Urgent - can I give Calpol and Nurofen at the same time?

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My baby (13 months) is struggling terribly with teething tonight. I’ve given 0.5ml of Calpol but can I give the recommended dose of Nurofen as well? Or do I have to wait a few hours now?

I’ve also dabbed Anbesol on the gums but don’t know where the pain is coming from and I think I may have got the wrong gum. Now have to wait another 3 hours to use it again!

Why 0.5ml of calpol?

Yes you can!

He’s in absolute agony, screaming in pain. I think he might have several teeth coming at once as his gums look very red and lumpy

Yes aren’t you supposed to give 5ml calpol?

@dementedpixie that’s the recommended dose!!

You definitely can yes.

Though 0.5ml of calpol doesn't sound like a therapeutic dose. How much does your baby weigh?

You can alternate Calpol and Neurofen, but you need to separate the doses by 4 hours.

You would normally stagger doses of calpol and nurofen rather than give together. And be aware you can give fewer doses of nurofen in 24 hours

Sorry, just checked and you’re right, it was 5ml that I gave, using the Calpol syringe!

5ml of Calpol, right?

But yes, you can give Nurofen at the same time. Although I always stagger it by 2 hours, but I don’t think that’s necessary.

You can give at the same time but you might be better waiting for an hour so you can stagger the doses so he has constant pain relief.

Are you sure it’s not 5ml calpol OP? I’m sure it is

So there’s nothing more I can do for him now, beyond the Calpol and Anbesol - I have to wait 4 hours to give the Nurofen and another 3 hours for the Anbesol? He’s in agony

The does is 5ml not 0.5ml

Dose*

No unless prescribed by a doctor. Check the dosage on the calpol though, I thought it was 5ml for that age, so a full syringe full, up to 4 times.

5ml makes more sense 😊

Yes, give nurofen too.

Calpol is paracetamol, nurofen is ibuprofen

NHS advice

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/childrens-health/can-i-give-my-child-paracetamol-and-ibuprofen-at-the-same-time/

So what am I meant to do?!!

If calpol isn't helping soon then yes you can give nurofen before 4 hours have passed

I would give the nurofen now

I never followed anbesol dosage instructions strictly . I smeared a load of it all over every area of the gums whenever needed.

You don’t have to wait 4 hours for the Nurofen. You can give Calpol and Nurofen at the same time, but if you can stagger them by 2 hours it’s better.

No you can give them at the same time, you don't have to stagger it 4 hours. When my DC were teething very badly (or particularly poorly) i would try and space it out by 2 hours to get us through the night (bear in mind you can give less nurofen). You could try teething granules too if you have any of those? Something cold for him to suck / chew to relieve some pain. Good luck x

I’m so confused as the NHS site says you can’t

Could you rub his gums with something? That seemed to help mine - just a finger, or a soft flannel? Mine loved a chewy toothbrush at that age, and I used to give that tooth powder stuff as a last resort.