How Often Can I Give Tylenol When Teething?

Updated on September 25, 2008
K.R. asks from Keansburg, NJ
35 answers

Max is teething, I'm pretty sure it's his two top front. He already has his two bottom front. The baby oragel doesn't seem to be working at all this time. How often can I give him tylenol? He sleeps well at night although it takes him forever to fall asleep. Sometimes I give him a dose so he can fall asleep faster. But how about during the day. Thanks in advance for you advice!
~K.

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much to all of you for your great responses. I should have put Max's age in, he's 8 months. I hate giving him medicine and really don't at all except when I have to so the other ideas were great. Max has had a few nights where he couldn't sleep for an hour or so, I've been rocking him and nursing him and giving him lots of love. I have found the Tylenol is good for a last resort, I'm scared to try the motrin because a lot of people in my family are allergic to ibubrofen... Anyway, thanks again, you are all great!

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M.L.

answers from New York on

K.,

I don't know how you feel about homeopathic treatments, but my DD is 10mo and has 8 teeth to date. With DS i used orajel and always wished it wasn't such a temporary pain-reliever. So since DD got her first tooth at 5mo, i've been using 'Camilia Teething Relief Single-Use Oral Doses' made by Boiron Homeopathic Medicine (I buy it off Amazon.com, very inexpensive). The medicine is clear, tastes like water and is divided into single-dosages so there's never fear of giving too much (I also toss a couple doeses in my diaper bag in case she needs it while we're out). DD actually gets excited when she sees me pulling one dos out of the box because she's come to associate it with immediate relief from her teething pain (I usually give her a dose right before we brush her teeth so that she sleeps soundly that night). There are plenty of online reviews about the product, just thought i'd share. Good luck!

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R.O.

answers from New York on

Use Hylands brand teething tablets. They can be found in the vitamin section at Walmart & other stores. I have 2 girls, now 3 & 5 that I gave these to when they were teething. The tablets dissolve easily in the mouth, so chewing is not really required.

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B.F.

answers from New York on

Dear Kim, Tylenol effects the kidneys. It is a chemical and like all drugs it sets of a negative reaction. All the organs of a child develop in the first 7 years. So do not mess around with them. Use oil of cloves. I have used them for my children or go to a health food store and ask for a teething remedy. Those are less harm full and work well. B.

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A.L.

answers from New York on

Double Check with your pediatrician but mine always had told me I can give Tylenol Infant Drops every 4 hours and Motrin Infant Drops every 6 hours. He also told me that you can overlap the two so there is always some type of pain relief in the system, such as Tylenol at 2 and Motrin at 3 so you can give Tylenol again at 6 and the Motrin again at 9 and then Tylenol again at 10. I am not sure what the max dose a day for each one is, so that is why I say double check with your pediatricain. Good Luck with the teething. Also anything cold that can go in his mouth and he can naw on should help too.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.K.

answers from New York on

i know that infant tylenol can only be given every 4 hours. when my children are/were teething and were uncomfortable i put a dose in their last bottle of the day. usually about an hour before bedtime. i would onlt give another dose if they woke up in the middle of the nite screaming pain or if they were extremely cranky during the day. sometime just massaging their faces along the jaw line helps also.

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C.E.

answers from New York on

Try Hylands teething tables during the day or even at night. They are all natural and you can give them to him a much as you want and THEY WORK!!!

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K.G.

answers from New York on

If you give your baby, Infant motrin you can go for up to 8 hours with out having to medicate. I like that better because that way maybe 2 times a day is the most you will have to do it. this way you are doing it early morning a than an evening time, the rest of the time if it is still bad giving a bath, chewing toys, bottle milk/juice can help with the pain or distract him form it.

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S.C.

answers from New York on

Hi K.,
I agree with the other moms - motrin works better for teething. But you didn't mention how old your son is; motrin can only be given to babies 6 mos and older. The pediatrician told us to remember that MOTRIN has 6 letters, so it can be given every 6 hours. I try to limit the motrin just for bedtime and use teething tablets during the day, because they are all natural.
I'm sure you already know this, but please make sure you give doses of motrin and tylenol based on your child's weight. There are far too many babies hospitalized because of overdose.
Our son has been teething nonstop for the past year, so I feel your pain - best of luck to you!

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K.K.

answers from New York on

Hi. When my daughter was teething really bad in the beginning I gave her .4 ml Tylenol every 4 hours. The Tylenol bottle says no more than 5 doses in a 24 hour period & that is what I stuck by. However, I did give our daughter Motrin for the really bad days and it helped her more than the Tylenol.

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M.I.

answers from New York on

K.,
Tylenol should only be given as a last resort for pain and as a first resort for fever. A new study found toxic effects of the active ingredient in tylenol when given to young babies.
Please try keeping your baby busy with play and/or giving him homeopathic teething tablets. Many moms swear by them.

