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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:
Icenii · 14/04/2021 12:24

podopus, I wonder whether it is because they can't feel the pain themselves, so don't think it needs treating with a small dose of pain relief.

littleredberries · 14/04/2021 12:27

We all go through watching the teething pains and it's hell but you've just got to get through it.
Let me put it this way, you are putting a massive strain on your 3m old's stomach by doing this every day. You're also building up a dependency.
Maybe this blunt response will help you. Stick to the teething rings and know that this too shall pass.

An0n0n0n · 14/04/2021 12:28

Hiya, as long as you are using it within the recommendations on the bottle please don't feel bad, you are unlikely to have d9ne any real harm over 1 week but agree about looking for other options.

I second ambesol liquid which you can get from a pharmacy (assuming your baby is the right age, I don't remember that!)

But speak to a pharmacost today rather than waiting a week and if you aren't happy then ring 111 as they may get an appointment for you at your drs.

Perhaps a walk in a sling or pushchair might help distract? My baby used to cry for hours in the evening until I took her for a walk in the sling so maybe try that.

It's horrible watching them on pain but don't beat yourself up for this week, you did what you thought was right at the time x

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littleredberries · 14/04/2021 12:28

Already regretting weighing in lol.
Cancel the check

1forAll74 · 14/04/2021 12:32

I would definitely not give Calpol to a very young baby,no way.I never used it at all when I had babies years ago. Calpol has been in the news over the years, especially about those who over use it, and there used to be problems with the additives used for the colouring of it.

A teething gel of some sort is much better.as opposed to Calpol going into a baby or small child's system.

ZooKeeper19 · 14/04/2021 12:35

@PricklesPick if it's evening mostly it's not the tooth pain. It's hm being overtired, overstimulated and it's generally like this for months. Has nothing to do with teething.

Twinkie01 · 14/04/2021 12:36

Get a baby soft toothbrush, dip it in anbesol liquid and let him have a chew, it'll numb the area, the chewing will break his gum easier and he'll be more comfortable.

buffyp · 14/04/2021 12:37

@ThrowingAShellstrop

Yes PPs, let’s all jump on this very new mother who is clearly worried about her baby and make her feel like shit Hmm well done. I hope you’ve done enough to make yourselves feel far superior.

@PricklesPick it’s not recommended to give paracetamol every day for more than 3 days. That said, please don’t panic. If you’ve only been giving one dose, you won’t have done any harm. It does suggest though that the teething might not be the whole problem. For teething, there’s lots of different lotions and potions you can get that help. Might be worth visiting a pharmacist and seeing what they recommend.

Also at 3 months and evening crying , I would be mindful of colic and other tummy aches. So it’s worth shifting your view and watching out for tummy pain.

If you’re unsure, get a GP to check him over. It won’t hurt and they may be able to suggest something to help.

This is a phase and it will pass Flowers

This
PussGirl · 14/04/2021 12:37

You can give paracetamol everyday for months if you need to, as long as the daily dose is not exceeded.

The only reason it says 3 days max is to make sure you aren't just dosing them up for an undiagnosed problem.

Paracetamol is not a sedative but I know a lot of parents give it at night as they hope it is. It only works for pain.

Having said that if a parent feels calmer after giving it, the baby might feel calmer & then settle more easily.

brokengate · 14/04/2021 12:38

I spoke to GP about calpol and teething and received very different advice.

He said to visualise pain as a mountain. By giving one dose of calpol when it peaks you knock the top off. He said I should be giving the correct dose age to flatten the pain for the time required. In Dd case she improved after two days, but has had calpol for longer periods due to numerous illness last year. Again, he was quite cross with me being reluctant to so do and spoke about keeping pain on a flat level and not waiting for it to spike before acting.

pinkywinks · 14/04/2021 12:40

@winifredwells

I don't understand why the majority of people would say it's bad to give a baby who's in pain LESS than the maximum daily dose of a very safe drug?

there's no such thing as a "very safe" drug.

