Paracetamol for babies

[LittleLadysMama]

My little one is 14 weeks and I'm looking for some advice and experience from other mums re giving medication.
So far, she's only had it before and after her immunizations as advised. And one other evening on the advice of a relative when she wouldnt settle, was very upset and out of sorts for no apparent reason.
The logic was that she was obviously in pain or fussing for some reason and cant tell me what's wrong so the paracetamol should help, although she didnt have a fever.
Should I only use it if my baby has a temperature or do others give it if their baby just doesnt seem themselves / upset?!
I'm just a bit unsure as I'd rather not give her medicine unnecessarily, but at the same time i dont want her to be in pain and I'm not helping her 🤷‍♀️

Don't use it when she's just uncomfortable. It's much for likely to be wind if she's not settling.

It's not a fix-all solution. Drugging your baby to shut them up makes no sense.

Sorry if that last sentence sounds harsh.

I was given Calpol for mine which is paracetamol but he always brought it up - every time - so was pointless.

I would go through the motions of what it might be - e.g. feed, check gums, nappy, wind, pick up, check temp, switch a night light on etc - if there was no obvious reason and they wouldn't settle I'd offer Paracetamol/Ibuprofen.

There's a maybe difference in offering medication to try to soothe a clearly uncomfortable baby who can't tell you what's wrong and "drugging your baby to shut them up" and i would like to think even the most naïve parent wouldn't need to have this pointed out to them 🙄

*massive difference

When would you take painkillers? Think about how the pain and discomfort feels and whether paracetamol helps. If it does I would be inclined to try to map that across to your baby and of it matches then give it.

I have never. Ever had a temperature in my life. But I have felt awful and painkillers have helped. Don’t give like sweets but do try to be mindful of what you as an adult would tolerate. It’s not easy but I think it can also be made more difficult than it needs to be. Calpol is just Paracetamol and shouldn’t be feared when used as per instructions

No, not harsh at all. That's partly why I posted as I feel advice from others can be quite conflicting.
I hadn't even considered paracetamol when she wouldnt settle until a relative suggested it and then I felt like a bad mum, like I'd missed it and left her struggling needlessly.
But my gut was telling me she likely didnt actually need paracetamol.
Had a similar episode just before the weekend and I didnt give her any this time with a similar outcome, she settled eventually.

Morning, I have a 6 month old so know exactly how you feel and have went through all the motions too.

I have recently given it as she was so unsettled and breaking her heart and seemed so uncomfortable and out of sorts. After the dose she managed a nap and seemed a lot more herself.

Only other time I have given it, like you is for her jags.

I would say judge each occasion accordingly and like PP said go through check list, hungry, tired, needs a poo, teething, wind etc and then use your own feeling to wither wee one needs it.

Good point @BlueEyedFloozy - there's a bug difference!
Where I was coming from was that advice seems to be give calpol if baby has a fever (which she doesnt) but has a cough, sneezing, generally a bit irritable.
If I had those symptoms, I'd be taking some paracetamol with or without a fever, knowing full well it's not going to 'cure' me but might make me more comfortable.
It's just hard to know with babies 🤷‍♀️

Thanks @rosegoldivy its nice to know I'm not alone!

I give it if they’re really suffering from a cold or similar, or teething. Or a high temp obviously.

I give it sometimes if my baby is really upset or unsettled and I can’t work out why. They might be in pain so it’s worth a try. I’m not talking every day of course. Last night, I spent about 15 mins trying to settle my 9 month old in the night, which is unusual for her. Normally a quick feed and/or cuddle works. She was screaming and rubbing her ears. I gave calpol and within 10 mins she was settled, feeding and went back to sleep shortly after. I think it was teething pain.

You know your baby. Don’t give it as a first option but if she’s behaving differently to normal, particularly if she has a cold, I’d give it. If it’s occasional it won’t harm her if it wasn’t necessary.

My DS is older, 16 months but I quite often give him Calpol when he is grizzly and unsettled. It always calms him down so he obviously is in pain, usually from his teeth I think as he suffers terribly with teething

He doesn't have it every day but I'd rather he doesn't suffer unnecessarily so I give it