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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For giving my dc Calpol?

109 replies

GoodEyebrowDay · 22/12/2016 08:03

My dh never gives our dc Calpol and when I do it's always met with 'why are you doing that?' in a low tone and later on mini lectures on it's bad sides. I only ever give Calpol when necessary (today I know for definite its teeth, eyes red & bloodshot, full of snots and cough) and it's no more than a few days a month I'd say and always lower than recommended dosage (she's 1 & still only give 2.5ml)

For background he was brought up in a homeopathic household and while I respect what they prefer, I'm not going to sit and listen to my child crying and moaning in discomfort.

Or am I just projecting & reading into it too much?

OP posts:
Temporaryname137 · 22/12/2016 09:25

(And yep, we're giving her Calpol when she has a temperature!)

Looneytune253 · 22/12/2016 09:31

I must admit I don't use paracetamol unless it's really necessary and only use calpol on my kiddies if they are genuinely in pain or a fever. People use it for alsorts nowadays and there was a report recently saying overuse is causing long time health problems. I think it's ok to be cautious. Calpol doesn't work on coughs or colds or being under the weather.

FourToTheFloor · 22/12/2016 09:31

tootsie I was thinking the same! It's more like a few days a month without calpol for dd2 at the moment.

Calpol did nothing for dd1 so we used nurofen but she was hardly ever sick compared to poor dd2.

IAmAPaleontologist · 22/12/2016 09:54

My boys both have hypermobility. The biggest one mostly manages it well himself now if he gets joint pain with heat packs and massage but the 4 year old seems to live on calpol at times like this when he is shattered with school so more prone to joint pain plus picking up bugs and stuff. I don't give it for every little thing, I don't give it for fever unless I have to (ds2 very good at throwing fevers of above 40c) but pain is pain and while the big one understands his pain and understands alternative ways of managing it the 4 year old just knows he is in pain and wants it to stop.

SpookyPotato · 22/12/2016 10:04

How is a few days a month excessive? DS hasn't needed any since teething but when he was, he was having it several times a day (plus nurofen) for a few days at a time. Maybe a weeks relief then the teething would start again. If they're in pain they're in pain. I can't understand letting a child suffer.

PurpleMinionMummy · 22/12/2016 10:09

Yanbu if its needed. I also think a few times a mth is a lot though unless they're teething or ill a lot. Mine don't even have it a few times a year.

MamaLyon · 22/12/2016 10:15

A few times a month seems excessive to me. Our DD is 8 months and had calpol twice...

minipie · 22/12/2016 10:17

I don't think anyone can say any amount is excessive, provided it's within the permitted dosage.

Children vary in terms of how much pain they feel and some DC will sail through teething whilst others will really suffer. Some DC get a sore throat or earache when they have a cold whilst others just have a snotty nose.

So if you got through teething with only 4 doses of medication, great. Doesn't mean other parents are wrong for giving more. Their DC are different.

dollydaydream114 · 22/12/2016 10:30

I know a lot of people saying 'Calpol is no good for coughs and colds' - and yes, it won't dry up a snotty nose or stop a child coughing.

However, if it's the sort of cold that comes with sinus pain, a sore throat or tonsillitis, a headache or a fever, then Calpol will help with all those things. There's a reason why paracetamol is listed as the active ingredient in most OTC cold/flu treatments for adults - it's really effective for those symptoms, which are all common with a nasty cold.

A few days a month would seem excessive for a kid who had all her teeth, but if she's teething I can see why you'd need to give her painkillers more often.

When your partner questions this, say 'She is in pain. This will relieve her pain. Would you rather she was suffering?'

OddBoots · 22/12/2016 10:31

@Bobkinyoyo "To the people saying it's excessive, why? What harm does it do? "

The amounts the OP is talking about is unlikely to cause liver damage but that would be a risk for those who use it frequently.

The other thing that came to mind is that studies have shown that paracetamol taken at the time of vaccinations reduces the antibody response to the vaccination so it is not unreasonable to think tat it may have the same result for infections so potentially prolong the infection and reduce immunity of getting the same infection in the future.

It's all theoretical though, unless you regularly get through a bottle a week or something daft then it isn't a major risk.

Original poster
GoodEyebrowDay · 22/12/2016 10:33

Thanks all. Was genuinely worrying I was doing something wrong. Will start with the proper doses if needed and just hope she gets better soon, so hard to see her struggling and of course tests your sanity!

When it's all died down & thinks a bit calmer I'll chat with dh and see what future plans are for this & if we can make it work.