Using painkillers like sweets is very dangerous.

Where did I suggest that giving a single dose of pain relief for a baby was treating it like sweets? I assume as an adult you would take paracetamol for a headache so why should a child suffer?

It's a single dose, well under the recommended amount for the baby's age. I obviously don't advocate it for every grizzle or grump, but if there's an obvious reason for pain it is absolutely ok to give it.

Humpty11 · 14/04/2021 12:40

Even though he’s got a tooth coming through it may not be that that’s causing him to be unsettled in the evenings. I think there’s a leap around 3 months isn’t there and I remember with my son there was a witching hour every night and he definitely didn’t have any teeth coming through. I hope he’s more comfortable soon

Fieldsofstars · 14/04/2021 12:42

‘ A teething gel of some sort is much better.as opposed to Calpol going into a baby or small child's system’

This is factually incorrect.

Crapuccino · 14/04/2021 12:45

OP: I've been giving my baby one dose of calpol per day for teething for about a week-

PPs: HOLY FUCK JESUS CHRIST NO you should get through this purely on grit, moral fibre, self-denial, sugar, lidocaine, benzocaine, untested and unregulated "natural" remedies, and copious lashings of outright smug superiority otherwise YOUR BABY MIGHT DIE

Really? That's what we're doing here?

OP when my twins were teething for what felt like years back-to-back and I was ready to scream into the eternal night with the absolute misery of it all, did I give them a nightly dose of calpol for more than three days? You damn well bet I did. And yes, I checked in with the pharmacist, and then the GP, and then we even went to a dentist because it turns out that one of mine has "shark teeth" which are super painful the erupt, and the other (now she's just about old enough to explain it) just has very sensitive gums, and if I'd had a thread like this telling me I was The Worst for asking if what I was doing was okay, I think it might have broken me.

You're doing your absolute best and you're checking in for advice and I wish your little boy the peace and rest that both of you deserve as soon as possible. Read Riddle's answer. It's probably the most helpful thing on here.

rabbitheadlights · 14/04/2021 12:46

Not RTFT but OP isn't giving Calpol all day everyday it's 1 dose per day ok it's not ideal but it's not as bad as some of you are making out.

OP if you can afford to try some of the PPs suggestions, anbesol, bongela, Nelson's etc if not give the health visitor a call and ask her for advice but don't beat yourself up over 1 dose of Calpol per day in the short term.

Underhisi · 14/04/2021 12:49

Ds has gone for weeks with round the clock capol due to ear infections etc. If you are sure about what is causing the pain and you keep to correct dosage levels, it is fine. The problems come when giving it means that undiagnosed problems go unrecognised or people give too much.

Mummy1608 · 14/04/2021 12:50

I haven't RTFT either but teething powders and gels also contain medication. And, worse, you are giving an unmeasured dose. I much prefer calpol for my baby because I can measure out the correct volume in a syringe etc. Calpol has also undergone lots of rigorous testing and research, whereas teething powders, esp "natural" or "herbal" ones, can contain whacko ingredients that might not be as rigorously researched for babies.

I agree with pps who suggest teething toys. My baby 8m also gets a lot of relief from tooth/gum brushing with one of those silicon finger-toothbrushes. She also likes chewing on a wet cloth.

FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack · 14/04/2021 12:51

@Crapuccino

OP: I've been giving my baby one dose of calpol per day for teething for about a week-

PPs: HOLY FUCK JESUS CHRIST NO you should get through this purely on grit, moral fibre, self-denial, sugar, lidocaine, benzocaine, untested and unregulated "natural" remedies, and copious lashings of outright smug superiority otherwise YOUR BABY MIGHT DIE

Really? That's what we're doing here?

