Calpol/Calbruprofen - does it aid sleep and is that a good enough reason to give it to DS?

[sloathy]

Hello

I'm sorry if this is rambly and for any typos but I am in a fog of sleeplessness! DS is 9 1/2 months and has always been robust, healthy and a good sleeper - until Christmas. Since then it's been one thing after another health wise - croup, followed by an ear infection and now a very snotty cold and teething combined. As a result, he's been awake in the night for several hours ever since Christmas. Last night he was up between midnight and 3.30am (which is fairly typical). Yesterday night it was on and off between 11pm and 5am. Me and DP are nearing the end of our tethers and can barely speak we are so tired, I'm also worried that DS is not getting enough sleep either and is quite miserable during the day because of it.

The night wakings are sometimes clearly because of pain (teeth I think) and he cries loudly and is distressed etc. Other times, he is just awake and chuntering or shouting or pulling up or banging on the cot. Recently it's been coughing and sneezing and then him getting upset with the snot going down the back of his throat etc.

I prop him up a bit, have a vapourising thing going and offer him water which he laps up but it doesn't seem to make much difference. The only thing that seems to guarantee that he will drift off is a dose of Calpol or Calbruprofen.

I have no problem with using Calpol or Calbruprofen when it's needed (i.e. if he has a fever or is clearly in pain) but am reluctant to use it just because it seems to make DS sleep better. DP takes the view that if we all get more sleep the better we will all feel and therefore we should be reaching for the medicine bottle more often/quickly.

I see his point but also don't want to get into the habit of giving it to him just because he's unsettled. But perhaps I'm not picking up his pain cues properly and the reason he sleeps better after having a dose is because he was, actually, in pain of some kind. As far as I know there is nothing in either of them that induces sleep?

I know that lack of sleep is all part of parenting and I don't want to seem precious about this but I really am getting to the point where I feel unable to function during the day because of the build up of lack of sleep over the last couple of months.

I don't know what to do for the best.

Any advice gratefully received!

Don't be daft, it doesn't aid sleep by itself! anymore than you taking paracetamol or ibuprofen makes you sleepy (ie it doesn't)

If it helps, it's because it helps with the teething or illness, so perfectly fine to give then.

This too shall pass... early nights and naps where possible....

No, neither have any sedative effects.

You DS will be sleeping better if he's had some because he's comfortable, not because the medicine has made him sleepy.

Hi lukewarm- thanks!

Logically I know it doesn't - my addled brain is trying to make sense of why he sleeps better when he's had it if he doesn't have a fever or appear to be in pain before I give it to him. I must be misreading his pain cues I guess. :(

Or perhaps I should accept that a lack of sleep makes your brain turn to mush and start to wander off in all directions :)

Yes, could be placebo - its also sweet, and sugar water, for example, is often given to babies as a pain reliever.

Could also be that there is low level discomfort, ie not enough to make a fuss about but enough to prevent good sleep, and it helps with that.

Who knows? I'm with your dh, if it works it works, just try not to reach for it first time all the time. Don't beat yourself up about 'pain cues'.

Disclaimer: dd2 was a teether from hell and lived on a diet of Calpol/profen until about 18 months old.

I think if they're really hysterical, the nice strawberry medicine calms them down for long enough to forget why they were upset and enables them to get into a mind frame to go to sleep (tricky when they're clutching the cot bars and screaming blue murder).

Btw- why do they not make more things in Calpol flavour? I mean, everybody likes it,right?

I think part of the issue is probably that DS doesn't seem to like the taste of it unfortunately. Getting it down him is a struggle and usually results in us both getting upset (or in his case even more upset!).

I know - I'm a bit of a wuss.....

Have you tried a syringe? You can aim it to the side of the cheek and do it bit by bit. At least you know it's all gone in that way. And it's all for their own good etc etc!

It is definitely less difficult with a syringe than a spoon but he still does a good line in clamping his mouth shut/putting his tongue in the way/spitting it out/batting my hand away hard unless DP is there to hold his arms (gently of course!).

I give DS some glycerol cough syrup sometimes. It makes him think he's had some medicine and he shuts up and goes to sleep :)