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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

MLGs · 19/01/2016 23:14

People have said most of what I would say already - calpol will help with pain, LO may have pain with a cold, it won't help him sleep if not, etc. All of which I agree with. Would give calpol if LO seems unhappy and as though might be in pain.

Just on the point about piriton, though, I was advised by a GP can you can give this for cough and cold in over 1s. It dries up the snot a bit and apparently suppresses the cough reflex so that they can sleep. It's not sold for this purpose though.

Smartiepants79 · 19/01/2016 23:15

I think about how I know I feel when I've got a bad cold and how I would medicate myself. I then scale it down and make it appropriate for my child.
I give calpol if I feel they are in need, often only a half dose or to relieve the symptoms to aid sleep.
In my experience Vicks on the feet is a miracle cure for persistent tickly cough.
I've no idea why but it works. Used on my DD tonight actually. Within minutes of applying she'd stopped coughing and was asleep. I don't question the vicks!!

MLGs · 19/01/2016 23:15

Also, agree with those who say don't put Vicks directly on the skin of under 2s. A bit of olbas oil or similar on a bib or other cloth nearby but out of reach is a good idea.

WorraLiberty · 19/01/2016 23:17

You said your baby has a cough and a cold, not 'the sniffles'.

I agree that some people tend to overuse medicines, but if a baby is having trouble sleeping due to having a cough and a cold, I think a dose of Calpol wouldn't be out of place.

I know when I have a cold, I tend to get headaches and sore, swollen gums. When that happens, paracetemol before bed helps to take it away.

A baby can't tell you if they have a headache or swollen gums, so if they're ill and they can't settle with a cold, it's quite a sensible thing to offer imo.

TheSecondViola · 19/01/2016 23:17

The vicks only works if you are putting enough on the feet to waft up to the nose. In which case you have used far too much.
It's illogical and ridiculous, yet so many people repeat it. Miracle cure my arse.

Pobspits · 19/01/2016 23:18

I rarely give calpol or nurofen - usually only if a very high temp especially at night or if in a lot of pain. If the coughing is keeping them awake I don't usually do calpol though I suppose it's a fair assumption maybe their throat is sore. Tbh though I don't take painkillers myself when I have a bug. I gave dd calpol last week because shed fallen and really hurt herself. I can't remember the time before that - probably when she had a UTI and a ridiculous temperature and wouldn't move. Ds - can't remember but it'll have been because of a vvvv high fever because that's what he does. My mum suggests calpol for everything eg 'oh he's worried about X' - solution = calpol, he can't sleep - soluyion = calpol but then I suffer from terrible insomnia and she reckons a paracetamol would sort me out
However I do give my kids inhalers and antihistamine every day and hate that they need it.

Grilledaubergines · 19/01/2016 23:20

I would definitely give pain relief for a cold/cough etc. Young children can also suffer joint pain when they get a bad cold. Put the poor things out of their misery and give them something to ease the discomfort.

DisappointedOne · 19/01/2016 23:21

That's what I thought when I first did it. There is some research which suggests it works because it raises the temperature of the soles of the feet which then works a bit like reflexology for the respiratory system.

In any case, it won't do any harm, whereas over dosing with calpol etc will.

KP86 · 19/01/2016 23:25

Vicks on feet with decent socks, as well as on the chest, is the absolute best. I do it when I'm feeling a bit cold-like and I'm usually better within 24 hours.

TheSecondViola · 19/01/2016 23:28

There is some research which suggests it works because it raises the temperature of the soles of the feet which then works a bit like reflexology for the respiratory system

Reflexology for the respiratory system? Research by who exactly, clearly no-one with any medical knowledge. OR basic anatomy.....

And yes, it can do harm. Camphor and menthol can both severely irritate the skin, and too much can cause respiratory distress. Also teaching people that it could work could affect logic skills...

Wolfiefan · 19/01/2016 23:32

Olbas oil on a tissue near bed.
Calpol for temperature. Or pain.

And I've not forgiven the bastards who (according to chemist) gave medised regularly to their kids to get the buggers to sleep. So now I can't buy it for my kids when they are actually ill. Grr!
And breathe.

