I spent a few years living in Paris, where suppositories are pretty much favoured over oral medications - they work FAST, even for a sore throat, and you don't have to deal with your DC spitting out a load of Calpol and not getting any better in the process. I recently brought a haul of children's paracetamol suppositories home after a visit, and the response I've had from other parents here has been frankly quite upsetting, ranging from 'inappropriate' to 'surely that's abuse?'
So, AIBU to think people should be a little more openminded? And for the record, a suppository is easily popped in, involves no more touching than using a wipe does, and doesn't distress the child in any way. It just seems to me that because it goes through the 'other end', it's all WRONG WRONG WRONG to some.
AIBU?
To be baffled by British attitudes towards suppositories?
AnotherGirlsParadise · 13/11/2014 15:30
It didn't actually come up in conversation like that, Bulbasaur - it was some nosy bugger rummaging through my medicine cabinet looking for paracetamol, and she came across the suppository packet. Cue a lot of questions and a lot of gossip at nursery, because apparently she has nothing better to talk about 
I must be mistaken because I assumed you actually had to stick it up their arse? Not just touch the area with a wipe.
I can't understand why you wouldn't want to use oral?
Obviously its different if they refuse the oral meds and they need them.
One of my charges was like this when young but after a few years of not needing meds and forgetting 'how it was done' she was horrified at age 5 when her mother went to give her some medication and tried to take down her knickers. 
needless to say she was more than happy to take Oral medication.
The 'attitude' is really just because suppositories are so unfamiliar to people in the UK.
I get the idea of how they work, and in theory I should love them, but... I'm sitting here wondering about administration.
At what age to children self administer them?
The drama involved in getting my 8 year old to swallow anything has to be seen to be believed.
I actually, literally, can not imagine the conversation that would ensue if I had to instruct him on the finer points of inserting a suppository The neighbours would be beating down the door to find out what I was subjecting the poor incredulous child to!
Or is it only for toddlers and babies?
NorwaySpruce, the ones I have are just for babies and toddlers - I think I'd rather take constant spitting out of medicine and endless screaming than trying to give a school-age child a suppository!
They are common in all of Europe, except the UK - and by extension not in the US
On every c-section thread on here I urge people to accept (or ask for) and Voltarol/Diclofenac suppository in theatre (if they can take antiinflammatories) - 'tis the bee's knees in terms of post-op pain relief as far as I am concerned. And much less side-effecty than morphine…
I grew up with suppositories and gave them myself (from about 8 or 9? cannot remember as it was a total non-event).
I think you Anglo-saxons over think it a tad tbh
I got paracetamol suppositories on prescription for toddler DS as he is notoriously difficult to get medicine into. Sometimes I can hide it in raspberry or strawberry yoghurt, but if he is in complete shutdown mode, up the bum it is. Surprisingly easy, a little push and then the bum hole almost swallows it .
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