Teething Tylenol vs Motrin

Tamara - posted on 02/05/2009

I have also hear no Motrin until after 6 months.  Tylenol is great, but I also had concerns.  Orajel gives temporary relief but it wears off and I don't like using it either.  We were told about the teething tablets too but because my little guy is senitive to milk I avoided the tablets since they contain Lactose.  We use the teething drops and it's amazing how well they do!  We use the Gentle Naturals with the Disney label and characters on the box.  Should find it at Walmart or Target.  It doesn't contain belladonna which seems to be of concern for some parents.

I found this on one of the tablets websites I think it will answer several people's questions:

Hyland's Teething Tablets Safety Information

December 19, 2007

As a manufacturer of homeopathic medicines, and as parents ourselves, we want to share with you how Hyland’s Teething Tablets are made and what they contain to effectively and safely alleviate your child’s teething aches and pains.

First and foremost, homeopathic medicines are regulated as drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as required in the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The production of Hyland’s homeopathic medicines occurs within a validated process, as with any FDA-regulated drug, to ensure an accepted level of consistency in product output.

Hyland’s Teething Tablets contain homeopathically prepared forms of Calcarea Phosphorica, Chamomilla, Coffea Cruda, and Belladonna. These ingredients are all prepared in accordance with the Homeopathic Pharmacopœia of the United States (HPUS). HPUS has been recognized by the FDA since 1938 as the official compendium (or formula book) for homeopathic medicine in the U.S. When homeopathically prepared, active ingredients are diluted to the point that the risk of toxicity is extremely low (see specific details below).

Calcarea Phosphorica is included in Hyland’s Teething Tablets for its ability to support teeth formation. Chamomilla is included in the Tablets for its actions on irritability commonly associated with teething pain. Coffea Cruda is included in the Tablets for its actions on wakefulness and increased urination.

Belladonna is included in the Tablets to ease the redness, inflammation and discomfort of the child’s gum that often occurs during the teething process. Belladonna 3X HPUS is manufactured from the whole plant, of which a small portion is Belladonna alkaloids (the component sometimes associated with side effects). Each Teething Tablet (which weighs about 65 mg) is composed of 0.0003% Belladonna alkaloids as stated on the label. This means that each complete teething tablet contains only approximately 0.0002 mg of Belladonna alkaloids.

The amount of Belladonna alkaloids in teething tablets is minuscule, especially when compared to conventional medicine. Conventional medicines typically use 0.2 to 5 mg of Belladonna alkaloids per tablet as an anti-spasmodic – roughly 1,000 to 25,000 times larger than the quantities used in Hyland’s Teething Tablets. The side effects sometimes caused by conventional medicines delivering more than 0.2 mg of Belladonna alkaloids – such as dry mouth, blurred vision and urinary retention – are not associated with homeopathic medicines because of their minute dosage.

To put homeopathic dosages in perspective, typically a 10-pound child would need to ingest 1,000 Hyland’s Teething Tablets (at least 6 bottles of 125 tablets) to exhibit even the first possible side effect of Belladonna.

Hyland’s Teething Tablets have been safely used by millions of children since being introduced to the U.S. market in 1945! Click here to see what actual parents have to say about Hyland’s Teething Tablets.

We care about your child and our consumers’ safety is our #1 priority. For that reason, we have pharmacists available around the clock (24 hours per day, 7 days per week) to provide emergency information related to any of our products. You can contact us at 1-800-624-9659 (number also available on all packaging). We are confident that our pharmacist can help parents and their doctors reach informed conclusions regarding our products.

Please keep in mind that even if a child ate an entire bottle of homeopathic medicine, the minute amount of active ingredients renders an overdose unlikely. Nonetheless, we understand that parents are rightfully cautious about their own child so feel free to call us anytime if you are concerned.

While adverse symptoms that may be attributed to an overdose of Belladonna alkaloids are well documented in the literature, the concentration necessary would require the ingestion of multiple bottles of Teething Tablets. As this is very unlikely, such symptoms could be due to any of a number of other causes (click here for more causes that could be explored).

We at Hyland’s, Inc. greatly value our relationship with the consumers who make up our Hyland’s family. Please do not hesitate to call 1-800-624-9659 and ask for our on-staff pharmacist to receive any additional information.

Iris R. Bell, MD PhD

Director of Scientific Affairs

Mary - posted on 02/04/2009

Quoting Jennifer:

I don't know what the difference is, but my pediatrician advises against motrin until 6 mos. old. So we give my daughter tylenol for days when she gets her vaccinations. When in doubt, I always call her doctor.

Angelique - posted on 02/03/2009

I give my son Motrin like clock work every 6 hours. My friend is a pharmacist and said night time oragel and Motrin is the best. Tylenol wont really do much for pain. Hope it helps your little one. Mine cut his 2 bottom and isnt even 5 months already!

Chelsea - posted on 02/02/2009

Yes - you have to wait until 6 months or when your Dr gives the ok for Motrin. You can give up to 5 doses of Tylenol per day so save it for when she really needs it (nighttime and just before naps). My little one loves a frozen bananna piece in one of those mesh feeders. Also a semi-frozen washcloth to gnaw on.

Suzanne - posted on 02/02/2009

great!!!!!!!! i can't wait till Sterlings teeth come through....i am sure it feels better for your baby..

Leah - posted on 02/02/2009

the other tooth poked through today.

Suzanne - posted on 02/02/2009

Tylenol really works well for Sterling but all babies are different...yeah i am dealing with teething myself...i really only give tylenol when her cheeks are flushed and is cranky.. that usally mean she has a fever..the teething rings for her don't work i think they are 2 cold for her to hold and she like to be in controll...lol i might try the frozen cloths..see if that helps her any? good luck with the other tooth

DD - posted on 02/02/2009

I just started teh teething tablets, because nothing else is working!!  They do have belladonna in them...why is that something you don't want to give them?  I have only heard good things about these tablets and they do seem to help (somewhat..def better than oajel!)  Thanks!!

Leah - posted on 02/02/2009

the teething rings are ok, but charlotte is still really little and it is hard for her to keep it in her little mouth.  She chews on her hands like there is no tomorrow though! It's all good until she bites down on them wrong.

Leah - posted on 02/02/2009

I do use orajel for her sometimes and I can tell it brings her instant relief. I have a doctor's appointment today. I'm going to ask. I've heard about the teething tablets and have heard good things, but also heard they have belladonna in them, and i don't think that is something i want to give my child.  Yesterday i gave her a less than half dose of motrin due to teething but also because she felt feverish. It seemed to help her and bring the fever down. I'm going to ask the doc if i should hold off on motrin until she is 6 months. i have read that it is better for teething as it is an anti-inflamatory as well, tylenol is not.

Ashley - posted on 02/01/2009

My dr said to just put teethers in the fridge and let him chew on them when the teeth start coming in. That they just lick the orajel off and it doesnt do anything for them. My b.f got some of those tablets that Angie was talking about and i dont want to give my son them and he asked the dr about them and the dr said you should be careful with stuff like that. Just give them things like the cold teethers to bo on the safe side.

Erica - posted on 02/01/2009

My doc said to use Tylenol and NO oral numbing things. So, I don't like giving her Tylenol either so I just do it at night and help her forget about it during the day.

Angie - posted on 02/01/2009

For my first child, I used Hylands Teething Tablets. Supposedly all natural "homeopathic" and dissolve quickly in the mouth. They worked wonders for us.

Jennifer - posted on 02/01/2009

I don't know what the difference is, but my pediatrician advises against motrin until 6 mos. old. So we give my daughter tylenol for days when she gets her vaccinations. When in doubt, I always call her doctor.