OP when my twins were teething for what felt like years back-to-back and I was ready to scream into the eternal night with the absolute misery of it all, did I give them a nightly dose of calpol for more than three days? You damn well bet I did. And yes, I checked in with the pharmacist, and then the GP, and then we even went to a dentist because it turns out that one of mine has "shark teeth" which are super painful the erupt, and the other (now she's just about old enough to explain it) just has very sensitive gums, and if I'd had a thread like this telling me I was The Worst for asking if what I was doing was okay, I think it might have broken me.

You're doing your absolute best and you're checking in for advice and I wish your little boy the peace and rest that both of you deserve as soon as possible. Read Riddle's answer. It's probably the most helpful thing on here.

This post deserves a round of applause and an award for common sense Grin

I'd be fascinated to know how much pain the posters responding with horror would be willing to put up with themselves. I'm still getting my wisdom teeth, it's really painful at times and I'm sure as hell not using a teething ring!

Mummy1608 · 14/04/2021 12:52

Ps bongela contains salicylic acid which is dangerous for children. Unless there is a baby version I don't know about, please don't use that.

Cactuslove · 14/04/2021 12:53

Sounds like colic to me. He can be teething and have colic qt the same time... you could use teething rings etc in the evening and it could help but you don't realise as he is screaming with colic. I give calpol when it is needed and definitely not against it but would not be giving it every night or even multiple days in a row.

Try a warm bath, massaging back and belly, a walk round the block in the pram etc

Sleepisoverrated150 · 14/04/2021 12:54

@Fieldsofstars

‘ A teething gel of some sort is much better.as opposed to Calpol going into a baby or small child's system’

This is factually incorrect.

@Fieldsofstars 👏👏👏👏

My biggest pet peeve is people not understand excipients, daily doses, safety profiles, PILs or clinical data

MammaSchwifty · 14/04/2021 12:55

better not to, paracetamol isn't something to take lightly, have a read of its background. And I'm not a homeopathic hippy, by any stretch of the imagination, quite the opposite.

It sounds like your baby could be overtired by the evening, it can turn them into inconsolable screaming banshees. I'd take a look at your routine and see if he's napping enough, or needs an earlier bedtime. Teething always gets blamed for baby grumpiness, but worth looking into other causes.

listsandbudgets · 14/04/2021 12:55

Ashton and parsons teething powder if they still make it. When DD was a baby it was always known as baby cocaine at the mother and baby group I went to. Very effective indeed and I even used it on myself once when I had toothache

emmaluggs · 14/04/2021 12:56

Anbesol liquid from pharmacy it’s behind the counter will be your best friend. As previous posters said don’t give it every day, it’s tough but you’ll both get through it.

AColdDuncanGoodhew · 14/04/2021 12:56

@Crapuccino

OP: I've been giving my baby one dose of calpol per day for teething for about a week-

PPs: HOLY FUCK JESUS CHRIST NO you should get through this purely on grit, moral fibre, self-denial, sugar, lidocaine, benzocaine, untested and unregulated "natural" remedies, and copious lashings of outright smug superiority otherwise YOUR BABY MIGHT DIE

Really? That's what we're doing here?

OP when my twins were teething for what felt like years back-to-back and I was ready to scream into the eternal night with the absolute misery of it all, did I give them a nightly dose of calpol for more than three days? You damn well bet I did. And yes, I checked in with the pharmacist, and then the GP, and then we even went to a dentist because it turns out that one of mine has "shark teeth" which are super painful the erupt, and the other (now she's just about old enough to explain it) just has very sensitive gums, and if I'd had a thread like this telling me I was The Worst for asking if what I was doing was okay, I think it might have broken me.

You're doing your absolute best and you're checking in for advice and I wish your little boy the peace and rest that both of you deserve as soon as possible. Read Riddle's answer. It's probably the most helpful thing on here.

Yes. This. All of this!

Also twins here, also loaded them with whatever they needed because they were in pain.

Poor OP, she’ll be a wreck after some of the replies on here.