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Original poster

Infant Calpol

27 replies

Michlj · 02/12/2021 17:52

My baby is 9 weeks old. He had his 1st set of jabs and the doctor told me he could use calpol. She also said if he is inconsolable on a night and we can not help him without he can have a dose of the calpol to help him if hes in pain. How often do other Mums use calpol and do you find it effective. Thanks

OP posts:
21dolly · 02/12/2021 17:58

It's sounding more like a choice rather than a need which is new. The baby's red book says that they should have paracetamol after the 8 week & 16 week jab (don't quote me I've said that off the top of my head from what I can remember!)

A lot of nurses don't let parents leave without giving the baby a dose of Calpol straight away. DD and all my other friends with babies needed to give Calpol after both vaccinations as they had such a fever and was burning up. Wait a few hours and see if there's any chance in your DC's temperature or just general attitude. They may need it, they may not. Nothing wrong with giving it just make sure you read the dosage instructions on the back!

WheelieBinPrincess · 02/12/2021 18:01

The advice after my baby’s eight week jabs very recently was 4 doses of calpol, every four hours, for 24 hours after the immunisations, temperature or not.

We’ve given one calpol on one other occasion, when I think he had growing pains, as a last resort, and it did settle him.

WheelieBinPrincess · 02/12/2021 18:01

I mean four doses in total obviously not at once!

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EdithGrantham · 02/12/2021 18:06

That sounds like strange advice re. giving at night if he's inconsolable? I have only given my DD calpol after jabs and when she's had a temperature. If she was very upset at night I wouldn't assume she was in pain. If you think your DS is regularly in pain and you can't figure out a cause e.g. wind I would suggest it needs investigation rather than just dosing up with calpol?

User5252727 · 02/12/2021 18:11

I've used it for jabs, and when my son is obviously under the weather. Maybe 6 or 7 times in a year? It has always worked to bring down his temperature, and it seems to perk him up when he's unwell.

buckingmad · 02/12/2021 22:04

I use it for jabs if she’s feeling rotten. I have also given it once or twice when she has been screaming at night because it’s very out of character so I have assumed it’s teething/growing pains. She has then quickly calmed down and gone to sleep so must have been right!

iusedtoloveopalfruits1 · 02/12/2021 22:23

Calpol is very useful.
If babies get too hot they can have a febrile seizure. The calpol brings their temperature down which it why the recommended you give it after the MenB immunisation.
It’s also great for sore teeth in the night when they are inconsolable as my son was last night. He’s 2 and we just need one more tooth to come through and he has a full set. He settled in about 10 minutes after having it last night. It really does work wonders.

ViaRia · 03/12/2021 09:16

Thank you for posting this.
My 8 week old has jabs booked for this morning and I was thinking much the same thing. Other mums I know seemed (to me) to use calpol for their own convenience after baby’s jabs, smiling about how blissful it is once they’re dosed up. This doesn’t sit right with me personally but I was wondering whether not giving it would be making my life unnecessarily difficult.

I was thinking I’d buy the medicine so that I have it ready if he should need it later on today, after the jabs. However, I was reading up last night and one of the vaccinations has the side effect of ‘increased temperature’ which I know can be a big problem for little ones. I believe, also, that once temperature is raised it can be difficult to bring it down (hence the suggestion to preemptively give calpol).

For that reason I do plan to give the full recommended does.

I’m interested in others thoughts on this too, though, so please do share what worked/ has not worked for you.

Thanks

Original poster
Michlj · 03/12/2021 09:22

Thank you for the responses. Again a mixed bag of ideas. Yes, the doc did say use it if you fear pain or very unsettled as it cant do any harm. He has only been unsettled since his immunisations on Monday (now Friday) on an evening....Some say its the start of colic. We have him on aptimal comfort milk which has helped a great deal but obvs cant work miracles xx

OP posts:
MindyStClaire · 03/12/2021 09:29

If my DC are upset and I can't figure out why, and I've gone through all of the other things, then I give Calpol in case they have a headache or sore throat, or need a bit more help with teething pain. It's just paracetemol, so if I think they might be in pain I'm not shy about giving it.

Having said that, at 9 weeks I'd be a bit more reluctant.

Obviously, give as instructed for the jabs - we were told to give 3 doses after the 8 week ones as the Men B is so tough on them, and to continue if that wasn't enough. I think DC1 needed an extra dose or two and DC2 was fine with the 3.

MindyStClaire · 03/12/2021 09:31

If he's just been unsettled since his immunisations, the rotavirus might be upsetting his tummy. I think it can make them extra windy etc for a couple of weeks so maybe look into remedies for that (massage etc) first.

