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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why people give so much medicine to their kids?

582 replies

RagamuffinAndFidget · 19/01/2016 22:47

I am totally open to being told IABU here, am just looking for opinions really.

DS3 (7mo) has a cough and a cold. I posted a 'go the fuck to sleep' type status on Facebook earlier and had lots of comments from friends telling me to give Calpol/Nurofen. For a cold? Really? Also some comments suggesting Vicks on his feet, which seems more sensible..

Do people really give Calpol every time their child has the sniffles? Is there actually a point to it, or is it just the done thing to dose a child up every time they cry now? Don't get me wrong, I do give my children medicine if they have a very high temperature or are in pain, but I try not to give it often, and I wouldn't give it for a cough/lack of sleep.

Is it just me?

OP posts:
toastedbeagle · 19/01/2016 22:50

Well thinking about last time I had a cold I had a sore throat, aching joints, head ache, sinus pain etc and so took paracetamol regularly as it helped... I can't imagine a child's symptoms would differ so yes I would give my child medicine accordingly as they can't verbalise their need.

AnnaBanana11 · 19/01/2016 22:51

You've said he has a cough and cold , if he needs it then give calpol

If he doesn't then let him cough and carry on posting go the fuck to sleep posts on FB and ignore him

I know what I'd do

bringmelaughter · 19/01/2016 22:51

I often wonder why people don't give their children medicine. You don't see many adults sporting an amber bracelet for their toothache, they're all cracking open proper painkillers.

DonkeyOaty · 19/01/2016 22:52

No of course not every time but if my mate was posting desperate Go the F to sleeps I would be suggesting it. Shrug.

SlipperyJack · 19/01/2016 22:52

Why do you think Vicks on his feet would be more sensible?

SuperCee7 · 19/01/2016 22:53

When I have a cold I tend to get headaches etc so if LO is extra grumpy with a cold I might give calpol. Definitely not for every cold though, LO has had about 7 in the last 4 months.

minipie · 19/01/2016 22:53

If the calpol helps them sleep then that proves they were in pain, or at least considerable discomfort, before it was given.

So if it's a choice between leaving my DC in pain and giving medication I will give medication

Roonerspism · 19/01/2016 22:54

I agree. People seem to chuck Calpol down their throats at the first sniffle.

Calpol isn't risk free. I give it if my child is extremely grotty and feverish.

Vicks on feet is amazing

minipie · 19/01/2016 22:55

And yes a cold can cause pain - I get an evil sore throat for the first couple of days and seems DD is the same

Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 19/01/2016 22:55

I think it's more the insinuation that I should give Calpol because he's not sleeping that bothers me - that's not what it's for, surely? I know it's 'just' Calpol but it's still medicine..

SlipperyJack I meant 'more sensible' because it doesn't involve giving him medicine. He's not ingesting the Vicks.

OP posts:
Cherryberry1 · 19/01/2016 22:56

No, it certainly isn't just you, OP. When DS was 3 days old I had my step-MIL telling me to buy Colief or some other medicine for colic and to also give him Calpol... This was after he had cried for less than a minute for milk because I was helping her to change her daughter at the time. Every single time since then when she hears him grumble on the phone (or has heard him grizzling when he was younger) she has told me he has colic which he needs medicine for.

Most people seem to suggest giving Calpol or other medicine whenever I mention a cold/teething/feeling unwell. I now genuinely wonder whether they do this because it's 'expected' of them rather than because this is genuinely their advice Hmm It seems quite odd...

Sometimesithinkimbonkers · 19/01/2016 22:56

We have a Braun in ear thermometer we generally give calpo for fever!!!!

redexpat · 19/01/2016 22:56

That's nothing. You should see how many meds some American children have. 4 summers working at camps and I never got used to it.

whatsoever · 19/01/2016 22:56

If your child isn't sensitive to paracetamol or any of the other ingredients in calpol, what are the risks of taking it exactly?

GlitteringJasper · 19/01/2016 22:56

It's quite difficult for a baby who is ill to "go the fuck to sleep" Hmm

Makes sense to try and ease their discomfort and if a dose within the guidelines if medicine will help, what's the issue.

Hardly counts as giving so much medicine,

What do you do when you are ill?

austenozzy · 19/01/2016 22:57

Vicks on feet is tosh, paracetamol at the correct dose is v effective. Hope this helps.

TheCatsMeow · 19/01/2016 22:57

Personally I don't let my kid suffer when there's a perfectly safe medicine that can help

Prettyinblue · 19/01/2016 22:57

Yanbu calpol is the current cure all. It obviously does fuck all for a cough, but people dole it out. A minor temperature has a purpose (to kill bacteria) so it's counterintuitive to give something that reduces a temperature (unless high)
In 50years time it will be regarded with the same distain as castor oil. Though possibly more damaging.

GingerCuddleMonsterThe2nd · 19/01/2016 22:57

I always think, if I had a bunged up nose and a sore head and throat, would I want the pain to go away? Would I take a lemsip? Yes I probably would, so I give calpol.

TheSecondViola · 19/01/2016 22:58

I think it's more the insinuation that I should give Calpol because he's not sleeping that bothers me - that's not what it's for, surely?

It depends, is he not sleeping because he has a temp or a sore throat or is in pain? Then give calpol. If none of those things, giving Calpol won't make a difference anyway, its not a sedative.

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 19/01/2016 22:59

Yep well do you take limsip when you have a cold? Take parosetomol when your in pain, if the answer is yes, then if your child is showing the same symptoms then of course you give them calpol I don't understand why you wouldn't!

I tell you what next time you have a cold and can't sleep through the coughing we'll suggest you rub Vicks on your feet! I mean it seems a senisable suggestion for your baby so it must be a senisable for you too no?!

It's not every time a baby cries it when a mother is suggesting her child is ill.

Unless of course you post go the fuck to sleep posts every time your child cries wether he's well or not!

SlipperyJack · 19/01/2016 22:59

Thanks for the clarification OP. I am constantly baffled by the "vapour rub on feet" thing. No medical evidence whatsoever, yet otherwise intelligent people swear by it.

Vapour rub on chests or throats is different - not always recommended for kids though.

TheCatsMeow · 19/01/2016 22:59

Pretty calpol contains paracetamol, it's not a placebo so your comparison is silly

Topsy34 · 19/01/2016 23:00

I think calpol is over used, it also annoys me that you can't buy liquid paracetomol without all the nasties that are in a in Calpol

That said, i think usage when they require pain relief is ok, but it seems to be forgotten that its paracetomol and just used for every thing. I've read on here that people give it in an attempt to make their child sleep.....

If ds1 has a cold or temp, then absolutely, paracetomol helps, if he is snuffly then no, we put vicks on his feet initially

lottiegarbanzo · 19/01/2016 23:01

You posted a problem, so your friends are trying to solve it for you.

Calpol for a cold, quite possibly I would, if dd seemed uncomfortable yes. It can work wonders. I wouldn't say I give it often.

I agree with the poster who queried not giving medicine, where it would demonstrably help. Being martyrish on your own behalf is one thing but not a kind way to treat others.