Teething: how often do you give pain medication?

[Biscuits & Gravy]

DS's sleep has been pretty bad recently, and I realized a couple of days ago that he is getting 3, maybe even 5, teeth in all at once. He has one molar, 2 have broken through just a tiny bit, and the 4th is still under the surface but his gum is swollen and white. I think I can see the tips of 2 of his bottom front teeth as well.

Anyway, the other day when I realized he was getting them I gave him some Motrin before bed, and it was the first evening in weeks that he has slept from the time I put him down (around 7:30/7:45) to about 11. I don't want to medicate him all the time, but I don't want him to suffer either.

So what do you do? How often do you give pain medication? Hylands tablets are not an option for us since he is allergic to dairy. Are there other remedies for night time that I'm not aware of? That is really the only time he seems bothered.

[rozziemama]

mostly just lurking because I actually had the exact same question last night, when I considered giving my DS tylenol for the second night in a row, and chose not to b/c I was worried about giving him too much...
Did you ask the pediatrician?
I haven't yet but he's going in for a well visit tomorrow and I might ask.
There's part of me that thinks, if we can see the tooth cutting through, then we know it's teething - and that it HURTS, so why not do another round of motrin/tylenol? poor baby. I swear this teething thing is crazy. so slow and agonizing! Why can't they just get all their teeth already!?

[tessie]

I give it as often as she needs it. I figure it's only for a couple of days at a time and I try the lowest dose first. When it's really bad I alternate ibruprofen and paracetamol/tylenol every three hours. If she's just a bit chewy but not crying in pain I'll try cold teethers or topical teething gels/liquid first.

I'd prefer not to need to medicate but I had some wisdom teeth break through not so long back (and then had one removed) so the memory of teething pain is very fresh in my mind and there is no way I'm allowing her to suffer like that if I can help it.

ETA. Although I do worry that she likes the medicine a little too much - sometimes she signs 'more'.

[rozziemama]

YES I also forgot to add that I was concerned about giving DS tylenol two days in a row because that one night I gave it to him he very nearly had a tantrum because I wouldn't give him MORE.
It's basically the sweetest thing he's ever eaten. Yuck.

[laneysprout]

Have you tried baltic amber? I have never given DD any kind of pain medication, but her amber teething necklace and homeopathic chamomile (which you should be able to get without lactose) always worked for us.

[marispel]

With that many teeth I would have no problem giving Motrin and then alternating with Tylenol. Comfort is the key and it will only take a couple days.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by marispel

With that many teeth I would have no problem giving Motrin and then alternating with Tylenol. Comfort is the key and it will only take a couple days.

There are some weeks where we give Motrin 3 or 4 nights in a row. When baby girl is teething, it's rough for everyone.

Sometimes, she starts wailing and just keeps pointing into her mouth/at her teeth. I mean, that's clear to me that she's in pain, so I will alternate and give her Tylenol and then Motrin as needed.

Molars are totally the pits, but I think my DD suffered more w/her top teeth.

[Curlyfry7]

B&G, each time Tessa had molars come in (top 2 plus some other teeth one time, bottom 2 another time) she was MISERABLE-running a fever etc etc. I gave Mortin every 6-8 hours around the clock. And once had to alternate it with Tylenol, because she couldn't make it long anough. But her mood competely changed for the better the minute the meds started working- about 20-30 minutes after she got it. We could see it. The 1st round I felt bad about giving so much med, but the second time I knew how much she needed it and didn't feel badly about it. We couldn't use the Hyland's teething tabs either, and her amber necklace never helped her for the smaller teeth, much less her molars.

Caden never had this much trouble with his teeth....