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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:
rosewithoutthorns · 20/01/2016 23:37

Bringing down a temperature, making the child comfortable etc. will help symptoms. The body makes, for a want of a better word "snot'" for a reason, help all the other things and this will ease. No need for vapour rub on a childs body etc. lift the head slightly at night.

I have had sinus problems for years, so might know a bit. Not a lot but a bit.

DisappointedOne · 20/01/2016 23:44

Ah, but reduce the temperature and you'll prolong the cold. Not a golden ticket.

DisappointedOne · 20/01/2016 23:50

None of the rest of us have ever had problems rose. We haven't had to have our tonsils and adenoids out or had problems with ears since childhood, or repeated sinusitis for about 3 years after breaking their nose while suffering with it......... No, not at all.

I was prescribed steroids for my recurrent ear infections while I had a perforated ear drum. That was fun.

The medicine I had to have for my tonsils from age 2 till they eventually agreed to remove them rotted most of my teeth and damaged the enamel of my adult teeth.

So do excuse me if I don't jump to medicine for colds.

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 02:19

The medicine I had to have for my tonsils from age 2 till they eventually agreed to remove them rotted most of my teeth and damaged the enamel of my adult teeth.

So do excuse me if I don't jump to medicine for colds.

So you dislike medicine because you had a bad side effect. That makes sense but doesn't hold up

UptownFunk00 · 21/01/2016 02:28

Id give my child Calpol/nurofen if:

  • they have a fever
  • they are in a lot of pain
  • especially if both is the case

So in that respect if DD had a cold with raised temp I'd give her something. If like now she just has born snot than saliva I just give her lots of TLC.

I mostly use them for teething as that really can be horrid when very little.

SmillasSenseOfSnow · 21/01/2016 02:45

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.........

Their point was that the body will still prompt you to drink when you are in need of fluids. Or does the thirst trigger disappear when you have a cold?

SmillasSenseOfSnow · 21/01/2016 02:47

I wish my mum had thought to give me painkillers when I went through horrendous growing pains in my legs. I used to shout for her in the middle of the night and she'd sit rubbing my legs for a while. Hardly the most sensible solution...

bumbleymummy · 21/01/2016 07:35

Rose, the body also raises its temperature for a reason when we're ill.

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 07:38

And it feels horrible bumbley

DisappointedOne · 21/01/2016 08:22

So you dislike medicine because you had a bad side effect. That makes sense but doesn't hold up

I've lost count of the number of times I've said this now. Could you please pay attention this time? I'll say it as simply as I can.

  • I do not "dislike medicine".
  • I think modern medicine is amazing.
  • It's just not something I will necessarily reach for at the first signs of a cold in either my child or myself.
  • I don't administer it "just in case". I have other things that I will use in the absence of any actual pain or serious fever* which relieve the symptoms.
  • vast majority of these remedies are also recommended by the NHS.
  • I don't go within 50 miles of homeopathy, crystal healing or any other such nonsense.

Clear enough for you?

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 08:32

Your posts have a tone of quite clearly thinking medicine is somewhat negative.

DisappointedOne · 21/01/2016 08:37

Medicine used properly is fantastic.

But so are other things for mild cold symptoms.

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 08:47

But your insistence at using other things first does suggest you think the other things are better and that there are negatives with medicine!

I usually use both to be honest together!

honkinghaddock · 21/01/2016 08:51

Some people have greater tolerance of cold symptoms than others. Some people feel worse with the same symptoms. When I was my sons age I would go to school with colds with no medication and cope ok. My son with the same 'level' of symptoms couldn't cope in school. He used to be sent home because they couldn't cope with his behaviour. They eventually agreed to give him calpol in school (against their usual policy) whenever he showed signs of discomfort because he was missing a week every time he had a cold.

AnotherTimeMaybe · 21/01/2016 08:53

I love a good calpol but tbf there are other things you try before that you just need to know what thy are and unfortunately they are hard to find... I had an amazing GP who gave me some fantastic tips and baby didn't need antibiotics afterall on quite a few occasions ....
Nature does provide with fab material but reality is that few know about it, it's easier to go for the meds!

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 08:54

But why is natural better?

bumbleymummy · 21/01/2016 08:57

Not always Cat. My children have had fevers and still been jumping around and playing. The current advice recognises that fever is actually helping the body to fight off illness so only advises medicating if the child is in discomfort. Something which most parents are able to tell because they know their own children.

Disappointed, your posts and your opinion have been perfectly clear. Don't worry about Cat.

honkinghaddock · 21/01/2016 08:58

Antibiotics and paracetamol aren't the same thing. You don't get paracetamol resistance.

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 09:00

bumbley if they're able to talk that's a bit different but babies who can't tell you I think it's better to err on the side of caution

AnotherTimeMaybe · 21/01/2016 09:05

But why is natural better?
Any natural anti inflammatory is better than a chemical one cause it targets the inflammation in the whole body and helps body to heal itself. Ibuprofen is specific o certain symptoms it's synthetic it won't help the body's immune attack the virus
My 16mo has had antibiotics 5 times already his immune is weak it his his tonsils each time. Ibuprofen gives relief from fever temporarily but the body can't cope, it turns into bacterial till temp goes to 41 and meds can't help anymore, other than antibiotics

The amazing GP I was referring told me what to give him the minute I see a cold, I've done it and the results are bloody amazing! I owe this guy everything
Nature is there for a reason Smile

HooseRice · 21/01/2016 09:09

I did the Vicks on my feet thing when I had an irritating cough over Xmas that worsened at night. It worked a treat and I got a decent sleep. I was surprised as I thought it was a load of old tosh.

arethereanyleftatall · 21/01/2016 09:11

Another time - what did you give him?

bumbleymummy · 21/01/2016 09:11

Well Cats, as you've been told already, you're entitled to your opinion. Other people feel that they know their babies enough to judge when they may need it and when they don't.

LagoonaBlu · 21/01/2016 09:12

As someone who's family live in an area with very limited access to healthcare (even calpol!) I think its very easy to swear off pharmaceuticals on on natural remedies when you have calpol stowed at the back of your cupboard

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 09:23

another
That's a fallacy. Everything is a chemical! Water is a chemical! This fear of chemicals is ridiculous. There's nothing better about something being "natural"!

And it can't "turn" bacterial it either is bacterial already or it isn't

I'm not meaning to have a go but there's absolutely no evidence for what you're saying