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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Baby using bottle of paracetemol as a rattle?

38 replies

InCiderMind · 21/09/2013 07:21

It was a tamper proof one, and in full sight of us but it made me uneasy, WIBU?

I visited a friend yesterday, we both have 12mo babies, its her 2nd and my 1st so I was wondering whether I was being a bit pfb/neurotic about it? She is a great mum and we were watching them but her DD was given a bottle of paracetemol to rattle, which she loved coz it had tiny writing on it to scrutinize and it rattled! It was opened but in a tamper proof bottle iyswim but it made me paranoid, so I took it off her! Obviously if it had opened I assume my friend would have pounced on it straight away, but I wouldnt take the risk . . .

No 'drama' between us as friends as we are both quite down to earth but in regards to the bottle of paracetemol, WIBU?

OP posts:
Altinkum · 21/09/2013 07:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
InCiderMind · 21/09/2013 07:29

Fair enough. I was being neurotic, first child and all that!

OP posts:
TheRobberBride · 21/09/2013 07:31

YANBU. It's not something I would ever do. I am very wary of doing anything that encourages children to think medicines are toys. My MIL once gave my then 3 year old DD an empty paracetamol bottle to play with as
part of her doctors set. She didn't see the problem but I removed it immediately.

Finola1step · 21/09/2013 07:32

Nope YWNBU. By letting her dd play with a medicine bottle, your friend is quite simply sending the message that its a toy to be played with. Medicine bottles are not a toy. And it's not too early to say "No, dangerous" and put bottle away.

Plenty of good rattles on the market. There really is no need for a baby to be encouraged to play with medicine bottles.

mamapants · 21/09/2013 07:33

Yes being neurotic. Did you think the baby was suddenly going to figure out how to open and have the strength and coordination to do so

Finola1step · 21/09/2013 07:34

X post. No cider not neurotic at all. It's called plain old common sense (but unfortunately common sense often appears to be not very common).

CailinDana · 21/09/2013 07:34

I have two and while I do give my dd odd things to play with because they always prefer them to toys I wouldn't give her a pill bottle. The danger of her opening it would be small but the consequences could be really serious so not worth it IMO.

ChipAndSpud · 21/09/2013 07:37

I wouldn't feel comfortable, not because I tink the baby would have any chance in opening the bottle, but just that medicines/cleaning products shouldn't be seen as things to play with and 'fun'.

CailinDana · 21/09/2013 07:38

And yes I didn't even think of the whole "pills are toys" message.

Altinkum · 21/09/2013 07:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Yonionekanobe · 21/09/2013 07:41

For be it is about the message, so no bit unreasonable at all.

CailinDana · 21/09/2013 07:41

After seeing a childin the hospital slowly dying from drinking bleach I will never assume a child can't open something.

Finola1step · 21/09/2013 07:43

Sprouted?

SanityClause · 21/09/2013 07:50

Well, I think that situation is a bit different altinkum. You had very good reasons for needing your son to be familiar with medicines and so on. Also, you and the play therapist were watching him at all times.

Now, on this occasion, the mother was watching him, but a scenario could easily occur where suddenly the mother had to tend to an emergency with the older DC, and stopped supervising the little one.

It just seems an easily avoidable and unnecessary risk.

changeforthebetter · 21/09/2013 07:51

Yanbu - and I was that parent who had to get used to the fact that DD2 would eat cat biscuits every bloody time she got into the dining room Blush I did stop her each time and she grew out of it (she was about 1 when it started). Paracetamol overdose is scarily easy and there is a reason why medicine bottles state "keep out of sight and reach of children". Your friend sounds rather daft to actually give her baby the bottle Confused

Original poster
InCiderMind · 21/09/2013 07:52

I can see both sides of the argument tbh.

OP posts:
Finola1step · 21/09/2013 07:53

Exactly Sanity. It is an easily avoidable and unnecessary risk.

NeoMaxiZoomDweebie · 21/09/2013 07:54

YANBU children shouldn't every be encouraged to handle medicines or dangerous substances no matter HOW well packaged. They need to retain an air of "Can't touch that"

redcaryellowcar · 21/09/2013 07:56

I wouldn't give my ds any medicine to play with but if bottle empty and label could be removed a safety capped bottle filled with some shaky stuff e.g rice or beans (not kidney) would make a good shaker? I think at that age toys like this need to be carefully supervised!

Sirzy · 21/09/2013 07:57

I wouldn't give a bottle with tablets in to play with

BUT

I don't see a problem with putting empty bottles and things into a doctors kit. DS has pretend tablet bottles in his doctors kit, aswell as syringes (which he associates with medicine much more than a bottle). He also has a peg which he uses to check peoples SATs!

Altinkum · 21/09/2013 07:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ExcuseTypos · 21/09/2013 08:11

If I were stuck somewhere and the babies were bored, I might give them this bottle to entertain them, as a last resort.

To give them it in your home, when you're presumably surrounded by a hundred and one other things to interest them, is a bit daft IMO.

lyndie · 21/09/2013 08:21

Odd to get loose paracetamol in a bottle these days as they is legislation stating it should be in blister packs.

Guitargirl · 21/09/2013 08:25

OP - I would have done exactly the same as you. I also used to take plastic bags away from the DCs when they were babies after MIL used to give them to DD to play with.

Mumof3xx · 21/09/2013 08:26

I wouldn't do this. As others have said it's making it seem like these things are ok to play with. I am very careful with all medication after my ds ate some strepsils