Calpol every night - how much is too much?

[Probablytired]

So I’ve checked with three different pharmacists about this and each of them have said it’s completely fine, calpol is such a low dose of paracetamol and to use if for as long as baby needs it when teething, however long that may be.

i still feel uneasy about it though. DD has been getting all four of her top teeth in quick succession, just as one comes through and she might get a break, the next one starts coming through. This has resulted in pretty much three straight weeks of giving one dose of calpol every night. We do the calpol after everything else fails - feeding, cuddling, nappy change, all of the gels and powders, she will only settle after calpol. If not she wakes up every 20 minutes (I wish I was exaggerating) scream crying. With the calpol she’ll do three hour blocks which isn’t great either but it’s clearly doing something.

im worried sick about using it for this long and whether it will have any kind of long term impact. I don’t want to give it to her every night but at the same time when she’s clearly in pain and nothing else is working what are we to do? I am so exhausted and unsure about what is best for her at this point. Antibes input would be really helpful thank you

If your not sure always seek medical advise from the GP

Have you tried anbesol?
Home made water lolly's and or crushed up ice?

Ice or frozen fruit in a teether chew?

I found nurofen to work marginally better for our son at this stage but was hesitant to give him ibuprofen too regularly, so nurofen every third night, calpol for two nights in between. Did this for most nights in his first year. But he did go through a few phases of not needing anything for a while.

I can only offer anecdotal experience but we had a similar period over about a month where dd had calpol and/or nurofen almost every night because of a run of teething and illness. I remember being worried about it at the time but several years on it now seems like nothing, she has rarely had it since.

If a child is allowed to have four calpol doses a day and you are only giving one a day. In four days you are giving the same as one days worth - in a week it’s less than two days worth so if Chemist has said ok than believe them.

Anecdotal experience here too as I'm not a doctor - you should absolutely check with them as they know the context of your dds health and may have other questions -

I spoke to our GP for the same thing - teething and giving calpol continuously for around 2 weeks overall. Box says not to do more than (I think) 4 consecutive days. Dr said so long as we knew it was for her teeth and not to deal with other ongoing symptoms like a fever then it was fine and the length of time we were giving it was only a problem if it prevented seeking medical advice for a potentially bad condition such as an ongoing virus that needs antibiotics because you just keep blindly giving calpol and hoping it helps!

Call the GP and they'll best advise

We’re in the same position as LO is only just 3 months but has started teething. She’s too young for anbesol etc and we’ve tried a gel she can have but it doesn’t seem to do anything. Even the teething toys seem too big for her and she doesn’t chew them.

We’ve been giving calpol ever night for a week but alternating between paracetamol and ibuprofen. I’m going to ask the dr today as feel worried.

A pharmacist is actually better to advise on medication than the GP. So, I think you’ve done all you can. Please be reassured 😊

If three pharmacists have said it's ok but you don't trust them and need a fourth opinion, why don't you ask a doctor instead of Mumsnet?

same here!

My kid really suffered with teeth. You'd look at the syringes popping out of the kitchen drawer and think I was a terrible parent. I wasn't, it's just that some children need more.pain relief than others to function. I'd rather give my child pain relief than have them suffer on my principles. We did ibuprofen as a first step and paracetamol three hours later if needed.

How early have people had or heard of first molars coming through? Little man is 10.5 months (9.5 corrected) we have 4 top teeth amd 2 bottom already and pretty sure I can see a first molar coming through but it feels early!

I know this is an old post but we're having the same worries. Little one is 5.5 months and has turned really grizzly and constantly pushing down on her gums and sucking everything. Not to mention rather drooly. No other symptoms. Night before last we gave her calpol at bedtime then when she woke 6 hours later another dose and she then slept till about 6 so about 11 hours with 1 wake up.
Last night we gave one dose at bedtime and that was it. After first wake up 6 hours later she then woke another 5 times. We don't give it during the day. This tells me that she needs it for whatever reason but it concerns me using so often. Any update on those who did a couple of years ago would be ace.

I've previously had conflicting above from pharmacist, GP and health visitors on other stuff so don't exactly trust any of them.

@BLena89 I'm not sure they follow a schedule. I'm pretty sure I've heard some babies by a year having all their teeth so if they're coming through then they are.