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Original poster

To give Calpol everyday?

249 replies

PricklesPick · 14/04/2021 09:06

May be a stupid question but I'm a bit of a paranoid FTM so I apologise!

Is it okay to give Calpol every day? (For a period anyway) whilst teething?

He is only just 3 months old but already has a tooth showing and seems in pain mostly during the evening.

He's been having Calpol every night before bed for about a week now but I'm just concerned about giving it too often. It's the only thing that seems to settle him down though.

OP posts:
PollyPocket245 · 14/04/2021 10:18

Op call your health visitor Smile it’s awful seeing them in so much pain... I find letting her chew my finger or massaging her gums helped. But you’re right, finding the point of when to give pain relief is difficult! Don’t feel bad for a second about any comments here, you’ve done the best you can with the knowledge you have. Just seek some advice in case it’s reflux or colic Flowers

1990shopefulftm · 14/04/2021 10:18

I spoke to my HV and they agreed when once we gave a dose of Calpol each night for a week that if nothing else was working that it was fine ( teething granules were useless and he hates anything cold touching his gums).
He also agreed with me that the 3 days warning is more to ensure that other causes are looked into and no one leaves their baby with a fever for days and it go untreated.
He's too young for anbesol for a couple of months yet, you can try nurofen if it's especially bad but that is one where it is harmful long term, paracetamol is certainly safer in comparison.

HeyDemonsItsYaGirl · 14/04/2021 10:18

They say that there’s no scientific evidence that teething causes pain.

What? I had a wisdom tooth come through a few years ago and that bloody caused pain, why would milk teeth be different?

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MyDcAreMarvel · 14/04/2021 10:19

There is a lot of ignorance on this thread, the advice to seek medical advice after 3 days is in case there is a more serious cause for the pain. Paracetamol can be safely give daily during periods of teething . There are millions of children world wide with chronic health conditions taking daily paracetamol. The risks come with over dosing. Obviously it is better not to give medicine unless no other measures work but that does not mean it’s harmful.

Halloweenrainbow · 14/04/2021 10:20

Check with a medical professional. Giving pain relief when not needed could mask pain/fever from something else.

IDidNotSignUpForThis · 14/04/2021 10:21

OP - I hope you don't feel bombarded by all these posts. One dose of calpol a night for a week will have done no harm at all, please don't worry. If it is hard to get an appointment with your GP, could your health visitor help? They usually provide a phone number. I think some proper reassurance would help to put your mind at rest. This will pass, although it might not seem like it! You are doing a great job xx

mynameiscalypso · 14/04/2021 10:21

@Halloweenrainbow

Check with a medical professional. Giving pain relief when not needed could mask pain/fever from something else.
But it's needed.
katnyps · 14/04/2021 10:22

Hi Op - our wee one is teething and its rubbish!

Pharmacist should help but beware of products others on here have recommended (such as Anbesol) as some of them contain substances which have quite recently been recommended against by medical authorities for teething due to potentially adverse effects outweighing the perceived benefits (Google benzocaine teething) - hence why they are no longer available without speaking to a pharmacist.

Good luck and hope it passes xxx

Halloweenrainbow · 14/04/2021 10:28

True! SmileI should have worded it to say if it was ongoing.

FTEngineerM · 14/04/2021 10:28

@katnyps that was researched because parents were dunking the dummy (!!!) in lidocaine (anbesol). Which on course is unnecessary. It works great when they’re old enough. I tried some and so did DP, for us it was a mild numbing sensation, obviously that will be amplified on a tiny baby which is the idea.

Do people really leave their children in pain because they have an aversion to giving them age appropriate pain relief?

Isn’t it just like most people, that the variation in what we will tolerate before medicating varies between people?

slashlover · 14/04/2021 10:29

www.calpol.co.uk/illnesses-symptoms/teething-pain

Do not give this medicine to your child for more than 3 days without speaking to your doctor or pharmacist

ilovesushi · 14/04/2021 10:31

No! It's really unhealthy! Have you tried Nelson teething granules? You can get them from the chemist.

ChangedName4TheSakeOfIt · 14/04/2021 10:34

Don't get into the habit of using medications for things that can be dealt with with natural methods. Medicines have their place but whenever possible, use other tips and tricks.
My friend almost lost her baby through Calpol and she had to be resuscitated. It turned out, a medical issue meant was unable to process paracetamol and it built up. My friend almost lost her other kids to social services while they investigated her for overdosing her baby when all she was doing was the odd 2.5ml of Calpol for teething. Now I know it's an extreme case but it does highlight the fact that Calpol is a drug and shouldn't be taken lightly. You never know what could happen.

Muddywoof · 14/04/2021 10:38

My son teethed quite early... probably 3 to 4 months, and they haven't stopped coming since. The powders are what worked for us. He wouldn't accept calpol, teething rings were no use, the gels were a definite no for him. Last thing I tried was the powders are I can't reccomend them enough.

Viviennemary · 14/04/2021 10:38

No. This is not a good idea. You should speak to your GP or Health Visitor.

fistasledge · 14/04/2021 10:40

Some of these responses are a bit harsh! OP, I'm a FTM and rang the doctor about exactly the same reason!