WheelieBinPrincess · 03/12/2021 10:06

You really do need to give calpol directly before or after the immunisation. You don’t know if the baby is going to develop a temperature and it’s a preventative measure against it, a fever in a tiny baby is no joke. If they wouldn’t have developed a temp anyway they’re no worse off.

soughsigh · 03/12/2021 10:18

They say to give 3 doses of calpol after the 8 week jabs to ward off a fever, but it shouldn't be given for any other reason until baby is 3 months old.

bubblesr · 03/12/2021 10:34

Paediatric practice nurse here…give baby jabs every day.
Advice is to give paracetamol (calpol is just a brand name) immediately after meningitis b vaccine (which is given at 8 and 16 weeks) then another dose after 4-6 hours and a 3rd after 4-6 hours as they are more likely to have an increased temp with the MenB vaccine.

So give regardless of current temp.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717281/PHE_paracetamol-menB-A4-2018_01.pdf

MindyStClaire · 03/12/2021 10:57

I don't think OP is asking about Calpol after the vaccinations, they were days ago. She's asking if it's ok to give if the baby is inconsolable overnight.

SummerHouse · 03/12/2021 11:03

I do the "me test" - would I take paracetamol for a jab, no. Would I take it for a bump, no. Would I take it for feeling generally grizzly, no. It's a godsend but I think its used sometimes unnecessarily sometimes.

WheelieBinPrincess · 03/12/2021 11:47

@SummerHouse yeah but you can’t ask a baby any of those things Confused

A bump to you might be easily shrugged off because you know what’s what. Maybe not so much to a baby. Besides his jabs mine has had calpol once and I’m pretty convinced he was really uncomfortable with growing pains. I wouldn’t take paracetamol necessarily for general aches, but I am not ten weeks old and I can deal.

modgepodge · 03/12/2021 17:43

@SummerHouse

I do the "me test" - would I take paracetamol for a jab, no. Would I take it for a bump, no. Would I take it for feeling generally grizzly, no. It's a godsend but I think its used sometimes unnecessarily sometimes.
But you’re not a baby. It is recommended that you give calpol after certain jabs which commonly cause a temperature spike, as a high temperature can be dangerous in a baby.

Also personally I, as an adult, don’t get ‘grizzly’. I do sometimes feel crap though - headache, sore throat, whatever, and then I take calpol. Sometimes babies might be grizzly because they feel that way but can’t tell you. I won’t let my baby suffer with teething pain, headache or whatever when I wouldn’t myself.

santasmuma · 03/12/2021 17:51

A lot of nurses don't let parents leave without giving the baby a dose of Calpol straight away.

Where is this happening? Nurses have no legal right to either stop you leaving (presumably your GP surgery) or to enforce medication upon your baby.

Original poster
Michlj · 03/12/2021 18:08

Hi all thank u for replying. I gave my baby the appropriate calpol dose after the vaccinations. My query was more would you give it if you had tried everything and they were looking peaky.....My gut says yes tbh as calpol does help many things. My doc said give it as a last resort if you think he may be in pain. She said 'It cant so him any harm' xx

OP posts:
MindyStClaire · 03/12/2021 19:06

I take the view that if the Calpol helps then it was clearly needed - as @modgepodge says, babies are usually grizzly for a reason and that can include discomfort or illness. If it doesn't help them a dose a paracetamol isn't the end of the world.

I don't think I was giving it at nine weeks though, I thought you were supposed to speak to a doctor before 12 weeks for some reason. But you have! So if a doctor has told you it's ok then trust your own instincts. Obviously if you find yourself giving it every night for an extended time have another chat with the doctor in case there's something going on.

Original poster
Michlj · 03/12/2021 19:22

Thanks MindyStClaire

OP posts:
snackess · 03/12/2021 19:36

When DS had his vaccinations we were instructed to bring calpol to the appointment and nurse asked us to administer before we left for home. She then said to give further doses every 4-6 hours for atleast 24 hours (as he'd be in pain) temp or not and to continue if his temp did. It took 36 hours for his temp to go & he was miserable 2/3 days.

Original poster
Michlj · 03/12/2021 20:10

Snackess - Awful isnt it. Are they just as bad after the 12 week jabs? xx

OP posts:
lliitttlepiinkhouse · 03/12/2021 20:17

I don't know why people get so wound up about using calpol, it's just pain relief and absolutely fine when used sensibly.
Withholding it because you don't know if your baby is in pain is silly, if they are that upset then it's worth trying it to see if it takes away whatever is bothering them.

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