Cruel for not using tylenol and orajel

[kbridi]

DS is teething..and is in a lot of pain. He's been fussing and crying for a few days now, won't sleep, has a mild fever, etc.. all of the teething symptoms.

I nurse him, comfort him and try just about everything I can. (Wet washcloth, etc.) But, I don't want to use tylenol or orajel. I just can't see how it's a good idea to put some topical gel on raw red gums that are sensative/vulnerable to infection. And, I just believe the point of a mild fever is to fight infection...that's why the body creates one, right?

Am I nuts? Am I cruel? DH says I'm cruel for not giving ds these things that would make him feel better.

[westernmamomma]

I tried using orajel on my dd when she was teething and it totally freaked her out. I was never able to get it just on her gums and would end up with it on her tongue or lips and she would spend the next 10-15 min batting at her mouth because I think it bothered her. That said, I did give her tylenol occasionally, though not until all other methods had been exhausetd. Have you tried a cold wet washcloth? My ped reccommended that. Just wet a clean waschcloth, put it in the fridge for a few minutes, and then give it to the baby to chew on. (Under supervision of course). That worked for us, gave her an outlet for the endless chewing, and the cold soothed her gums.

[turtlemama77]

I don't do the oragel, either. It kind of freaked me out how it numbed my WHOLE mouth (I tried it before dd). Too weird for me. We use Hyland's Teething Tablets, and they seem to sooth dd's mouth.

As far as the tylonel, I was told by my ped to treat the baby, not the fever. Just because dd has a fever doesn't mean I automatically give her tylonel. There have been times when dd has had a fever but carried on like nothing was wrong. Other times, the fever really seemed to bother her. I'm more likely to give tylonel at night when she and I both need rest, especially if it's been several nights of teething and we're both exhausted.

I don't know if that helps at all...it's just what works for us.

Take care, and I hope your little one feels better soon!

Sheri
Reese (12-22-04)

[JBaxter]

I usually reserved the tyonel or motrin ( which worked much better for us) for just before naps and bedtime. I found esp with ds3 if he was more rested he managed it better. We also did the wet/frozen wash cloths and he didnt like the numb feeling of orajel ( little guy just kept his tongue sticking out).

[roamingfamily]

We use Hyland's teething tablets. They worked better when my daughter was cutting six teeth at once, including molars, than Tylenol worked when she was cutting two at a time in the front. I wouldn't call it "cruel" to not give anything, but it's not something that I would do.

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

I don't use teething gel either. I have read that is some rare occasions the gel has slipped to the back of the mouth and numbed the babies gag reflex casing her to choke on her own saliva. It's been linked to a few cases of sids. Not worth it in my mind. I've had some success with clove oil. I dilute the oil in olive oil until it just numbs my lip not burns it. About one drop of clove oil in one tbsp of olive oil. It does help the pain but dosn't numb compleatly.

[Yo Becca]

I probably wouldn't use orajel b/c it feels weird to me, but I would definitely use tylenol before night and naps and Hylands teething tablets otherwise. I do think that if you have the power to reduce or prevent pain for your infant, who can't do this him/herself, and you don't do it, it's for selfish reasons - most moms I've seen making these posts (NOT saying htis about you, just what I've observed) want to be able to say that they wouldn't give their baby xyz (a pacifier, tylenol, whatever it is they have a philisophical problem with) - but if your baby needs it, and you don't give it so you can be in the Cool Kids Club who refuse to do anything that isn't "all natural" or "AP" or whatever, that's ridiculous and selfish. NOT trying to flame you = just being honest in response to your question. I get so mad when I read posts like "my baby is in pain but I don't want to give pain medication" or "my baby wants to suck but I hate pacifiers" -- It's not about what YOU want, it's about what the baby NEEDS. And yes, Tylenol is not "all natural" but it is very safe and harmless. SInce when did a logical, sane use of science become our enemy?

Certainly, try the natural rememdies. But don't deny your baby comfort just so you can wear the "no Tylenol" badge.

[mimi10]

Option

I didn't read all the threads, and maybe someone suggested this already, but do homeopathic teething tabs or gel. Totally safe.

