Am I over medicating my baby?

[PenelopePollet]

My little one (8 months) has recently had very bad luck after developing tonsillitis, an ear infection and gastroenteritis. After recurrent trips to both the gp’s and the hospital over a two week period (before anyone could seem to decide what the issue was, on antibiotics, told to stop giving them, prescribed three different types. Each doctor seemed to think something different was going on…) we have had to rely on Calpol and nurofen to manage her fevers and pain relief.

Now finally the illnesses seem to be on the mend and managed, 2 teeth have decided to erupt. And the fevers are continuing. We are coming up to nearly 3 weeks now of having to rely on Calpol and nurofen and I’m wondering if this has gone on too long. I’m not sure what else I can do.

Im worried we are inadvertently causing her other issues in the long term ☹️
Am I overthinking this? Do I just continue until the teeth are no longer causing issues?

Thank you for any advice given.

How severe are the symptoms if meds are not given? Have you tried other things for pain relief, such as teethers? How many doses are you giving daily?

It sounds like she has been pretty poorly. I don't think you should withold pain medication if she's in pain. As long as you stick to the 24hour limits you should be fine. But if those fevers aren't going, I'd get her seen again.

Its never easy when little ones are ill or in pain. And no doctor minds seeing a small baby.

Hope she's on the mend soon.

Teethers and powders offer some relief and she is definitely back to her usual smiley self (most of the time), it’s the fevers that are the issue. I don’t know if it’s a combination or the illnesses clinging on but today is her last day of antibiotics.

I’m of the thinking that it is the last resort but after being advised by the paediatrician at the hospital to not let the fevers take hold and to alternate regularly between the two, my partner is quick to jump to medication as soon as it starts to creep up. it’s causing a bit of contention because I’m trying to hold off on it when able as I think it’s gone on too long now, the antibiotics should of set in by now, and he thinks I am withholding relief from her.

Its been a really worrying few weeks and I understand his way of thinking (particularly because the paediatrician was encouraging us to be liberal with it) but we would never usually offer it this often during previous teething spells and manage it in other ways. We have never exceeded the recommended amounts in a 24 hour period.

It’s making be second guess myself, am I just being a cow trying to hold back with it? If she hadn’t had the illnesses I wouldn’t be so concerned but surely nearly 3 weeks of giving her them is getting a bit much now?

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

Caveat all this - I'm not a health professional and it would probably be better to ask one!

I've looked this up before/worried about it as my first DS was a baby who seemed to constantly have a temperature, including every single time he was teething at all. If you read the article, what the danger actually is really is giving a small amount too much paracetamol over time, which is also a danger in adults. I believe there is an increased risk of asthma if you give calpol all the time, but lots of things cause an increased risk of asthma...

We did try with DS to give fluids (breastfeed) and strip off clothes if it was a mild fever, but I also once ended up with him in A and E with a raging temperature being told off for not seeking help sooner. Go with your gut - they do need meds if poorly but id probably try to give relief other ways if it's teething related and maybe give one dose before bedtime perhaps if they are struggling.

I have another DS now who is also 8 months and he's had calpol about 3 times so all of them are different - some babies just seem to run a temperature more and struggle more with teething. DS1 is now 3 and very rarely ill or has a temperature.

Yesterday she had 2 doses of Calpol and 2 of nurofen. Previous to this while she was particularly ill she was having max doses over a 24hr period as advised.

She woke me up at half three this morning for a feed, but after trying with just her throat spray and tooth powder (she wanted the milk but was clearly in some discomfort as kept pulling away from the bottle and also her dummy) I took her temperature and it was creeping up and gave in and gave her some nurofen. She then took her milk and has happily gone back to sleep.

Have I created some little addict haha? Is that a thing? (Only half joking…)

We definitely have weeks where it seems like all I'm doing is giving my daughter medications. She's on 3 prescription medications a day and then she can go through periods of daily antihistamines and Calpol. It's not necessarily dangerous as such but it is definitely worth being mindful that your trigger to give meds doesn't slide to earlier and earlier. It you want someone to sanity check what you are doing I would pop along to your local pharmacist and have a chat with them to get specific advice for your situation

I am quite strict with medication for fevers. Under 38 she only gets it if she is visibly unwell. 38-39 she only gets it to help with sleep or is visibly unwell. 39-39.5 she gets it whenever her temperature spikes or is visibly unwell and over 39.5 she gets it every 4-6h.

For teething we saved the pain relief for before sleep or if she is struggling with food. We had the bonjela that said don't use for teething and we used that maybe one day per tooth for the big teeth as they cut through the gums. Watermelon was a favourite with my daughter for soothing gums. Due to my daughters allergies we stayed clear of a lot of the teething remedies.

Try anbesol for the teething (liquid or gel, behind the counter) – it's really good for stopping the teething pain really quickly, and then once she's not in pain from that you can see if she's uncomfortable with the fever, or just running a little bit hot but okay in herself.

DD2 has also had periods where I've felt like all I'm doing is giving her medicine (multiple prescription meds plus the daily recommended vitamins plus cutting molars, poor poppet), and I'd agree with @Superscientist that sometimes you have a bad period, but just try to make sure your trigger for giving meds doesn't slip earlier and earlier. I also wouldn't medicate a low to moderate fever unless the child is clearly uncomfortable.

Thank you all for your advice. I’m going to get some anbesol and try and rein my partner in with the meds (probably a little guilty myself).

I just wish the paediatrician hadn’t mentioned being so liberal with them. I think he is struggling to see the distinction between while she was ill to the teething. If they hadn’t happened concurrently it wouldn’t even be a problem. I understand he doesn’t want her to have any further discomfort but it’s making me feel like I’m being mean trying other options first.

I’ve been worrying about the same thing. Little one started nursery in January and we’ve had croup, 4 new teeth, plus constant cold/virus’s.. I feel like he’s been on calpol and nurofen none stop for a month.

I think pediatricians are more given meds

My daughter goes through phases of daily stomach pains. We are working on the causes but raised that is affected her quality of life and he said just give Calpol. It can be every day in a bad run. We often have to pair it with antihistamines as allergies are one of the possible causes.

That said it never hurts to stop and reassess. Maybe for the next 2 days you pause and think whether this is the best thing to be doing and whether there is anything else that would have a similar result. Its horrible seeing them in pain. My daughter is often in pain so I feel the need to soothe her more and definitely softer around cuddles at 2 am than I might be otherwise.

Teething is really tricky because for some babies, it is really painful (others seemingly sail through it) and it can go on and on. So a level of discomfort that yes, with a viral illness or an injury, you'd absolutely give calpol, you have to think harder with teething, because of how it adds up. Hopefully the anbesol will do the trick for both DD and DH – it really does work quickly, so hopefully it will feel kind to him, rather than like you're being mean.