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 don't see the point in reaching for medicine first when something else may well do the same thing. We can agree to differ!

I don't see the point of reaching for something I know for a fact will do nothing at all - like a cup of water. Then again, I don't pray, take homeopathic stuff, or trust any other placebo to make me feel better.

Well if nothing else, the thought that putting Vicks on the feet helps because it enters the bloodstream quicker has kept me entertained all day
So if you rub it on your dc's chest, it'll enter the bloodstream more slowly
Dear God.

Of course a cup of water will do something. It keeps you hydrated. I'm not sure why you would equate fluid intake during illness to praying or homeopathic remedies Cote.

I can't believe how scathing and horrible and superior people are being on this thread just because God forbid people do things differently. How stupid we must all be to just be trying to do our best for our children ... I must remember to come here and ask permission before I make any health decisions for them in future

I thought the Vicks on feet thing was because feet are generally warm in bed so release the vapours more immediately & effectively? Fuck knows anyway, I have one of those plug in vapour things ftom Boots which has always worked brilliantly when DC's are sniffly, have even used it myself on occasion.
I do give ibuprofen if I think it necessary though.

"Of course a cup of water will do something. It keeps you hydrated."

Because everyone who doesn't say "Oh I'm really ill with a cold. I'll get me a glass of water and that will really help" is dehydrated?

I find this emphasis on 'hydration' quite weird. Our bodies have a system that warns us a looooong time before dehydration. Drink when you are thirsty, that is all you need to do.

And you will not get over a cold quicker because you drank more cups of water. You will just go to the toilet more often.

I think the cup of water thing was mentioned earlier in relation to a headache. I can get headaches too when I don't drink enough water. I would imagine that was what the poster was talking about. She also mentioned getting up and getting outside/going for a walk when she feels headaches coming on. I spend a lot of my day sitting in front of a screen and both of those things can help me if I feel headache twinges. I take it as a sign that I need to get away from the screen for a while and give my eyes a break.

Frequent use of painkillers can actually give you headaches

That's aimed at adults, bumble
But I suspect you know that.
This thread is about children.

Actually drinking water & fluids does help with cold symptoms!

"find this emphasis on 'hydration' quite weird. Our bodies have a system that warns us a looooong time before dehydration. Drink when you are thirsty, that is all you need to do."

Couldn't agree more.

Actually, we've been discussing both Punk. I suspect you know that. Do you think children couldn't possibly get headaches from over use of paracetamol?

We're talking about headaches caused by the cold virus, no dehydration. How can drinking water help with a cold virus headache?

Colds often lead to you feeling dried out because you breath through your mouth when your nose is blocked up, and sleeping with your mouth open makes you feel dry. Dunno whether that means you actually get "dehydrated" though.

Yeah I hate that. You can't drink whilst you're asleep though. Just wake up with your tongue stuck down

I now feel very guilty at how much/how often I used to give calpol.

Granted, my kids were always ill (both at a nursery)

Since moving them to a childminder, they have been well for nearly 10 weeks now. Not had one drop of Calpol. It's made me realise that they probably used to have it at least twice a week, if not more. I'm actually really concerned I could have done some lasting damage.

Drinking water & fluids helps thin & clear mucus quicker

Indeed we have, Bumble
But the thread is about giving medication to children and you specifically posted a link which referred to adults. I suspect you know that
Children may also get headaches from the over use of Paracetamol . But we're talking about the odd dose of Calpol or baby Ibuprofen here, as you well know.

need don't. I give calpol to my son regularly because he picks up colds easily and ends up in pain. Doctor advised it, I asked how long can I keep it up for/is it dangerous he said as long as I stick to the doses he's fine. I've used nurofen in between calpol before and that's also fine.

Ignore the woo.

I am really really reluctant to use drugs to mask natural symptoms and impede a body's natural way of dealing woth things (including labour).

My kids can't make that choice yet. Calpol does seem to be very readily given. I try to strike a balance in my children. I definitely give it when I wouldn't take something myself but we hardly ever buy the stuff - it is on the weekly shopping list of a friend of mine!

Other posters have used the argument that they apply how they feel with a cold, and how they treat it to their babies and children. But post an article that mentions adults and apparently it's irrelevant?!

Punk, if you read the thread you'd see that we're not talking about the 'odd dose' of Calpol, we were discussing some people using it 'just in case' and accusing people who don't immediately jump for the Calpol bottle of letting their children 'suffer'. I also posted the link after Cote and I were discussing colds/headaches in ourselves i.e adults. All fairly obvious so I shouldn't really have to point it out but I suspect that you're just trying to find something to argue with me about again.

It's ok Disappointed. It's just that PunkrockerGirl has a 'thing' about me. Best to just leave her to it.

During a cold you lose more water than normal through the runny nose, chesty cough and sweating. Hence needing to drink more. It's pretty basic biology to be honest. Pretty sure Dr Ranj covered it.........