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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:
Hardbackwriter · 14/04/2021 13:42

We instinctively want to fix our children's pain but sometimes the best thing we can give them is comfort

When I'm in pain I take paracetamol and comfort myself in other ways - I don't see why a baby shouldn't get the same?

KurtWilde · 14/04/2021 13:46

@Fieldsofstars

It’s got to be better than giving them teething granules 🙄 *@KurtWilde*

Clearly when I’ve got a toothache or something I should be drinking water that has at some point had chamomile in it.

I was saying I used calpol as and when I required, every day if necessary because teething things never worked for my kids. If you'd read my other posts on this thread you'd know I'm 100% behind the OP using calpol for her little one.
Hardbackwriter · 14/04/2021 13:47

The regular evening timing suggests something else is going on as well as the teething - neither of mine had particular teething times of the day.

Doesn't it just suggest that the teething pain is stopping the baby from sleeping?

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Fembot123 · 14/04/2021 13:47

@Thatwentbadly

No, if he is in pain every day then he needs to see a doctor to rule out other problems. He may have an ear infection or other medical issue.

Btw nurofen is better for teething pain.

Exactly, that is what I wished I’d know when my DDs were young, didn’t find out until I had DS how much better Nurofen is for it
Ethelfromnumber73 · 14/04/2021 13:48

Hi OP,

Speak to your GP for advice but don't withhold painkillers if your child needs them. Teething powders are homeopathic nonsense and I'm sure most adults wouldn't consider using them if they had toothache Hmm

duvetdreaming · 14/04/2021 13:50

No, you shouldn't do that. On my adult pack of paracetomol it says not to take for more than 4 days.

PussGirl · 14/04/2021 13:53

But it's fine to take for ever if needed, just that if it's been bought rather than prescribed you are supposed to have medical advice to make sure nothing is being missed

JessicaaRabbit · 14/04/2021 13:56

As long as you don't give more than one dose every 4-6 hours it's fine.

I have a pharmacy degree.

One dose per evening for a week is fuck all. If he's in pain, give him the Calpol.

Nurofen used long term can cause stomach issues, Calpol is preferable.

Ethelfromnumber73 · 14/04/2021 13:56

@littleredberries

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.
This is utter bollocks
NameChange30 · 14/04/2021 13:57

@Icenii

Why are people against paracetamol in the correct or under the correct dose but are happy to give lidocaine containing products?
I've been wondering this too!
Fieldsofstars · 14/04/2021 14:07

No @duvetdreaming it says not to take for longer than 3 days without consulting your doctor.

Also it’s referring to the full daily dose for 3 days.
Not just one dose every night.

PremiumRoll · 14/04/2021 14:08

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

JeanneDoe · 14/04/2021 14:10

Baby cocaine is the best.

(Ashton and Parsons)

TooTiredToAdultToday · 14/04/2021 14:19

Sorry haven’t read whole thread so may have already been added but are you sure it’s teething? My daughter used to scream bloody murder for a few hours each evening, turned out she had a cows milk intolerance.

FTEngineerM · 14/04/2021 14:33

Why are people against paracetamol in the correct or under the correct dose but are happy to give lidocaine containing products?

Is Lidocaine processed by the liver or is it just affective on that topical location? If not then that could be a reason why. I don’t know one way or another I’m certainly no pharmacist/doctor Smile

I know the abuse of lidocaine type products in the past is petrifying, providing you use the advised dosage it’s 0.25ml from one finger tip over the top.

Original poster
PricklesPick · 14/04/2021 16:12

Thank you all so much for the helpful responses, it really means a lot.

OP posts:
Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 14/04/2021 20:52

@SunshineCake

Rub some muslin on the baby's gums often. That will toughen the gums so when the teeth cut through it doesn't hurt quite as much. Teething lasts for months. Stop giving calpol now as the baby will get used to it, even after just a few days.
No, I really don't think that's a good idea. Cant imagine anyone recommending that.
User33445 · 14/04/2021 21:01

I use to do this for teething one dose in the evening for almost a week every now and again. I don’t know why people are acting like it’s poison. I asked the docter if it’s ok to use longer than 3 days and he said yes. Ask your gp for reassurance. Your a brilliant mum trying to help your baby , try all the other things too - teething granules and gels. They might not help but worth a try.

SweetMeadow · 14/04/2021 21:28

I think people are freaking out unnecessarily here. My little one suffered really badly with teething and after I was giving calpol once every night for longer than a week, I called the health visitor who gave the standard advice about alternatives but also advised I spoke to a pharmacist because they are the experts when it comes to drugs. The pharmacist was really helpful and reassuring and said that once a night for a week or so was a low dose so not to worry about it but that long term, it might mean it becomes less effective as pain relief (I think that’s what she said!) so she encouraged me to try the powders again. Despite originally being adamant that I’d use it sparingly, DD had a lot of calpol over the first year, mostly in shortish periods of bad teething pain and only one dose at night if she needed it. If they are in pain, they need relief. I would give nurofen only when the pain was really bad for her.

I think it would also be worth investigating whether there is something else causing the pain though just in case. We did once mistake an ear infection for teething pain and felt really bad that we didn’t get her help sooner.

SunshineCake · 14/04/2021 21:30

What's your issue @Iminaglasscaseofemotion?

Do you need me to explain even more clearly ?

It is absolutely fine to do.

Ethelfromnumber73 · 14/04/2021 21:45

@SunshineCake

What's your issue *@Iminaglasscaseofemotion*?

Do you need me to explain even more clearly ?

It is absolutely fine to do.

The issue is that this is very bad advice. It will cause further pain, possible infection, and is quite frankly bonkers. Unless you are going to tell us that you are a dentist of course?
SunshineCake · 14/04/2021 21:50

I did it with mine. All fine. No issues with anything. Ds cut several teeth without a murmur. I could explain it in very very simple terms about why it was okay to do but there's no point. But I will say it was recommended by a medic.

Merename · 14/04/2021 21:55

I’m in the this is fine camp too and surprised by the responses. DH is a dr and when mine were wee and in pain for days on end, I worried that the bottle says not more than 3 days - he said it’s fine and I trust him. A toxic dose is way higher than one correct dose an evening for a week. I’d hate to think I was leaving them in pain when I could help.

RichTeaCheddars · 14/04/2021 22:04

Sorry not read the full thread so apologies if this is repeated.

  • Teething sachets (there are two types, Nelson's and Ashton's. One might be better than the other)
  • Anbesol liquid. Can't recommend this enough.
  • Ibuprofen is better for teething pain.
  • Try the sachet of powder and Anbesol first.
  • And if still upset then go for ibuprofen.

Using it every day isn't great, but if it's every day for a week max it really isn't the end of the world. But try other options first each night.

Ethelfromnumber73 · 14/04/2021 22:13

@SunshineCake

I did it with mine. All fine. No issues with anything. Ds cut several teeth without a murmur. I could explain it in very very simple terms about why it was okay to do but there's no point. But I will say it was recommended by a medic.
My child also cut her teeth without a murmur (I didn't even notice the first one for a while) and I didn't toughen up her gums first by rubbing them with a muslin Hmm. Anecdotes do not prove efficacy