldnt do it in all honesty, but only you know if your ds is in pain, perhaps a chat with your gp or pharmacist would be a good idea to see what they reckon. Ylur gp could also give him the once over, sometimes babies have ear infections or similar causing pain which is blamed on teething. Just a thought.

I keep thinking 'surely there'll be teeth to show for it this time' after the latest bout of teething but oh my god, it just goes on and on and bloody ON and no teeth appearing- sleep disturbed, eating/feeding disturbed, bitten nipples aaarrrgh. Well only another year till all the teeth are in I suppose

It took about six months for the entire thing with DD. Sorry but it does take forever. It does end though

have you tried teething granules or Ashton & Parsons powders? Love them myself they are homeopathic and have general calming qualities.

and those water-filled teethers you keep in the fridge are good too.

not myself, I don't have them. I have all my teeth - I love them for my children.

Whomoved - thanks for sympathy! I think that he will be a very happy and content baby once the teething is over and done with and I think he will sleep so much better too!

Foxy, yes to teething ring and powders, they help a bit (i think) but nothing seems to work but painkiller when he's really bad!

Frozen flannels were of great help to DD - shed just chew the crap out of them.

Good tip - thanks!