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?

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.

The risks are extremely small. If my kids feel unwell I have no problem with them getting relief from medicines, after all we live in an age where we don't have to put up with it

Why do some people insist there's benefit in soldiering on? There isn't.

All medicines have risks associated with him

Agreed.

To also say that paracetamol is relatively harmless is a bit naive. There is a reason you can only buy so many at a time.

"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."

No part of the foot is associated with any part of the body in the way reflexology claims it to be. Reflexology is woo.

To also say that paracetamol is relatively harmless is a bit naive. There is a reason you can only buy so many at a time.

Oh for fuck sake obviously it's not harmless if you overdose but what idiot doesn't read the directions

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

Oh? Are some immune from any possible side effects of too much paracetamol?

after all we live in an age where we don't have to put up with it

We also live in an age where some medication will no longer work through over use.

too much paracetamol?

Right because we're letting them drink the whole bottle aren't we.

We also live in an age where some medication will no longer work through over use.

Paracetamol isn't one of these AFAIK

A&E gave my 2 year old paracetamol when he had a cold (he was there for something else) presumably they don't think it's unsafe and think it helps and is like to think they know what they're doing.

But if you feel unwell, how is paracetamol going to help you??? Unless you have a temperature or are in actual pain.

Some fairly recent reviews of reflexology trials found that it can be effective for some conditions.

www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/reflexology/what-does-research-say-about-refloxology

"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."

No- the difference is that Vicks actually has an effect. Reflexology doesn't.

Paracetamol isn't one of these AFAIK

Actually it can be if you use it too much for pain. Same as other pain medication.

Mia as an adult there are many things I can take that aren't paracetamol

A child can't tell us if they're in pain so if unwell I will give calpol just in case

bubbles if taken daily for chronic conditions, not if used generously when ill.

"To also say that paracetamol is relatively harmless is a bit naive. There is a reason you can only buy so many at a time"

They don't let you buy loads because there are idiots in this world who think they will commit suicide with two boxes of paracetamol and end up on the dialysis machine, waiting for a kidney transplant.

It is pretty hard to overdose on it, though and you have to be determined to swallow loads to cause yourself harm, which is what "relatively harmless" means.

Well whenever I have a cold I have a temperature and am in pain (bones, joints, throat, sinus, ears) so I assume ds might be too, and seeing as low dosess of paracetamol are harmless why wouldnt I give it to him?

Perhaps the foot warmth from Vicks is nothing more than a relaxant. Who cares? Anecdotally it works (like Jewish penicillin, I suppose).

I'll give my 7 month old calpol if she's got a really bad cold. She's only had the one yet at 3 months and she was struggling to breathe and sleep. It helped soothe her and only gave it a few times. I'm giving her it now as she's teething again and cries in pain alot. That and baby bonjela.

not if used generously when ill.

Not even sure what that means

"Vicks plus socks will warm the feet "

Out of curiosity, how do you think Vicks warms feet? I mean, it doesn't radiate heat on its own and doesn't react with the skin (I'd be worried if it did either). So what makes you think Vicks + socks warms feet more then just socks?

CoteDAzur- that is not at all correct! Its actually really, really easy to overdose on it. There have been numerous cases on the news recently of people who have died from taking not that many (accidental) doses.

TheCatsMeow - I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I would never give my child medication 'just in case'.

There is nothing wrong with giving it as long as you stick within the recommended dose. Ds respends to pain differently from most children and becomes very aggressive and self harms, biting himself till he bleeds. This can happen in minutes and can go on for hours. So if there is any reasonable chance of pain he is given pain relief.

Mini I wasn't being aggressive. I thoroughly intend to try the Vicks thing myself. I was taking the piss at you thinking that something rubbed on to the skin gets absorbed into the bloodstream.

That and baby bonjela.

Switch to anbesol liquid. Numbs gums rather than just sliding off.