How do you resolve parenting differences with OH

[Queenkongmerrilyonhigh]

DH broadly agree on parenting styles for our PFB, 6mo DS. But how do you resolve those little issues that you disagree on? Recently (teething), we've been having the same argument over again. DH wants to give DS calpol at the slightest whinge, I want to reserve it for 'emergencies' only. DH thinks I'm cruel for denying DS pain relief, I think too much (this is every evening for the last two weeks or so) could possibly have adverse effects for his health long term. DH thinks this is ridiculous. Both of us firmly believe we are right. How do we resolve this because having the same argument every night is getting boring and getting me down?

Can you ask the advice of your GP/HV? You will then have a professional opinion as to how much is too much.

FWIW, I agree with you. Teething can last for ages, and I don't think it's safe to always give Calpol. IME, distraction works pretty well for DS, but we gave him Calpol a couple of nights before bedtime when he was cutting a molar and was obviously in a lot of pain.

DD has been teething badly since 12 weeks, so that's 4 months so far and still no ruddy teeth. We both hold back on Calpol except when it's clearly awful for her and nothing else has worked. Not because of any particular Views but we have the worry that if we dose her too soon, we won't be able to dose her if it gets worse later....

But here are some things that work well for our kiddy:

Chunk of cold cucumber to suck
A bit of ice wrapped in a wet muslin or flannel
Water-filled teethers you keep in the fridge (get 3 so there's always a rotation)
Dentinox (or teething gel with local anesthetic)
Finally, a little soapstone rhino is proving a big hit at the moment!

Compromise - teething powder, it's homeopathic. Fwiw DH and i have the same disagreements, only now it's over discipline (DS is 13 months). Essentially we agree on what's right and wrong but i think he's too harsh sometimes. We try not to undermine each other in front of him and resolve things by talking when we're both in a better, more 'constructive' mood!

Btw - i tend to use calpol and nurofen only when DS is very ill or really suffering with teething. If he's just a bit whingy then cuddles tend to cure it.

I think you have to talk about it, consider the other parent's opinion as valid and remember that in the long term it probably doesn't matter which way you fall on little issues like this. In our family (not saying you should do the same) when we've disagreed on when to give Calpol we would give it, because we'd prefer our DD her some when she didn't need it than didn't have some when she did.

We talk about it for 20 minutes and then we decide I was right