[Our2Girlz]

Originally Posted by Yo Becca

I probably wouldn't use orajel b/c it feels weird to me, but I would definitely use tylenol before night and naps and Hylands teething tablets otherwise. I do think that if you have the power to reduce or prevent pain for your infant, who can't do this him/herself, and you don't do it, it's for selfish reasons - most moms I've seen making these posts (NOT saying htis about you, just what I've observed) want to be able to say that they wouldn't give their baby xyz (a pacifier, tylenol, whatever it is they have a philisophical problem with) - but if your baby needs it, and you don't give it so you can be in the Cool Kids Club who refuse to do anything that isn't "all natural" or "AP" or whatever, that's ridiculous and selfish. NOT trying to flame you = just being honest in response to your question. I get so mad when I read posts like "my baby is in pain but I don't want to give pain medication" or "my baby wants to suck but I hate pacifiers" -- It's not about what YOU want, it's about what the baby NEEDS. And yes, Tylenol is not "all natural" but it is very safe and harmless. SInce when did a logical, sane use of science become our enemy?

Certainly, try the natural rememdies. But don't deny your baby comfort just so you can wear the "no Tylenol" badge.

: Well said.

On another note when my 19 month old started cutting teeth I used orajel and she would scream for hours after using it. I live a month live that and at her 6 month well baby visit I mentioned it to the dr and he said stop giving her the orajel shes have a reaction to it. I immediately stopped giving it to her and I could deal with her better with out the orajel then with it. I am one that HATES giving medicine to their children but when it comes down to them ebing in pain I bring out the tylenol.

[tootpapa]

Tylenol Okay

I agree with Yo Becca. I don't think it is necessarily cruel to not give the medication but acetemenophin (tylenol) is definitely safe. It does not have the adverse affect that ibuprofen does on the liver (in very large doses). So far we have used it exactly once. dd has been waking every 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours with teething pain. My wife was getting so strung out and so was I. Finally we decided to try it and dd slept through the whole night, only waking to nurse for hunger (exactly once). So everyone got lots more rest and that can only be good for the body and one's health. We have also used a homeopathic medicine and it worked well, too, though not quite as long. I don't think you should rely on the medicine, or use it just to get rest (unless you are about to snap, which happens sometimes, too - one friend told us how she freaked out and yelled at her daughter - better tylenol than that, in my opinion), but if the pain is bad and you have tried all other options then don't feel bad about using it. Many things we do all the time are not "natural", such as riding in a car, and are far more dangerous than tylenol.

[nannymom]

Originally Posted by Our2Girlz

: Well said.

On another note when my 19 month old started cutting teeth I used orajel and she would scream for hours after using it. I live a month live that and at her 6 month well baby visit I mentioned it to the dr and he said stop giving her the orajel shes have a reaction to it. I immediately stopped giving it to her and I could deal with her better with out the orajel then with it. I am one that HATES giving medicine to their children but when it comes down to them ebing in pain I bring out the tylenol.

ITA except I use motrin. I ask myself if it were me would I take something for the pain and if i had a tooth ache that was preventing me from going about my buissness i would take something.

[wednesday]

Originally Posted by nannymom

I ask myself if it were me would I take something for the pain and if i had a tooth ache that was preventing me from going about my buissness i would take something.

I don't try to bring down fevers but if my son is in obvious pain I give him Tylenol. It works very well. I would have to understand your reasons for not using Tylenol to relieve pain before I could comment as to whether it is cruel or selfish or whatever.

[ladybugchild77]

I posted before about "too much" Tylenol but I do give it to dd when she is teething and in pain. I try teething tablets first (I don't do Oragel either because dd HATES it!) becasue they really do work but if she is in pain Tylenol it is! I was just worried about TOO muCH since it seemed I was giving it to her often...But she is cutting 4 teeth right now and if I were cutting four teeth I would want Tylenol!

[Sherra]

Kim,

No you aren't cruel. I don't think many people stop to think about motrin and tylenol. I wish I had the link about babies and motrin but they are now trying to get people NOT to use motrin.

Since I had gastric bypass done, on my list of NO drugs to take is motrin/ibuprofen. The reason? It causes ulcers in little stomaches (I guess less surface area to absorb the damage it can cause) even in SMALL doses. I was told it isn't necessarily what is IN the drug, it is what the drug causes the body to do to the stomach. I wish I had the details. A gastric bypass nurse explained it to me one time but I have long since forgotten. She told me several gastric bypass patients refused to listen and ended up burning a hole in their new pouch and needed surgery to correct it. So if I compare my new stomach to my baby's, they both pretty small. If gastric bypass people can't take it, I could not give it to my baby even at the recommended dosage for babies. So that is why I avoid motrin.


Whenever I did use tylenol, I didn't find it worked real well and after finding this board, I tossed the tylenol. I did use hyland's teething tablets and that seems to work. I also use oriental medicine I was given called Comfort Shen by her pediatrician that has an OM license. Seems to work as well. Both the hyland's tablets and the comfort shen work better than tylenol ever did.