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R.E.

answers from New York on

tylenol effects the liver or the kidneys. i would stay away from it as much as possible. how about looking into some home remedies instead.

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L.B.

answers from New York on

Tylenol really doesn't work for teething pain. Motrin /Ibuprofen works much better. For instant relief use oragel. A wet frezen washcloth to chew on works well during the day. Nighttime teeting pain is the pits. With all four of my kids I used Motrin. They were able to settle down quicker and sleep longer. Good luck Tylenol can be given ever 4 hours and Motrin is every 6-8 hours. Be sure to check with you doctor. Motrin should be given on a full tummy to prevent an upset tummy

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L.N.

answers from New York on

I used Motrin. it lasts longer about 6 hours between doses.

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M.L.

answers from New York on

Call your pediatrician! Tylenol is OK for infants, BUT there is no dosage listed on Children's Tylenol for children under the age of 2 (or 24 lbs.) The dosage is by pounds...so your doctor will be able to tell you how much to give him. I think you can give it to him every 4 hours. Good luck!

Some people have good luck mixing Tylenol and Hyland's Teething Tablets, a full dose of each, first Tylenol, then two hours later, tablets, then two hours later Tylenol...so they're having each separate medicine every four hours, but having SOMETHING every two.

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L.L.

answers from New York on

How old is he? I wouldn't give it to him all day, just at night to help him rest, but it's always best to ask the dr. too. Give him lots of warm baths and nice cold things to chew on! Brendan, my son, loved to chomp on cold washcloths, I'd even stick them in the freezer for a bit. Oh and also, the homeopathic teething tablets worked great for him too. You can get them at any pharmacy in the baby section. Hope this helps! Lynsey

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N.V.

answers from New York on

i know i had the same problem with my daughter too! the oraljel helped a little bit but not alot you can give the tyenol every 4 hours i think thats what it sayus on the bottle but you dont want to give him tyenol all the time because i would think he might become immune to it after a while and not do much anymore....have you tried the teeethers? or my daughter would chew on hard plastic links or her thumb hopefully this hewlped good luck!

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J.S.

answers from Utica on

K.- this has definitely been covered well in the previous responses...just a few thoughts:

make sure to check with Max's pediatrician

when giving him things to chew on make sure not to put things in the freezer (the temp is too extreme for tender gums)

be cautious of "natural" remedies (often not monitored by FDA as Tylenol and Motrin and other medications must be)
Good Luck!!

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G.C.

answers from New York on

Other moms have addressed your question, but I also wanted to add that Baby Orajel can be dangerous. There have been cases (not often, but it's happened) where babies swallow it and it numbs their throat and affects their breathing. Why take that chance?

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A.M.

answers from New York on

how old is he and how much does he weigh? first call your pediatrician always to be safe.

otherwise, i would suggest to give him 1/2 the dose it has on the bottle, i think it would be .4 then, then if he seems to have it wear off, give motrin ETA- SO I GIVE ONE OR THE OTHER EVERY 3-4 HOURS LIKE MOTRIN, THEN 4 HOURS LATER TYLENOL, THEN 4 HOURS LATER MOTRIN SO THERE IS 8 HOURS SPACE BETWEEN GIVING THE SAME MEDICATION. i personally start out with motrin and use tylenol spsringly if needed to alternate which is super rare. they can overlap but i would suggest not to overuse either. the thing i worry about is using this medication thinking its teething when it may be something else or a combination. some moms right away assume crying is teething when it may be an ear infection or other illness so just make sure you have ruled everything else out.

i would toss the orajel. we tried it once to see what it was like. it first stings, then numbs, then 5 min later, it wore off. you can also look into teething tablets or an amber teething necklaces. hopefully it will be over soon, good luck.

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K.K.

answers from New York on

Another way to limit the amount of tylenol you give in a day is sort of stagger it and alternate it with ibuprofen. That way you're not giving either of them too often but he's not going without some pain meds: 7am tylenol, 11am ibuprofen, 4pm tylenol, 8 pm ibuprofen, for example

We're going through the same thing with our 7 month old, and the doctor said it was fine to keep giving it to him. Good luck!

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D.A.

answers from New York on

I give my daughter Hyland's Teething Tablets. She gets 3 at a time, up to 4 times a day and they melt as soon as they are in her mouth so I don't have to worry about choking. I give her wet baby washcloths during the day. Her dr. said not to give Tylenol unless she has a temp over 100.5.

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L.L.

answers from New York on

Have you tried Hylands Teething Tablets

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L.D.

answers from Albany on

K.,

Tylenol is every 4 hours but for teething, I would suggest Infants Motrin. Our pediatrician has told us the same thing that when they have a fever, you use Tylenol and when it's pain you use Motrin. We just find it works better but it does last longer with a minimum of 6 hours which is actually great for nighttime!

Hope that helps!

L.

