More ot a WWYD

[abitwobbly]

I am asking this on behalf of a friends sister who is a nanny:

Basically she is a nanny for 3 kids, the youngest is 16m, then the next is 3y and the oldest is 4. There mum has given the 3year old calpol every night for the last week although there is nothing wrong with her, she just does it to send them to sleep as when its the kids bedtime my sister finishes work and there mum doesnt want to have to do anything. Also she gave the youngest calpol every night for 3months although there was nothing wrong with him either, it was just to make him sleep. My sister keeps telling there mum that she cant do this but she doesnt listen. Is it harming the kids at all or affecting them in any way?

I don't know if it's harming them, although I guess long term use can't be good, but I very much doubt that it's doing anything to help them sleep.

Well it probably isnt classed as an overdose since its once a day however im sure it will probably be causing some damage to the child's insides (im not a doctor btw)Im not sure what she can do though other than get rid of all the calpol in the house while the mum isnt there but that will only last one day - ill watch this thread for better advice. good luck to her.

It isn't an overdose and I would have thought the associated risks of overdose are not really an issue (although I am not a pharmacist). There has been a study which showed increased health problems (asthma) in kids who were given calpol when tiny - I haven't read the study and wouldn't know how "good" it it. What I do think though is that calpol is powerful stuff and noone should give it to children who don't need it. Moreover, it does not send children to sleep, so why is this mother so keen to medicate her children to sleep? Not sure what your friend should do, though (sorry).

I found this article, the main thing saying:

Terence Stephenson, professor of child health at Nottingham University, believes their use by parents may be misguided.

"Paracetamol doesn't have any sedative properties whatsoever and neither does Nurofen," he says. "It's a widespread misconception that Calpol helps children to sleep. Doctors used to prescribe antihistamines to help children sleep, but not any longer."

Although these products may not be as effective as soporifics as parents might hope, Prof Stephenson doesn't believe that they are in any way harmful. T

The article is here www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/3314633/Are-we-using-too-much-Calpol.html

But it from 2005 so there could be new research.

However something about the whole thing doesnt sit right....I guess the mum's desperation to avoid them seems a bit... sad?

I think there is also some research that links overuse of Calpol with asthma. If my brain was working I would try and find it and then attempt to link it. I like Roseflower think it is a sad situation to do that so you avoid having anything to do with your children when you havent been with them all day.

don't know what to do but that is dangerous. their poor wee livers must be having a hard time.

Thanks all, I have forwarded her all your comments xx