When do you whip out the teething medication?

[SoooBloodyTired]

I feel like the answer to this question should be obvious but I don’t really know it so I’m going to ask where nobody knows me and hope you don’t all think I’m an idiot..

At what point in your day do you use some sort of medication for teething? I mean what makes you decide yep the issue right now is teething and I’m going to try the gel/powder/pain relief or whatever?

My baby is 5.5 months old and pretty grumpy a lot of the time. He does show teething symptoms sort of intermittently all the time (and has done since he was 3 months old, no teeth yet) but also generally fusses at a lot of things, for example being sat/held a certain way or being put in a bouncy chair or on a play mat for any length of time. Throughout the day there will just be regular bouts of whinging, squirming and generally not seeming content with whatever he is doing.

I’ve bought some teething powder sachets based on some recommendations and I’m not really sure when to use them other than when it is very obvious the baby’s gums are hurting eg furious biting on a hand or a toy. I mean what if there are other times teething medication might help but where actual teething isn’t obviously the issue in that moment? Do other people use them for grumpiness that isn’t obviously related to teething because teething might be the root cause? I know calpol can be used for teething, but obviously I wouldn’t imagine it’s a good idea to use this unless you’re pretty certain baby is in pain? Even ‘softer’ stuff is surely not good to use a lot when not needed?

Reading this back I definitely feel stupid, but hey ho. Hope someone will take pity on me!

When grumpy.

The teething granules aren’t medication. They are just sugar which will help for a minute.

It sounds more like gastro pain than teeth to me? Has he had any problems with reflux/CMPA/constipation etc?

I didn't really bother with teething powder sachets with mine unless I'd already done Calpol and he was still grizzly, as they're basically just sugar. Teething signs would be red cheeks (especially if just one), waking frequently in the night crying, nasty nappies and obvs chewing on everything. Mine loved the monkey teether best, but also really liked a gel one you could freeze.

At first I used to hold off on Calpol because I didn't want him to have it 'too much', but eventually realised that actually, teething obviously really bloody hurts and therefore he needed Calpol to reduce the pain, the same as I would take pain relief if I had a headache. We all got a lot more sleep once I realised that. Teething usually goes in phases, so you might give Calpol every day for a week and think it's awful, but then don't need it again for a couple of months.

I never bothered with teething powders etc. My son is pretty good with teething and a lot of teeth just popped up with no signs of teething at all. If he's looking flushed when I'm putting him to bed or if he had a bad night the previous night then I'll give calpol in case of teething disturbing his sleep. I wouldn't be fretting over whether to give it or not.

Never had much luck with teething powders. I used to freeze toys or big carrots (obviously watch them and make sure they don't snap bits off but pretty tricky when frozen)
Also ibuprofen so much better for teething than calpol as it an anti inflammatory so helps reduce the gum swelling and discomfort.

Anbesol liquid is amazing.

Ooh yes, I forgot ibuprofen is better than Calpol! Definitely get some infant Nurofen, OP. It's much better for fevers too.

Taking preemptive paracetamol is not going to harm your baby.

When I notice excessive dribbling which is a sign of teething for mine - I alternate calpol and calpol ibuprofen every 4 hours, adhering to the dose and time periods.

Happy baby. Minimised pain.

I basically use anbesol as a test. Unhappy baby with some signs it might be teething – I try the anbesol, and if baby is happily playing away ten minutes later, I conclude it was teeth. (We also give ibuprofen at bedtime for teething, as it's longer acting, and would add it and/or paracetamol during the day if needed, but usually anbesol has been enough.)