Dontlaugh · 19/01/2016 23:32

I have a cold at the moment and don't use lemsip or cold remedies. I'll take a paracetamol if I have an awful headache, but otherwise use vitamin c, zinc, hot honey and lemon (or squash) and as much sleep/rest as I can get.

I'm no expert, but that combined concoction sounds like homemade Lemsip to me.
If a child has a temp and a cough and a sore throat and a headache, give them some pain relief. That is all.

Dontlaugh · 19/01/2016 23:34

Disappointedone
There is some research which suggests it works because it raises the temperature of the soles of the feet which then works a bit like reflexology for the respiratory system.
Could we get a link to that?

DisappointedOne · 19/01/2016 23:37

It was 5 years ago I found it. If I get chance I'll have a look for it.

WorraLiberty · 19/01/2016 23:38

I've a feeling the vicks on feet thing is more of a comfort/placebo really.

Having said that, I admit I've never tried it.

arethereanyleftatall · 19/01/2016 23:38

I give it if they're in pain.

But, yanbu - the amount of parents I've seen giving calpol to a completely well child to keep them quiet in a church/meeting/show/plane etc is beyond bonkers. Another bizarre one - a friend gave her child calpol BEFORE her immunisation jabs just in case she reacted to them!

I have 2 dc - 7&5 - and we're still on the first bottle of cal pol I bought when dd1 was born. I suspect it's out of date. I've never withheld it if I thought it would ease their pain, but I don't think they suffer from the same aching of joints/headaches etc that adults do when they get colds. Mine can both be coughing/snotting nonstop but still be running around as happy as larry. So I wouldn't give it then.

DisappointedOne · 19/01/2016 23:40

I'm no expert, but that combined concoction sounds like homemade Lemsip to me.

No, because I very rarely need the pain relief (taken none with this cold). If I had lemsip every time I had a hot drink if have had about 6 doses of paracetamol a day!

Dontlaugh · 19/01/2016 23:41

It was 5 years ago I found it. If I get chance I'll have a look for it.
Looking forward to that. I always enjoy evidence based medicine, personally.
What with it being based on evidence.

kippersmum · 19/01/2016 23:42

Why wouldn't you give an ill child some pain relief that will also bring their temp down? I don't understand it?

If I feel awful with a cold I take some medicine to help me feel better, why wouldn't I do that for my daughter?

I agree that Calpol might be overused. When on holiday in Spain (DD2 was ill) I learned from a Spanish Dr they don't use paracetamol there, they think Ibuprofen works much better. Dr was not impressed when I said I had Calpol.

Spanish ibuprofen liquid medicine is called "Daisy" & is revolting enough the DCs don't get it often but it works like magic.

ChimpyChops · 19/01/2016 23:42

I can't find the post now but someone said that you can't buy liquid paracetamol without it being Calpol? Yes you can, non-branded stuff. I always buy it, boots or supermarket own brand. Haven't bought Calpol in ages, it is £2 more expensive for the same medicine. Can't find the post so apologies if I read it in the wrong way.

DisappointedOne · 19/01/2016 23:43

Yes, me too. Scientific household and all that. But the Vicks thing does work here (and I'm not sure it can be a placebo effect on a 4m old).

If you want to do the university accounting assignment I'm taking a break from I'll happily look for it now.

TheSecondViola · 19/01/2016 23:43

Snopes

IfItsGoodEnough4ShirleyBassey · 19/01/2016 23:44

Pre-emptive calpol before immunisations used to be widely recommended and practiced. It now isn't because the evidence is that it doesn't actually reduce the risk of febrile convulsions, and it might perhaps reduce the effectiveness of the immunisation (no idea how ).

DisappointedOne · 19/01/2016 23:44

Also, there's a massive difference between sugared and sugar-free calpol, I've found. I only ever buy sugared....

AdoraBell · 19/01/2016 23:45

SIL used to give baby/toddler Calpol before bed every night.

For a fever I do give them something. Also Strepsils for sore throat now they are older, but for a common cold they don't really need anything.

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