To expect my child's school to apply prescribed ointment

[SweetPeaSoup]

when I have followed procedure by filling out the form, and given them the cream in its original container (which clearly states that it needs to be applied three times a day).

I apply it at breakfast time and bed time, and am asking them to put it onto my DC at lunchtime, otherwise there will be a gap of only 3hrs between two of the doses. The school are refusing because the pharmacist's label doesn't state the exact times at which the cream must be given - which is funny, because neither did the label on the antibiotics my DC had recently, and yet they had no problem then.

I'm getting the stark impression that there's a power thing going on, and it's driving me insane - aibu, or shall I argue the toss?

[gymboywalton]

how old is your child?

where on the body does the cream need applying?

i cannot comment without more info

[GraysAnalogy]

Do they ever state exact times? I've never know meds to state exact times. They're being silly, but perhaps they don't feel comfortable applying ointment.

[SweetPeaSoup]

Not old enough to do it themself, and it's an antibiotic cream, but I'd rather not say where (though it's not an intimate area) - sorry, didn't think to to include that!

[IphigenieAufTauris]

It's standard for schools to refuse medication, including antibiotics, if it needs to be given three times a day rather than four. ON the basis that you can apply it at 9am, 3.30pm and again at bedtime, which is sufficiently spread out to meet the criteria.

If it has to be given four times a day, they'll usually agree to do it at lunchtime, otherwise you wouldn't be able to fit the four doses into a day.

I wouldn't fight it, this will be their standard procedure and it will get you nowhere unless there's a proven medical need for specific times. Save your energy for a fight that really matters.

[Floralnomad]

I wouldn't expect a school to apply ointment , if it needs applying 3 times a day then that's every 8 hours so wouldn't need doing at school .

[alwaysonmymind]

Where does the cream need to be applied?
My DCs school has recently stated that they won't administer antibiotics that are required 3 times a day as they could have them at 3.30 and there is still time for a third dose before bed.
The y also don't apply sun cream but will supervise kids putting it on themselves

[muminhants]

My son's infant school wouldn't administer medicines at all which is a nightmare for working parents if for example you have anti-biotics which you need to take 4 times a day as you have to go into school to do it. Which you can't do if you work miles away.

To be honest it's not worth arguing with them. Do it at breakfast, 3pm or whenever dc is home from school and then just before bed. I'm sure it won't matter that there's a bigger gap between one set of doses than the other.

It's strange that nurseries will administer medicines, and junior and secondary schools will, but infant schools won't. What's so anxiety-inducing about the 4-7 age group?

[gymboywalton]

right-well unless they are very small then they can apply it themselves i think. Plus asking a member of staff to rub a child's body is a bit of an ask and as others say you should do breakfast time, hometime, bedtime

am puzzled about why you don't want to say where the cream has to be rubbed-makes me think that perhaps you know it would be unreasonable?

[GlitzAndGigglesx]

I thought this was across all schools. My sister had to go on to give my nephew his medicine at the time he needed it (reception class)

[OddBoots]

There is only likely to be about 4-5 hours between breakfast and lunch isn't there? The schools around here will only do it for medications prescribed 4x a day too. They should have communicated that better to you though.

[SweetPeaSoup]

Okay, I guess I'm lucky that they will give any medicine at all then! It still feels like they are being bloody minded, but if this is a common thing, perhaps I am bu - thanks for your replies

[goldierocks]

At the school my mum works in, they assist with medication if the prescription label (pills/cream/medicine) says it must be taken four times per day.

For three times per day, they would expect two doses to be given at home unless the label clearly states there must be a specific number of hours between each dose. This will mean two doses are close together.

The school has a 'medicines policy' - maybe ask to see if your DC's school has something similar? My mum says they allow parents to come to school and administer medication to their child at lunchtime themselves if they prefer.

[scribblescrabble]

It sounds like a power thing on your behalf not the schools!! why can't you just do 8am, 3.30pm and 9pm? this should be okay for most creams/ointments.

Schools haven't got time or resources to be applying ointments unless it's absolutely necessary.

[SweetPeaSoup]

gymboy it's just in case I out myself

[SweetPeaSoup]

scribble bed time is at 7.

[LaLyra]

I don't know any school that will adminster a three times a day thing. It would simply take up too much time if they had all the kids on antibiotics, all the kids on other medications as well as those that need still four times a day/inhalers before PE etc.

[ilovesooty]

Whatever time bedtime is I think it's unreasonable to expect the school to do it.

[SweetPeaSoup]

glitz and goldie I'd rather do that so that the doses are better spread out - I just didn't realise that this is a common thing!

[SweetPeaSoup]

ilove fair enough - but if other schools did do it as a matter of course, I would have argued. But if this is what usually happens, then that's fine.

[Goldmandra]

I've always been told that three times a day is every 8 hours, i.e. breakfast time, after school and at my bedtime.

I've always given my DCs a dose of 3 x a day ABs at around 11pm/midnight as I go to bed in order to spread them out and give them the best chance to work.

If you do the doses at around 8.00am, 4.00pm and as close as possible to midnight, there's no need for school to administer them.

[ShatnersBassoon]

A 3-4 hour gap between applications is acceptable. Applying lotion isn't an exact science.

[NRomanoff]

Our school will only give medicine that has a label saying it must be taken 4 times a day. Any less that that they refuse, its fairly common practice.

DD twisted her knee and if she needed any pain relief at school, I had to go give her it, because I didn't get the ibuprofen on prescription and she didn't absolutely have it 4 times per day. Luckily I pick ds up at the school at 12 as he is the nursery, so it didn't put me out. I just went in, they checked her and I gave her it if she needed it. A bit of a pain, but i get why they do it.

[RosaGertrudeJekyll]

sweetpea it seems odd to me too esp in light of stringent, get that child in school policies.

I would not be able to administer to my dc at midnight they would be asleep

[WineIsTheAnswer]

DD2 has severe eczema, so she is used to applying her own cream. But I found with antibiotic cream and immune modulating ones it works best with a night time application. As less moving, scratching and clothes rubbing makes it the best time to let the cream soak in. Is it somewhere you can easily apply while DC sleeps/is sleepy?

I normally do before and after school and then go in and apply just before I go to bed. No need for the school to apply at all.

[NRomanoff]

sweetpea it seems odd to me too esp in light of stringent, get that child in school policies. I would not be able to administer to my dc at midnight they would be asleep

Why? If it need adminstering 3 times per day there is no need to keep them off or any need to administer at midnight. 1 dose in morning, as soon as school finishes and one at bedtime.