Calpol!

[Uptown2022]

Since my baby started nursery in September, she’s been ill constantly. She’s also had a few nights she seems to be teething really badly.

Basically, I’m worried we’re giving her Calpol too often. Never gone over the recommended dosage in 24hrs, of course. It’s usually just one dose at bedtime but it’s been a lot of bedtimes recently!

Anyone else worry about this?

Nope. It's standard..we have a 5 yr old and 3yr old and basically have Calpol on repeat order 🤣

To be honest I wouldn't want to be giving it regularly unless they had a temperature or really in pain. Can you try other ways to soothe the teething?

We also went through a period like that and alternated Calpol and Nurofen. For bad teething nothing else worked for us and we also had loads of illnesses with fever over the first winter at nursery.

If you have a headache or toothache would you take paracetamol? You make the decision based on your child but you would like take pain killers and so should they. There is a point where they ask for calpol because of the taste but that’s when you ask what the problem is and decide whether it’s a real problem or not.

Yes we too alternated Calpol and nurofen.

Also anbesol liquid was a game changer for teething

There’s no harm at all if you don’t go over the recommended dose. When our son first started nursery and he was ill all the time it was non stop calpol and nurofen, but it settles down.

if he’s in pain, I’d never deny him calpol or nurofen.

nurofen is probably the more effective one of the two j would say x

What are you giving it to for in the case of illness? It won't help make her better, but will bring down a fever or help with pain. Fever is the body's way of fighting infection, so it doesn't automatically need to be brought down. Are you sure she is in pain from teething, or is it more that she is generally unsettled in the evening? Does the calpol help her?

Lots of questions I know! Just trying to get you to a point where you can decide whether you are giving too much or not. It is generally safe, effective medicine. It is only going to help in certain circumstances.

My daughter has reflux and it causes her pain. When she was 3 it wasn't very well controlled she was complaining of pain daily. Some times we gave her Calpol and it seemed to help. We mentioned it to her paediatrician who said to give her Calpol whenever she complained. I replied with that would be daily and potentially multiple times a day and he said that's fine but still felt wrong. There were definitely times when she was saying her tummy hurt because of not wanting to do something. The paediatrician didn't seem concerned that some of the time it wouldn't have been pain.

We generally gave ibuprofen for teething as it took down the inflammation better. For temperatures we only give medication if she is unwell with the temperature or if it's over 38 and disrupting sleep (only before sleep) or over 39 during the day as needed when over 40 by the clock. We favour ibuprofen when giving painrelief before bed as it's 3 times a day rather than 4. The difference between it working for 6-8h rather than 4-6h usually means she sleeps better. If she give Calpol she usually wakes and needs a second dose in the night

For us things came in clusters she would have weeks of colds and teething and would be on nightly pain killers then she would have months with none. We have the same with antihistamines too. Ride out the bad patch.

Thanks all. Feeling a bit better about it. Before nursery - about 8 weeks ago - she hardly had calpol or nurofen. She’s just been full of bugs, the odd temperature, and teething for weeks. I obviously don’t give her anything if I think she’s feeling well.

Yes I seem to remember thinking my firstborn was getting away with stuff..and then he started nursery and it's basically never stopped.

We used to reckon Calpol and Nurofen were key components of their calorific intake at this age. Especially when they're getting their molars.