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T.M.

answers from New York on

Hi K.,

I'm going through the same thing ... my pediatrician said he can have the Tylenol every 4 hours. It's the only thing that works for us too! Orajel is useless in this house! And, my baby won't use a teether, cold rag, or anything but those Gerber biter biscuits! There is no harm in Tylenol. My son is 9 months now ... he gets the full amount in the dropper without any problems, and always gets a dose before bedtime to take away the pain. If your son seems to be in a lot of pain, have him checked for water on his ears. My son always gets that when he starts teething. The teething itself isn't so painful (just uncomfortable), but the water on the ears can be very painful. Good luck!

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E.G.

answers from New York on

In my opinion, Tylenol should only be given if he has a fever. If given too much his body may become immune to it and then it will not work when he really needs it to. Try Dr. Hyland's natural teething tablets sold in CVS.

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M.N.

answers from New York on

I would be careful giving your baby tylenol. Use it sparingly. It can be toxic to the liver if overused. I have tried the following with teething: frozen mini bagels, freezing the corner of a wet washcloth, lots of teethers and droppers of chamomile tea which helps soothe overall. I only use the tylenol when my baby is really out of sorts . . .ask you pediatrician about the tylenol - I think it is every 4 hours.

One more thing - I see some moms have recommended doing ibuprofen as well but check with your ped - I have read that you shouldn't give children under a certain age inbuprofen!

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M.T.

answers from New York on

Hi K.,
I'm sorry that your little guy is having a tough time with teething. You did not mention how old he is, and often dosing is based on age and/or weight. This is really a question that you need to ask your pediatrician. Since your child can be teething for months on end - a tooth pops through and then it starts all over again - I myself wouldn't be comfortable having a child on medication around the clock but you may feel differently. Either way, I'd look to Max's doctor for guidelines on giving medication, that's what the doc is for. Good luck!

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G.A.

answers from New York on

How often to give Tylenol is a question you should be asking Max's doctor. I personally used another method which worked for my children and grandchildren as well, we'd keep chew stuff like carrots or baby biscuits in the refridgerator not freezer and when they'd chew on it that would help. You might also try a wet washcloth that is put into the fridge freshly washed in a ziploc baggy, you want to not reuse the cloth again and again as it will then breed bacteria. Good luck with this issue and enjoy his growing years they go by so fast.

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J.H.

answers from Syracuse on

I found that with all 3 of my kids, Motrin works the best. 15 minutes later and they are back to their old selves again, whether they had a fever, or pain of some sort. They have Infants' Motrin, check with your ped. just to be sure about correct dosage...

I also know from other posts on this board that some moms use a teething tablet...I never knew they existed, but they seem to work, judging by the posts I've read.

Back when I was teething (40 years ago, LOL)...my parents and grandparents rubbed brandy on our gums...hey - whatever works!! :-)

J.

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J.D.

answers from New York on

We're going through the same thing. Try Motrin. I helps with the inflamation better than Tylenol. Good luck!

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M.R.

answers from New York on

Poor Guy - teething stinks!! If you can, use motrin. It works faster and lasts longer. Tylenol can be given at 3-4 hour intervals, but motrin is 6-8 hours. If it is that bad you can alternate the two but you have to wait at least 2 hours to give the next medication. Check with your Pediatrician for sure. When my son was sick I thought that I could only give him .8ml of tylenol but when I called and the nurse pulled his chart, based on his age and weight I could actually give him 1.2 mL. Basically - call the Dr, they'll know best. Good Luck. It seems like an eternity now but It will be over for the poor guy soon!!

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N.D.

answers from New York on

Just this past week they released a study that too much tylenol can cause a baby to develop asthma and other allergies. Be careful how much you give.

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T.O.

answers from New York on

Honestly, we found that with out 3 kids Tylenol didn't work well and it kills all the good bacteria in your colon, Oragel never worked. We used good old fashioned brandy. Just rub a little on the gums with your finger and no more crying or discomfort.

Good luck
T.

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C.R.

answers from Rochester on

K.-
You can give him Tylenol every 4-6 hours. You can also go back and forth with Motrin, which lasts 8 hours. I like to use Motrin at night as it lasts longer. So you would give a dose of Tylenol, then about 3 hours later give a dose of Motrin, then 3 hours later you can give another dose of Tylenol. This is what my pediatrician recommends; especially for fevers. You may also want to give him his dose for bedtime at least 20 minutes before bed. This gives it time to get into his system. Have you ever tried the nighttime version of baby oragel? It is strongeer. All of this can take the edge off, but bottom line, persevere! Teething is very h*** o* children; very painful! Just give him extra doses of LOVE!

Good luck!
C.

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M.H.

answers from New York on

Hi K.,

I would not due the tylenol. Ibeprofin is better and please be careful so many children had overdose on tylenol. I used humpies they sell at walgreens or cvs. Its little natural pellets for the teething. Good Luck! :)

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