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Children's pain

Approved by our Clinical team | Mar 25, 2020

At some point in their lives your child will feel pain whether from falling over in the playground or perhaps earache. The important thing is that when they feel pain you know how to help them feel better quickly and what products you can use to take their pain way.

Sore throats, teething, toothache, colds and flu are all common pain that our children and we as adults feel. Your child may not be able to verbalise the type of pain they are feeling, however there are tell-tale signs that you can spot to help you determine what they are experiencing.

Signs of pain in children can include:

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Using one arm or one leg more than the other
Being less active and not wanting to do physical activities
Changes in appetite and sleep
Wanting to be alone and not wanting to interact with other children
Change in mood such as being irritable or acting out
Gasping, wincing and frowning as a way to express pain
Sweating, dull eyes, flushed skin and breathing rapidly

It’s also good to ask your child to point to where the pain is as well as taking the time to talk about words that describe types of pain such as, itchy, sore and burning. That way when they do experience pain they can try to tell you what kind they are experiencing.

Choosing the right painkiller

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Whatever the pain, whenever it strikes, you need to act fast to soothe your child’s troubles. That means having the right painkillers that are suitable for children to hand. Here's a guide to the best children's painkillers and doses, and you can also ask your pharmacy team for more advice.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the most common painkillers used to treat children's pain and fevers (high temperatures). They come in different strengths and forms, such as liquids and dissolvable tablets, depending on the age of your child.

Changes in paracetamol dosages

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Paracetamol dosages for products such as Calpol* were originally based on three age groups. To give more accurate dosing, these dosages are now based on narrower age bands as follows:

Infant Paracetamol (120mg/5ml)

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Age range	Dose
3 to 6 months	2.5ml up to four times a day
6 to 24 months	5ml up to four times a day
2 to 4 years	7.5ml up to four times a day
4 to 6 years	10ml up to four times a day