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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:
AnotherTimeMaybe · 21/01/2016 11:06

TheCatsMeow

My son had suspected sepsis when he was born. Guess I should have refused the NICU and antibiotics and lay him on a bed of roses, lit some scented candles and given him ginger!

Your scarcasm is out of line especially as you didn't get that at any point from me! I gave a fact about DS that helped him massively and it was actually advice from a GP who's seen this work in many... Of course you can disagree, but taking the piss while translating what I said into something ridiculous, it's just rude !

bumbleymummy · 21/01/2016 11:13

Oh yeah CatsMeow, all that 'bullshit' and 'pseudoscience' that the NHS and NICE spout Hmm

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 11:14

another it's just frustrating when people are claiming woo as fact especially when you've benefitted from medicine like we have

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 11:14

The NHS don't tell you to use natural remedies instead of medicine:

bumbleymummy · 21/01/2016 11:15

Or you could deal with the stuffy nose and if he settles then he doesn't need Calpol which is what some people choose to do.

bumbleymummy · 21/01/2016 11:17

Ok cats, now I'm pretty much convinced you're on a wind up. You saw the links from the NHS last night that Dissappointed linked to and they suggested plenty of 'natural remedies' for colds. You just seem to be ignoring anything that doesn't agree with what you think and then making stuff up or twisting people's words so you can have an argument. Are you really bored or something?

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 11:20

They don't suggest using it instead of though! They also suggest calpol. And none of you have been able to give a reason why natural is superior to drugs.

I just get annoyed when people use woo for their children as I don't think it's fair

honkinghaddock · 21/01/2016 11:26

I have a 9 year old who is non verbal and probably always will be. He can't tell me he hurts and doesn't understand why he hurts. We have had experience of being told the symptoms he has cannot be painful when it has been clear later that they were. I have seen what happens to children like my son when they become adults and the pain they are in is ignored leading to unmanageable and distressing behaviour. That is why I believe in just in case rather than waiting.

bumbleymummy · 21/01/2016 11:30

They suggest giving it for discomfort. Evetuone has said that they give their children

bumbleymummy · 21/01/2016 11:36

Oops - phone.

They suggest giving it for discomfort. Most people have said that they give their children paracetamol if they are in discomfort. You have referred to things recommended by the NHS and NICE as woo. they wouldn't be recommending them if they were. Seeing as you seem to have such an issue with it, maybe you should email them to let them know that you don't approve?

AnotherTimeMaybe · 21/01/2016 11:39

honkins yours is a different case, I'd do the same, sorry to hear about a your boy

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 11:40

But in addition to medicine. Not instead of. That's what you don't seem to understand

I'll ask you again why is natural superior?

bumbleymummy · 21/01/2016 11:49

No, cat they don't recommend that they're only ever taken 'in addition to medicine'. Sometimes they're good enough on their own. Maybe you don't understand that because you've never tried?

No one on this thread as said 'natural is superior' except you. They've just said that sometimes paracetamol isn't necessary which you can't seem to get your head around.

Anyway, this is going round in circles and I have better things to do with my time :)

TheCatsMeow · 21/01/2016 11:55

Evidence they recommend them on their own?

And by saying "we try natural first" suggests you see natural as better

DisappointedOne · 21/01/2016 12:13

The natural remedies deal with other symptoms of a cold than pain. You can have a cold with or without pain. If you don't have pain, you don't need pain relief. If you do have pain, you may need pain relief, but that won't deal with snotty noses or thirst. Natural remedies like honey and lemon, extra drinks, fresh air etc treat many symptoms equally as well as/better than drugs.

DD's cry changed markedly if she had a sore throat. Likewise if she was in pain, even as a tiny baby. They don't usually just lie there silent while you work out if they're unhappy!

solomon2003 · 21/01/2016 13:45

"... which is all we need because symptoms are temporary, too."
A very educated comment that, tell that to the chronic sufferers........The stupidity on this forum is incredible

solomon2003 · 21/01/2016 13:47

"I get wound up by bullshit and pseudo science,"
Herbalism has been around for hundreds of years and is not pseudo science. You will find far more pseudo science within the NHS

solomon2003 · 21/01/2016 14:20

"That's aimed at adults, bumble
But I suspect you know that.
This thread is about children."
Oh and children are a different species to adults, then? Mindless thinking on here again..

thelouisee · 21/01/2016 14:27

solomon To be fair, children do respond differently to adults. Ill children can go rapidly downhill which is why, rightly, they are prioritised in A&E, emergency clinics and walk-in centres etc.

Girlwhowearsglasses · 21/01/2016 14:31

I haven't read the entire thread but has anyone noted that paracetamol is an anti-inflammatory? So as well as reducing pain it can reduce swelling - which in turn causes pain? Prime example would surely be a stuffed up nose or possible sinus congestion.

SmallGreenBouncyBall · 21/01/2016 14:41

paracetamol is not an anti inflammatory.
it is pain relief and also lowers a fever.

ibuprofen is an anti inflammatory.

ChimpyChops · 21/01/2016 14:48

Paracetamol is not an anti-inflammatory.

ChimpyChops · 21/01/2016 14:49

Oh sorry bouncyball, I hadn't refreshed Grin

Girlwhowearsglasses · 21/01/2016 14:49

Ah ok. So perhaps Calprofen preferable in some circumstances.

Original poster
RagamuffinAndFidget · 21/01/2016 15:01

Cats what are you referring to as 'woo', exactly? I've not said that I use any other remedies when one of my children has a cold, just that I don't understand why some people are so quick to jump to Calpol all the time. I settled DS3 the other day by giving him cuddles/boob/his dummy, and he went off to sleep eventually. He slept reasonably well that night so I assume he wasn't in pain. So he didn't need Calpol, and I'm glad I didn't give it to him because even if it is widely used and low-risk, it's still a chemical product and a drug, so surely it's better for him not to have it if he doesn't need it?

OP posts:
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