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?

When DS was about nine and a strapping, competitive nine year old who refused to cry in front of teachers and girls when he broke his ankle at school, he cut a couple of permanent molars. He sobbed on the sofa with the pain. I felt enormously guilty for not medicating when he was teething as a baby because "it was only teething" and not an illness. I did however spend a lit of nights soothing him when he was teething. I did not spend time posting shut the fuck up and sleep on facebook (well there was no facebook) and if I had I am quite certain I'd have been dropped by a lot if friends for showing myself up as rude, vulgar and unkind.

YAB extremely U.

What on earth has a broken ankle got to do with people recommending calpol for a cold?

What does everyone class as a mild fever? What number does the thermometer have to read before you give medication? Just because I'm nosy, I'm not judging either way.

Usually anything over about 38.5 I will consider giving calpol or nurofen to my 14mo, but only if she has other symptoms. If she's just hot I make sure she's not too layered up and hopefully she'll go to sleep as normal. If she's crying a lot more than usual or rubbing her face or ears then I assume she's in pain of some kind and will give her some medicine.
If I couldn't sleep due to pain or feeling rubbish I would take paracetamol or nurofen so I don't see why I shouldn't treat DD the same.

Because of the argument over medicating for trivial things. Sometimes what parents think of as trivial aren't as trivial as they believe. Perhaps I expressed that too obliquely but it was meant to be analogous.

NICE guidelines:

1.6 Antipyretic interventions

1.6.1 Effects of body temperature reduction

1.6.1.1 Antipyretic agents do not prevent febrile convulsions and should not be used specifically for this purpose. [2007]

1.6.2 Physical interventions to reduce body temperature

1.6.2.1 Tepid sponging is not recommended for the treatment of fever. [2007]

1.6.2.2 Children with fever should not be underdressed or over-wrapped. [2007]

1.6.3 Drug interventions to reduce body temperature

1.6.3.1 Consider using either paracetamol or ibuprofen in children with fever who appear distressed. [new 2013]

1.6.3.2 Do not use antipyretic agents with the sole aim of reducing body temperature in children with fever. [new 2013]

1.6.3.3 When using paracetamol or ibuprofen in children with fever:

continue only as long as the child appears distressed

consider changing to the other agent if the child's distress is not alleviated

do not give both agents simultaneously

only consider alternating these agents if the distress persists or recurs before the next dose is due. [new 2013]

I always feel dp is quick to suggest calpol. My view is that if the dc's seem okay, despite having a runny nose or rosy cheeks then I won't give it. If they're obviously in discomfort then I will but I don't like to give it for the sake of it.

For those saying their baby/child wont have Calpol, my 8 month old DD is the same and the GP gave me a box of suppositories for her, they work astoundingly quicker than liquid paracetamol too, she doesn't seem phased by them going up her bum and she feels better quickly. Both her and DS3 get fevers quite high and quite quickly. DD is teething atm and she has a cold, her temp is going from 37 to 39.5 in a matter of minutes.

Because of the argument over medicating for trivial things. Sometimes what parents think of as trivial aren't as trivial as they believe.

No one thinks a broken ankle is trivial. The original OP was about giving calpol for a cold and cough. Not for actual pain. Completely different.

If they feel hot and aren't wanting to do stuff, then that's a temperature I'd probably give calpol for- because they are obviously unhappy.

If they feel hot and are still happily doing stuff, then no calpol.

I don't have a thermometer.

I'm a bit anti-medicine - more likely to get DC to inhale olbas via steam, Vicks etc. If it's a temperature/pain/earache that's a bit different and some paracetamol would probably be needed!

Yabu. If my baby is ill, crying and struggling to sleep comfortably then he may have a headache, throat ache, sore throat or any number of things. So I give him infant paracetamol as I want him to feel better. Why wouldn't you? It's not giving it to them every time they cry

All of you putting Vicks on your babies feet - Please read the label! It's not safe for babies!

Buy snufflebabe instead. I don't care whether you put it on their chest or their feet.

m.vicks.co.uk/en-GB/products/decongestants/VAPORUB%2050G

I do think some parents over use medicine. I look after a relatives child a few days a week and she seems to have a lot of 'just in case' medicine. I am often presented with calpol and told "she is fine but has a slight temp and runny nose so give her this just in case" the child is playing, laughing eating and drinking. She is also taken to the Doctors for very minor complaints, a blister for example.

On the other hand PIL seem to think it is virtuous not to take any medication and not to rest when ill. When my two youngest picked up a very nasty virus. PIL were constantly trying to 'rally them round' suggesting I stop giving calpol and take them for a walk.
My children were lying on the sofa or in bed all the time not talking, or eating with temperatures up to 40. The only way to get fluid into them was by syringe telling them it was medicine.
My two year old didn't walk for three weeks and was admitted to hospital to have IV fluids but apparently a bit of fresh air would have sorted him out.

if dc are miserable with an illness of course I will give the appropriate medication!

I would be a bad parent if I didn't!

an unsettled baby with a cold might have a headache, so I would give a dose and see if it helps.

Personally I'd rather give my ds some calpol than know he's in pain. You might not mind your dc being in pain but don't criticise people for giving appropriate medication to their children.

Thank you, TattyDevine! Every day is a school day

Pollyperky I never buy the brands 'cal' products or nurofen etc unless it is all the late night petrol station stocks when we are desperate. I don't understand why people spend more money when exactly the same product is usually on the same shelf for a couple of pounds less. Clever marketing is all I can assume.

A woman nearly screamed at me in the pharmacy once when I was there with my poorly toddler for pain relief, she kept thrusting Calpol in my face. I said no thanks, this co-op own brand is fine and she was livid

I've found it very hard to find own brand sugared calpol and calprofen. I don't want sugar-free.

It can be difficult to get hold of the non branded liquid paracetamol and ibuprofen. Our local large supermarket frequently doesn't have anything but the branded ones in stock and they are never on the shelf with the other children's medications. The pharmacy (chemists) often only has the large 500ml bottles which are only available with a prescription.

We don't mind sugar free but they are still difficult to get hold of. We usually end up going to Boots which is the only place that reliably sells it.

YABU.

Nothing wrong with trying to make your child comfortable. After all, babies can't tell you if they have a headache / sore throat etc. Also, you want to make sure they are comfortable enough to be able to sleep - tiredness is not going to do them any favours if they are already run down.

The point was SoupDragon, that a baby can't communicate whether they are in pain or not. When my nine year old cut molars, ie, teething pain, it was more unbearable than his broken ankle. As parents we don't and can't feel what our children feel, it's a guessing game and based on my experience I wish I had been more cautious when ds was a baby and had medicated more rather than dismissing what with hindsight was probably very painful teething pain. Do you get it now?