I also got the baby safe feeder that has a screw on lid as opposed to the flip top. I crush some ice and put it in there and she seems to like that.


Sherra

[ERSsmom]

Originally Posted by tootpapa

I agree with Yo Becca. I don't think it is necessarily cruel to not give the medication but acetemenophin (tylenol) is definitely safe. It does not have the adverse affect that ibuprofen does on the liver (in very large doses).

Hmm...Perhaps I am reading this wrong, but tylenol does have adverse effects on the liver in large doses. Sure, I believe that tylenol is relatively safe when used as recommended. However, tylenol does and can cause liver damage.

[kbridi]

Thanks for all of your posts.

Here's the thing, dh insists that orajel works for ds. I don't think it does, when he stops crying it's b/c I distract him. I'm afraid that it will numb his throat and he will choke. I won't let him use it before bedtime for sure.

As far as tylenol, it doesn't seem to work either. We've used it on occasion and I don't seem to notice a difference. So, if it doesn't seem to be working, why put extra medication in ds? Also, I don't think a little fever is a bad thing..I think it's the body's way of fighting off infections.

I've tried Hylands, doesn't seem to work either.

If I had terrible tooth pain, I know I'd take tylenol. I take it for a headach. I guess my issue with not using it is that it doesnt' seem to really work, and I don't like putting that stuff in ds. I know it's safe -- atleast tylenol is when used according to the label, but I just feel 'off' using it on such a little body.

DH says he thinks it work, so I don't know. I think distraction is much more effective.

That's why I posted this. I need a reality check.

I'll try the tylenol and see if it requires a few doses...and then if it still doesn't seem to work, I'll try the clove oil. (I don't have any on hand or I'd try that first.)

Thanks!!

[FrumDoula]

Originally Posted by Yo Becca

Certainly, try the natural rememdies. But don't deny your baby comfort just so you can wear the "no Tylenol" badge.

Amen, sister.

Look, some of us choose to go through childbirth without pain meds, or we forego pain meds for a headache. (Or, if you're like me, you have a natural homebirth but take meds at the first sign of a headache/migraine.) These are choices we make for ourselves based on our own pain tolerance.

And while I am adamantly against shoving antibiotics down the throat of every kid, or medicating a mild fever, teething pain is another thing. Use what works, and provide the kiddo some relief. Being in constant pain is very energy sapping. Good luck to you.

[Rivka5]

Dr. Sears says that treating with a fever reducer doesn't interfere with actually fighting the bacteria or virus that's causing the fever - it just makes the child more comfortable. I wouldn't treat a fever that didn't seem to be causing distress, but I *would* give Tylenol for something that was making my daughter miserable.

My parents (retired pediatrician and pediatric nurse) recommended that I not use Orajel because there's an increased risk of choking - it numbs the whole mouth and can interfere with swallowing. Because my baby has reflux, I'm especially paranoid about choking.

My baby just went through a bad, bad teething week. I started out not intending to give her any medication, and just working with cold teething rings, frozen washcloth, extra cuddles, etc., but eventually I decided that she really needed some pain relief. She was a different baby once she had some Tylenol. I tried to use it sparingly, but I also did feel that it was important to ease her suffering.

[pinky]

Originally Posted by tootpapa

t does not have the adverse affect that ibuprofen does on the liver (in very large doses).

I haven't read all the posts, but wanted to correct this information. Tylenol CAN have adverse effects on the liver, but only in very large doses. (This came up when people used the wrong amount of infant tylenol drops when they were new). If you are careful about dosing, this shouldn't be an issue.

Motrin has no adverse effects on the liver--it's cleared through the kidneys.

[johub]

I dont like orajel. But mostly because it simply doesnt work. It lasts for maybe 15 minutes. So the only real use is to tide the baby over till the tylenol takes effect. But really it has never been part of our teething reportioire.
But a baby in pain to ME is far more important than any reservations I have about the use of Tylenol or motrin. Yes, I would prefer my child not receive medications if he doesnt need them. But I wouldnt watch him suffer in pain if I could stop it.
I also like homeopathics and had more success with straight chamomilla from borion than with the Hylands. And I use it first. But I will use tylenol for pain (or motrin if tylenol doesnt work) in a heartbeat.
I have in the past felt guilty for not giving in and giving motrin sooner.
"doh! She is crying because she is in PAIN! If I had realised this 20 minutes ago her pain would be over by now."
Joline
eta: if tylenol doesnt work I would go with Motrin. It is better for teethign pain because it is an Nsaid and it reduces inflammation in addition to treating the pain. I feel that tylenol is safer than motrin though so I always try it first.