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Original poster

Can't sleep because I've convinced myself SS will be calling me about DS

61 replies

Anonymous1234567 · 29/04/2021 01:27

Name change for this because I feel awful

I don't know if I'm thinking irrationally because I'm overtired and upset but I can't shake this awful feeling.

DS who's 6 has been very poorly all of last night and today with a horrendous cough and a fever (took himfor a covid test this afternoon) and we were up all night last night because he just couldn't settle.
We were both beyond exhausted this evening so we headed to bed at around 9pm. I gave him some nurofen and STUPIDLY left the bottle and the syringe on my bedside cabinet. DS was lying in bed watching TV so decided to go for a quick shower. I got dried and changed and went downstairs to make us some hot chocolate and when I came back upstairs I found the bottle open and he'd helped himself to some nurofen. The bottle was definitely closed properly because I remember checking the cap like I always do.

There was less than 1/4 of the bottle left because I shook the bottle before giving him some and made a mental note to ask my DM to pick up some more for me tomorrow as we were running low.

I immediately called out of hours and explained what had happened and was told to call an ambulance. The dispatcher told me to sit tight and wait for a nurse to ring back. The nurse rang back and after a lengthy conversation she told me he hadn't consumed enough to need medical assistance and to keep a close eye on him for the next 24 hours and reminded me the importance of keeping medication out of reach of children which made me feel like a terrible mother that I needed to be reminded of something I should have known.

I feel so guilty and ashamed of myself. I'm always so careful and keep medication in a cupboard which my DS can't reach but I honestly don't know what came over me tonight!

My DS is now asleep but I'm wide awake, stressed, in tears and feel sick to my stomach envisioning SS knocking on my door tomorrow to ask me what happened and why I was so careless with my child.

OP posts:
Yamaya · 29/04/2021 01:41

I don't think you done anything wrong here, please don't stress. This sounds like a genuine accident. I don't think social services would be interested, especially if he hasn't had enough to need medical attention. Please try and relax and get some rest. You're a good mum Flowers

TaraR2020 · 29/04/2021 01:46

Oh love please relax, you're a great mum and these sorts of things happen so often.

I've read so many similar posts on these boards alone! I got my hands on a glass of wine when I was toddling and drank it straight down before anyone saw and no harm done (tho I slept pretty well!)

You son is going to be fine and you're not in trouble, you need to forgive yourself and try to get some sleep. Flowers

NemoRocksMyWorld · 29/04/2021 01:47

I'm a paediatrician... I've seen many many kids who have had a swig from the calpol bottle 😁. The most you will get is a phone call from the health visitor with some advice about keeping medicines locked away. Trust me social services will not be interested.

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FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 29/04/2021 01:50

What @NemoRocksMyWorld said - please try not to worry, the important thing is he's fine, it's not like some awful child snatching set up with social services they won't be interested in this. Get some sleep OP!

GreenSlide · 29/04/2021 02:10

My friends DS drank most of a bottle of calpol last month, like you they worked out she wouldn't need medical treatment, don't think anything else ever came of it but as pointed out above it would be the health visitor ringing you if anything just to check he's alright and getting over the virus ok etc.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 29/04/2021 05:17

They see this sort of thing all the time. When DS was a few months old I didn't strap him into his bouncer properly, he managed to pull himself up and forward and fell headfirst into the wall. Had to take him to get checked out cos he had a massive bump! I didn't hear anything from SS.

Parkandride · 29/04/2021 05:36

I remember my brother doing this decades ago and needing A&E. I imagine it's a parental right of passage to have a moment like this so don't think SS will be interested. Hope you're both OK Flowers

clpsmum · 29/04/2021 05:49

My son has pica syndrome amongst other things and has eaten Lukemia medication, and wash pods. We took him to a&e both times and never heard from SS or health visitor. These things happen it was an accident don't beat yourself up. Hope LO feels better soon

MrsPworkingmummy · 29/04/2021 05:55

Hi OP, try not to worry. My daughter was once on prescribed medication. My husband went to give her two spoonfuls when she was sitting in the bath before bed, but accidently held the spoon in front of our very young son who was also sitting in the bath (he was under 1). Like you, we phoned 111. We were also advised to monitor for 24 hours. A few days later, our health visitor made a very short phonecall and the incident was deemed over. Don't worry.

rosegoldivy · 29/04/2021 06:03

Hey OP, please don't stress.