Since starting nursery my DS has had almost a constant cold/sore throat/cough or some lurgie.

There was a week where he was very unwell and like yours, coped through the day with distraction but was beside himself in the evenings. I got to day 4 and rang the doctor. I said I'm sure he doesn't need antibiotics but I'm on day 4 of giving calpol. Like you, it was one does in the evening. He said that's absolutely fine and obviously to only give it when needed but if it was in the evening only and i wasn't 4 days back to back doses then to continue until he feels better.

He also offered some great other advice (specifically for a cold) that helped him sleep better and after 6 days we stopped.

I would suggest you ring back the surgery and ask for an urgent phone appt. My experience is most doctors are happy to do this for babies. It doesn't sound like he needs to be seen but he's been unwell for 3 days and you'd like some advice.

Hopefully the doctor will give you some reassurance and perhaps other strategies

But I also second the use of Anbesol liquid rubbed on the gums - helps them sleep and numbs the area!

Good luck

gallbladderpain · 14/04/2021 10:42

Yes calpol shouldn't be used regularly but he's clearly in pain and if you had a toothache yourself you would take paracetamol and if it helps him with pain then of course you shouldn't feel bad about making him feel more comfortable OP, it's not like you've been giving him 4 doses every day for no reason. Hopefully in a few days the pain will subside for him again for a while. As others have said its definetely worth that trip to the GP just because he's so little and to rule out other causes for the pain as well, it can be so hard to tell in little ones what is causing the problem.
Also came on to recommend Anbesol Liquid (not the gel) It was a lifesaver for us when the DC were teething and I recently had a severe toothache myself and it really did help!

JustSleepAlready · 14/04/2021 10:52

Put his teething ring In the freezer. Or freeze a face cloth ( clean obviously) and let him suck and chew on it. Might help.

GinWithOlivesIn · 14/04/2021 10:53

Poor you, OP. AIBU isn’t the place for this sort of question - try parenting or children’s health next time for more measured responses. Probably best to check with a GP or you Hv if you are worried, but one dose of calpol a day for a few days for specific pain isn’t going to cause harm. That’s what it’s for.

DungeonKeeper · 14/04/2021 10:55

OP get some advice from the GP or pharmacy rather than the hand-wringing and scare mongering replies on here. You’re only giving it once a day for pain, but there could also be another reason your baby is upset so no harm in asking a professional.

riddles26 · 14/04/2021 11:03

Paediatrician here. First of all you have NOT harmed your baby in any way so please don't feel guilty. I've not read the full thread, just the first handful of unhelpful posts belittling you and want to reassure you that you are a wonderful mum.

In terms of paracetamol/Calpol, the box will say not to give for more than 3 days without medical advice. This is because we want to rule out anything else causing the pain, it is not because it is unsafe to have for more than 3 days. We want to be sure baby is not experiencing pain from anywhere else and doesn't have an underlying infection. For an otherwise healthy child, the doses on the pack are safe for several consecutive weeks so more than 3 days has not caused harm

Teething is usually at its most painful just before the teeth cut through the gum then subsides and this rarely lasts more than 4-5 days. For what feels like a lifetime, he will have itchy and uncomfortable gums and want to chew everything in sight but this does not usually require Calpol.

There are a heap of teething products on the market for the itchy and uncomfortable stage. Give them a try and also try Anbesol liquid (not the gel). You will need to go to the counter of a pharmacy for this but it is very very effective

NameChange30 · 14/04/2021 11:14

@WeatherwaxLives

I'm pretty shocked at PP jumping on a worried new mum, telling her not to give her 3 month old baby paracetamol once a day for teething, and telling her to use bloody lidocaine instead which isn't to be used under 5 months and not for more than 7 days! It's hardly a better alternative to paracetamol!
THIS! Do not give Anbesol! It contains lidocaine. It's only suitable for babies over 5 months old and even then it should be used sparingly and as a last resort. www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/oral-lidocaine-containing-products-for-infant-teething-only-to-be-available-under-the-supervision-of-a-pharmacist
KurtWilde · 14/04/2021 11:14

Some of the responses on this thread are ridiculous. Sounds like some of you are saying you'd withhold pain relief if it exceeded 3 days ConfusedConfusedConfused

What if teething products don't help? They didn't work for my babies. What if you can't get a GP appointment for another few days? Leave them in pain?? Very strange way of parenting.

It's ONE DOSE a day of age appropriate pain relief ffs, absolutely not an issue, but I see the scaremongers are out in force.

NameChange30 · 14/04/2021 11:18

@RestingPandaFace

I found these to be really good. You can give them from 3 months and you can get them in Tesco
I agree, I found the Ashton & Parsons granules surprisingly effective.
BungleandGeorge · 14/04/2021 11:18

Whilst the pain is probably exacerbating things screaming in the evening is often due to over tiredness. I seem to remember mine screaming for about an hour whatever I did (used to be called ‘colic’). Maybe try switching the routine around a bit? Whilst teething is always blamed some teeth just pop out with no trouble so I think that it’s often not the main cause when the distress is night after night. Personally I find a motorised swing great for calming one of mine.