What's the longest you've consecutively given Tylenol/Motrin?

jylly

I called the pedi about this today, but wanted to see what everyone else has done.  A few weeks ago Colton started waking up a ton at night, very whiny/crying, and it kept escalating.  I was getting to the end of my rope, and sometimes it did seem like he was in pain once he woke up sometimes, and several people suggested trying Tylenol at night.  Well, I did this a few times off and on, and each time he would sleep SO much better...often not waking up till the time it wore off (4-6 hours).

I didn't want to medicate him for nothing, but I didn't see any teeth, no fever, etc. so I'd do Tylenol for a night or two then take a night or two off to watch for differences, each time I'd stop he'd wake up much more again

FINALLY, two days ago I saw the start of a top tooth getting ready to break through...per the advice of friends I tried Motrin instead of Tylenol the last two nights and he slept soundly ALL NIGHT LONG!!!

I called the pedi and told him how I'd probably given DS 1 dose of tylenol/motrin each night like 75% of the last 2 weeks. Now that I know it's for sure teething, and it helps SO much, I don't want to stop, but that just seems like a long time...

Since it's only 1 dose every 24 hours he said go ahead and do it another week or two but not really beyond that...it worries me because Colton's bottom teeth took 2-3 weeks to come in, and I hope he's not in pain that long! They never bothered him at night like this, but at least he is fine during the day!

So, what do you think? How long have you gone, and do you think I should worry? Like I said, it makes a WORLD of difference, and it is never more than 1 dose in a 24 hour period.

Princessn678

That seems like a long time to medicate him. Especially since he has no fever. I know it can be rough when they don't sleep. But the only reason he is sleeping is because the medication makes him tired. Have you tried teething tablets. They are homeopathic. I would try those before I would continue to give Tylenol. But to answer your question I have only ever had to give DD tylenol for 24 hours after her 4mon shots.

Gen & Joel

when my son was sick in aug he was hospitalized and he got tylenol and motrin for 2 weeks straight along with antibiotics until the fever finnally broke and he was getting the tylenol every 4 hrs and motrin every 6-8hrs. i'm sure 1 dose a day won't hurt him but i woulden't continue to much longer you don't want him to become dependent on it... good luck. my son has no teeth yet by the way

Jennicap

I would check out the teething tablets, I got them recently for LO and he does so well with them. I only give him tylenol when he has a fever along with the teething.

jylly

Princessn678:

That seems like a long time to medicate him. Especially since he has no fever. I know it can be rough when they don't sleep. But the only reason he is sleeping is because the medication makes him tired. Have you tried teething tablets. They are homeopathic. I would try those before I would continue to give Tylenol. But to answer your question I have only ever had to give DD tylenol for 24 hours after her 4mon shots.

 I have to read the bottle again, is this true? I didn't know Tylenol/Motrin caused drowsiness, I just thought babies slept better because their pain is relieved.  I never have given it to him during the day so I am not sure??

kimandjared

Tylenol/Motrin doesn't make a child drowsy. It alleviates their pain so they are able to sleep. There is nothing in them that causes drowsiness. That being said, my pedi said no teething tabs and no orajel.She said only to give tylenol or motrin once they are 6 months. I asked last time I was in because I was tylenol to them nightly for 2 weeks!! I HATE to medicate him that much, but I knew he was in pain. They said it's fine to give nightly if that's all I'm giving him.

Right now he is sick with a cold and I have been giving him probably 2 doses a day of tylenol. I just started giving him motrin tonight, and am REALLY hoping it helps him feel better so he will sleep better!! If you know they are teething you can always rotate between tylenol and motrin. I always worry I am giving him too much, but I am following the pedi's directions so I am trusting them.

jylly

I have tried the teething tablets a bit, but they don't seem to make much difference. My pedi didn't say they were bad, but didn't say they were all that effective either. Seems to be the case for us so far...I wish something that simple worked! Even more, I wish his damn teeth would hurry the hell up and just pop through!! No idea why they all have to take their sweet as$ time...poor boy

ANJ410

I gave DS motrin at bedtime for several weeks at a time whenever he was cutting teeth. He didn't get his first tooth until he was 10 1/2 months old, and then after that he cut 5 and 6 teeth at a time for the next year and a half. The worst part was that the teeth would start bothering him weeks and weeks before they actually broke through. He was in so much pain. I just made sure to give him the Motrin to him on a full stomach.

DEElicious18

We give DS motrin at night. I was at the pedi today and she was really against teething tablets. She said it contains elements that make them feel drunk. She said to use Tylenol or motrin at night if needed but all things cold during the day.

emmyloustu

I am right there with you! Eliza cut 3 teeth (and working on a 4th - her 6th!!) in the past 3w, so I have been liberal with the Motrin at bedtime and will continue to be. It works way better than the Tylenol or the teething tablets, but I often give it in combination with the teething tabs. She rarely cries because of teeth, but she gets incredibly restless and sleepless and cannot settle. Like clockwork, within 20min -30min of getting it she settles right down. I usually start with the teething tabs and move onto motrin if she wakes again or it seems bad.

Neither tylenol or motrin make them sleepy - it relieves the pain so they can rest, nor can they become dependent on it. I have no problem giving it as often as necessary - if I am in pain, I take something - there is no reason for her to suffer. My pedi is fine with it and said a double dose on a bad night is fine.

ETA: I never medicate during the day - just use teethers, mesh feeder, etc...but she is so busy during the day that they don't seem to bother her too much. I think it is when she finally lays down/quiets down that she becomes aware of the pain/throbbing.