When my DD was 8 weeks and going for her first set of jags I accidentally read the instructions wrong and overdosed her on Calpol 🤦🏼‍♀️
I gave her 5ml of Calpol rather than 2.5ml before and after her jags 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

Whoops. She was fine, slept great that night..... No doubt was out her nut 🤣

Bearsinmotion · 29/04/2021 06:06

Taking a slightly different slant, I have had involvement from social services (had an abusive ex) and found them really kind and helpful. If this one the third time this had happened and you had clearly made no effort to secure medication it might be a different story. This was a mistake: it happens. Your child is fine, social services will not be interested .

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 29/04/2021 06:08

We all make mistakes. My sister did the same and she's a police officer.

Billandben444 · 29/04/2021 06:10

I hope you got some sleep and that your son is feeling heaps better. Try not to worry (as it won't change the outcome) - you are a kind and loving mother and that's what matters 💐

RosieLemonade · 29/04/2021 06:11

I would be cross with DS. Six year olds know not to touch medicine.

felulageller · 29/04/2021 06:16

Don't worry this happens all the time.

ProbablyGryffindor · 29/04/2021 06:19

I hope you managed some sleep OP. Most of us have had these “learning experiences”. DH cut DS’s finger whilst cutting his nails last month. It wouldn’t stop bleeding, so we had to take him to be looked that. It was fine, the hospital said they see loads of babies for various things.

Parents aren’t usually perfect (although lots are on here!). Take something from it, and move on if you can. Best wishes OP.

ittakes2 · 29/04/2021 06:24

Please don't stress it will be OK.
Are you sure though you closed the bottle? I am really surprised a 6 year old has the dexterity and know how to open a child proof bottle. I think my teens would struggle without being shown how to do it.

custardbear · 29/04/2021 06:31

That must have been terrifying!

My DS found a bottle of turps / white spirit with no lid on, hidden out of adult sight at friends house (they had no kids so didn't even think about it) when we were visiting - he drank it - I couldn't believe my eyes as I couldn't get to him in time - complete accident. Ended up in hospital twice that night but he was fine thankfully. Doctor said SS may phone - literally heard nothing from anyone afterwards

HumphreyCobblers · 29/04/2021 06:36

Oh gosh my youngest has done this twice (about four years apart). He does have SN but even more reason for me to be vigilant about keeping it out of his reach. Nothing needed to happen either time.

Cantchooseaname · 29/04/2021 06:40

The threshold for ss involvement is so high there is no way they would be remotely interested!
Be kind to yourself, no harm done, have a cuppa and forgive yourself.

OhShitShit · 29/04/2021 06:41

Oh absolutely don’t worry about SS. It happens all the time. You’re clearly a good mum- you were looking after him when it happened! You called 111. You’re up now worrying. Nobody would say your child is at risk. They wouldn’t care even if it did come
to their attention! (Which it won’t).

Also- to offer some peace of mind from a different perspective- the doses outlined on the bottles of calpol and neurofen are really conservative doses; they’re not nearly the amount you would need to take to OD. So if your child has had a “bit” more than the amount you gave him (can’t have been that much if there was less than a quarter of a bottle and there was still some left in it) it’s not nearly enough to cause him a problem.

cakefanatic · 29/04/2021 06:41

I’ve double dosed my child on paracetamol before. Cue hysterical call to the GP who was excellent. We talked through the amounts and his weight and she was like you can take him to A&E if you like but the dose is fine, just don’t give him any more for a couple of days.

Then some months later my other child had his tonsils removed and was given absolutely enormous doses of paracetamol afterwards. It’s good to be cautious and seek medical attention, but often it’s not the disaster we imagine. This happens all the time, just be more careful next time...

shouldistop · 29/04/2021 06:49

This happened to my friend although her ds was 2 at the time. She hadn't put the lid back on, she was exhausted as he'd been up ill for 2 nights. He had a swig, she had no idea how much was in it.
Took him to A&E where they gave him some sort of drink to protect his stomach. The next day the health visitor called to ask how they were and remind her to put medicine caps back on and put them away somewhere safe.
Social services will not be interested unless this has happened a couple of times before.

Cindersrellie · 29/04/2021 06:56

This is so common, they definitely won't call the social on you.

StarCat2020 · 29/04/2021 07:05

The fact you were straight on the phone to ask for help pretty much shows (to me) that you are exactly the sort of person who is responsible and therefore doesn't warrant SS involvement.