Calpol every day

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Name changed for this.

I am worried about the DC of a family member and unsure how to deal with it. The DC is 18 months old and a lovely little child. I regularly see them at least a few times a month. On each occasion, after the child has finished his dinner, the parents casually ask each other if DC needs his calpol "for his teething". This happens each and every time I have seen them and has been going on for months. Once I even saw the calpol being added to the child's milk bottle. At least 3-4 months ago they mentioned that they were giving calpol every day and discussed it with a doctor but that they were trying to cut down. That doesn't seem to have happened. It seems like it's a daily occurrence.

I try not to dole out the judgemental parenting advice (I have 2 DCs) and know the early days are tough. I've made a few comments to remind them that calpol should not be given so regularly over a prolonged period of time. The reaction is usually a little defensive. I'm worried and unsure how to broach it, if at all.

Any tips welcome.

You stick your beak out tbh

I disagree, I think a gentle reminder is necessary. We all have a duty of care to babies and it's so dangerous to continue to give analgesic unnecessarily. I wonder if they could try the Ashton and Parsons powder. Or they should visit the doctor again, as something could be wrong. Or they may need to visit the dentist to check.

Babies very much become dependent on Calpol and it can seem the easiest way to settle them and then you get into a continuous routine and it can be hard to break. They can go and speak to a pharmacist in the first instance, if they prefer. Just as long as they don't then swap Calpol for daily ibuprofen which can be even worse.

Do they mean literally 'every day'?

There were definitely weeks where we felt like we were giving calpol every day... we weren't though.

Show them this https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/warning-dangers-hildren-too-much-calpol-paediatrician-parents-a6753446.html

'There is evidence that the excess usage of paracetamol is associated with increased rates of asthma, increased rates of liver damage, but less widely known, kidney and heart damage'

I'd also be worried that if they give it every day, it might be less effective when it really is needed.

They could switch the paracetamol for tixylix which has no active ingredients, it's just sweet slop used for sore throats - good placebo for kids!