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

[RagamuffinAndFidget]

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?

Did I have the only baby in the world that cried if she was in pain?

Or do other people's babies cry constantly regardless?

(It's like saying we should all take antibiotics in case it's a bacterial infection rather than a virus - total nonsense!)

If your baby is upset though why assume that it is in pain? And not tired, hungry etc etc etc

I really don't understand why giving calpol is the first option for some people.

Because people know their own babies and can usually tell what the cry is.

And disappointed because doing that is actually dangerous. There's nothing wrong with giving calpol if it's the correct dose!

THERE IS IF THERE IS NO PAIN TO TREAT!

No there isn't. It won't harm them, the worst it will do is nothing.

Given a potential link between paracetamol use and asthma, I don't think we can say "the worst it will do is nothing".

It hasn't been proven though has it? For all we know maybe asthmatic kids get ill more often. We go on the info we have at the time, paracetamol is as far as drugs go pretty safe.

cats sorry not sure about that. If it's one off ok, but if there is a tendency from the parent to give calpol instead of a cuddle that's overuse and yes there are aide effects, I think it's clear on the instructions
It's still a medicine!

I know it's page 10 but I'm still in uncontrollable laughter from the ridiculous post on page two that said Vicks acts as reflexology for the respiratory system.

Poor kids.

I hate the attitude that anything that helps (dummies, calpol, etc) is instead of a cuddle.

It's a pretty harmless medicine.

Just to be clear here Cats - you think people should medicate their children 'just in case' because you think giving unnecessary paracetamol won't do any harm?

I think if a child has a cold, or is unwell there's nothing wrong with giving calpol in case they're in pain.

I give calpol or nurofen for a cold, usually nurofen because it reduces inflammation doesn't it? And he usually has a temperature with it too anyway.
Some people though (weirdly) thinks calpol makes children sleep, true if they're in pain but otherwise no. My cousins mum gave her calpol every night until she was about 7

Oh and DS gets calpol and cuddles when he's ill, like most children i imagine. they're not mutually exclusive

I'm sorry catsmeow but I find your attitude really quite shocking. All medicines have risks associated with him and I personally don't want my children growing up with the attitude that your first point of call in life should be a pill pot.

"I think if a child has a cold, or is unwell there's nothing wrong with giving calpol in case they're in pain."

What, even if they aren't showing any symptoms of being in pain?

reflexology for the respiratory system

Not actually what I said meant.

I was expecting this to be a "all medicines are bad type post" and I was ready to come in all guns blazing... Lol (I have an asthmatic DD)

My ds had bronchiolitis last month and the Drs advised for Calpol to be given because it does help to settle children and I know that when I had a cold I get terribly sore...

Sorry and just to be clear I'm not anti medicines. Just anti giving medicines when they don't need to be given

I'm happy to give calpol to mine just in case. It is certainly not wrong for every child.

I've never had reflexology (ticklish feet) so don't know a huge amount about it, but there are, presumably, areas associated with the respiratory system. Vicks plus socks will warm the feet - and those areas- slightly, which may have similar effect as reflexology. I did read it somewhere.

so don't know a huge amount about it

That's very, very evident.

"Given a potential link between paracetamol use and asthma"

1. So? I'm a potential ruler of the world.

1. "Link" (i.e. correlation) does not mean causation.