To suspect my nanny is drugging my child?

[Bambooshoot]

I have a nanny for my son who is now eighteen months old, she has been with us since he was ten months old. I recently noticed that the level of the emergency bottle of Calpol had gone down dramatically and I know we have not given him any. I put a mark on the bottle to see if it would go down any further, and sure enough, it has. She is the only other person in the house. Is it possible for Calpol to evaporate over time, or is she giving it to him and not telling me/writing it in the book? If so, would IBU to sack her on the spot for endangering his health, in that we could have come home from work and given him another dose without realising? I suppose she could be taking it herself, at a stretch - I just think this is a pretty serious allegation and I don't want to upset the relationship by suggesting she is giving it to him if it can just dry up anyway?

Is it possible that the nanny gave one dose of calpol when she was pretty sure it would be more that four hours before you took over care of the baby? In which case, while she should have written it down, the risk to the LO was small and she may have seen the writing it down as unimportant? You may or may not feel that is ok, but if she is generally good it is maybe something to think about. No one will be perfect and of course you will have to factor in the disruption caused by employing someone else.

If your nanny was taking a dose for herself of the baby pink calpol, she would have to take 41 mls to take the equivalent of two tablets.

Some really weird responses on here. Especially given the fact the op's posts are pretty clear and she's taking on board people's advice. I'm a childminder and have to record any medicine given, I would absolutely expect to be in big trouble if a parent discovered I'd been giving medicine without their knowledge and consent. Potential overdose is a very obvious risk if I did that. Why do people think most schools won't administer medicine or if they do need you to sign paperwork? It's because administering medicine comes with risks and needs to be done and recorded properly.

Op, I think you sit her down and explain that you noticed the calpol has almost gone but neither you or dh have used it. Has she been using it? Let her explain. I'm not sure if this is sackable if you're otherwise happy with her and she has just been a bit naive.

I think it's sweet the people saying "calpol isn't a sedative therefor she can't have been giving it as a sedative". Loads of people giving it routinely as a sedative regardless of whether it works medically. However given the quantities involved she can't have been giving it routinely before every nap.

Spillage is only a possibility if she has the bottle out and open, and highly unlikely with modern bottles which are dispensed by syringe and unspillable.

Most likely scenarios
A) taking it herself because she doesn't like tablets
B) giving to child for specific minor ailments. Terribly bad practice not to tell the parent because what if child gets ill in the night and they start dosing it up without knowing precious doses? But correctable bad practice.

I'm not sure why all the drama, marking the bottle, talking about drugging, having to accuse her etc.

Just say to her, I noticed we are running out of calpol, has X been not very well, then repeat you'd prefer she asks you before giving him any if the answer is in the affirmative,

User: the nanny has a right not to be fired unreasonably. It is natural for people to take the view that she should be given a chance to say her piece.

With less than 2 years' service that right is moral rather than legal.

As someone said upthread, if she wanted to harm him surely she would have her own secret bottle? That would calm me down a bit.

bluntness exactly! I am by this thread and every other one on nannies. It's all a bit Enid Blyton - Five Drink All the Calpol.

Spillage is only a possibility if she has the bottle out and open, and highly unlikely with modern bottles which are dispensed by syringe and unspillable i can guarantee 100% that these are MORE likely to end up all over the sofa/carpet/curtains/dog than any good old pour it on the spoon method. I routinely take the silly plastic bit out of our bottles for that very reason.

Op, did you say anywhere how often you've seen a decrease in volume? Weekly, monthly?

I also think spillage or wriggling flailing child grabbed the syringe or spat it out or the nanny had period pain or a headache or something. Just ask her. "Goodness, this has gone down quick! I didn't realise. We must both make sure we put all the doses in the book."

Overuse of Calpol needs to be taken very seriously.
If it's deliberate it is a child safeguarding issue and this person should not be working with children.
If it is mistaken this person needs urgent education and training and it is still a safeguarding issue.

It is not the same as giving a few extra sweets. Look at this from the Independent.

Leading paediatrician and professor of general paediatrics at University College London, Alastair Sutcliffe, said parents were overusing paracetamol to treat mild fevers. As a result, the risk of developing asthma, as well as kidney, heart and liver damage is heightened, according to the Sunday Times.

Mr Sutcliffe said: “Parents are using paracetamol too permissively. They seem to fear fever as an illness, per se, which it is not. There is evidence that the excess usage of paracetamol is associated with increased rates of asthma, increased rates of liver damage, but less widely known, kidney and heart damage.”

Not meaning to stir the pot, but interestingly both of my boys do get very drowsy and mellow after taking the smallest dose of calpol.One bottle does last us ages (they are 4yrs and 4months, so different brands etc. but still). Maybe it's the placebo effect But yy OP, do ask her

What's an 'emergency' bottle of calpol?

Serious: No, it's not - there is simply no redress available to those unfairly dismissed. It remains unfair dismissal even legally.

How many people would be willing to be upfront with a prospective nanny and say, "Just so you are aware, if anything goes wrong I reserve the right to fire you out of hand. I know it's not legal but my child means more to me than fair employment practices."

Do that and you're golden.

I've no idea why you got hard time, OP. I/ a children's medicine so you would assume it was given to a child. And since yours hasn't been ill then it is odd.

All you can do is ask, maybe it got spilt, at leats you'll know.

Drink I think the OP is getting a hard time because she has jumped to a massive assumption and accusation of 'drugging' without even speaking to the nanny. The nanny is already sacked in the OPs mind.

Why not ask her?

To be fair to the OP - she did say there were other issues.

Also I assumed all medicines administered by those working with children, had to be recorded and signed off - as we do at preschool or school. Not to do so would be quite wrong.

A child could have a reaction to the medicine (my dd2 does to Ibuprofen)
The parent could unwittingly double dose
It is a safeguarding issue

It's wrong and a bit irresponsible that she's giving it without telling you BUT she is not really putting his health at risk. Even if you gave him a double dose once that is not going to cause any lasting damage.

Also - how long have you had the bottle?? You haven't mentioned replacing the bottle so this can surely only have happened a handful of times.

Incidentally, if you do find out how to have her beheaded, do let me know how because mine's a nightmare!

I buy calpol for myself and use it.

Check first she hasn't taken it herself.

I do have a prescription for suspension because it does work faster and is easier to take for migraines. (I buy it cos tis cheaper) The adult dose is surprisingly big, likely because we are used to using it on small people.

I say this as someone who's child care used phenergan that was my DM.

this will never be said enough CALPOL IS NOT A SWEET AND IS NOT MILD!

It is a medicine and should only be used as a last resort! Just google it, and the first link you see will tell you that There is evidence that the excess usage of paracetamol is associated with increased rates of asthma, increased rates of liver damage, but less widely known, kidney and heart damage.

Calpol should not be sold over the counter, it gives people the false impression that it is

just chat to the nanny about it - no need for any cloak and dagger conspiracy theories?

any decent childcare professional won't mind being asked - and then you can just agree how you communicate this going forward?

To take the 'emergency' bottle away and get hysterical about your child being 'drugged' is not helping.

*sorry, posted too soon

give false impression that it is harmless, it is not!

OP, no ,it doesn't evaporate like that. Take action quickly. It's good news that your little one is completely fine, but stop this. It is beyond unacceptable and dangerous.

I seriously doubt the Nanny is deliberately drugging your child. If she was then surely she would be smart enough to use her own supply. I suspect realistically there's either been a couple of occasions where your DS has been poorly and she's given him a dose and forgotten to write it in his book, or she's spilt some. I think dismissal would be harsh. In the first instance just say 'I notice the calpol has gone down a bit recently. Can you make sure you write any doses you give in his book so I know what's he's had and when I need to get another bottle'? If the issue is ongoing then put it in writing as a disciplinary issue.