To the poster who asked about leaving her with people, I can guarantee MIL won't give Calpol so she doesn't get her when she's I'll just in case she needs it & won't get it.

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 22/12/2016 10:43

I would give calpol if dc were suffering and it would help alleviate their pain.
But I'd use steam vapours, raising pillow, cuddles, sleep wherever I could instead.
For my dc, this meant they'd get calpol a couple of times per year absolute max.
I have no supporting evidence, but I can't imagine giving in willy nilly (the every other day that a few posters are saying) is doing your dc any favours at all.

MuppetsChristmasCarol · 22/12/2016 11:11

Yanbu - why would you leave your child in pain?! Doctor DH here is a lot more free and easy with calpol and ibuprofen than I would have been, but it really does help them when they're unwell.

MuppetsChristmasCarol · 22/12/2016 11:13

@allpowerfullizardperson

The op is using calpol perfectly fine in this instance. Can I ask where your medical degree is from?

AllPowerfulLizardPerson · 22/12/2016 11:22

I do not post personal details on line. You can make up your own mind whether what I am posting makes sense without insinuations about the rest of my life.

What she is doing appears to be safe, from her own account, but is suboptimal. And it is good to see she will be using proper doses in future which will mitigate that..

I still hope she will choose medicines other than one (calpol) when assessing how to treat her child. A qualified pharmacist is always a good person to ask.

Clara81 · 22/12/2016 11:33

I used to study homeopathy (was half way through the course when I had dd1 and never went back to it). So I know it's an unpopular view on here but I've seen that homeopathy can work very well, although it can be very hit and miss before the right remedy is found.

I try to keep use of pharma meds to a minimum, but sometimes they are definitely needed. My kids have calpol when they need it, I wouldn't leave them in pain. When I was studying homeopathy one of the lecturers said 'sometimes what people need is a bloody good course of antibiotics!'. So alternative meds are fine, but can be used in conjunction with pharma. If one of my kids had a nasty bump I'd give them some arnica for the shock/bruising, and some calpol for the pain. He's being a bit sanctimonious about it, especially as he's not a trained homeopath and therefore unable to give the right remedy for the problem, it's a very exact science.

CockacidalManiac · 22/12/2016 11:35

he's not a trained homeopath and therefore unable to give the right remedy for the problem, it's a very exact science.

It really isn't. It's bullshit.

BertrandRussell · 22/12/2016 12:02

"he's not a trained homeopath and therefore unable to give the right remedy for the problem, it's a very exact science."

Neither am I. But I could.

hanban89 · 22/12/2016 12:09

I'm a bit Hmm for some of the responses on here.
OP YANBU. Calpol won't stop a runny nose and eyes, but it will help ease any headache, muscle aches etc that come with a cold. And don't be afraid to use the full dose. Half dose won't do anything.
I don't think a few days a month is excessive tbh. We can sometimes go a few months without anything, but seem to go through a lot when the bugs hit which is fairly often with two tiny tots. DD1 gets tonsillitis and we went through heaps as she would get it every 2-3 weeks and was very ill, also seems to pick up everything going. DD2 never gets that ill and wasn't too bothered with teething so hardly ever gets it. She did break her arm and the hospital administered more than double the recommended dose with calpol and neurofen by using her weight, and was in full dose for a few days. I use it as necessary. Which is sometimes more and sometimes not at all.

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 22/12/2016 12:11

"It's a very exact a science" Confused what a load of bollocks. It's water.

OP YANBU, give her a dose if she needs it. My DH is sometimes reluctant to give it if there is nothing 'causing' the pain - my view is that if my child wakes crying with growing pains then they have a dose of calpol. I want them to not be in pain. This is maybe once every two months so not regularly.

Clara81 · 22/12/2016 12:20

I knew I would get jumped on by people telling me it's a load of bullshit. I think you kind of missed the point of what I was saying. You're entitled to your opinions, as am I, but I have personally experienced and witnessed some amazing results with homeopathy. For example wisdom tooth pain so bad that I couldn't eat, drink, and hardly talk. Minutes after taking a homeopathic remedy the pain had completely gone and didn't return for several years. I can't explain it either, but I've found it effective so will carry on using it (alongside prescribed meds as needed).

Costalot1 · 22/12/2016 12:22

I take paracetamol when I have a bad cold and it definitely helps and I give my kids when they have a cold! If he enjoys being in pain then so be it but you're trying to ensure your kids are pain free which is what the majority of mothers try and do for their kids.

CatsAndCocktails · 22/12/2016 12:27

A few days a month in a one year is probably quite realistic. Generally one year olds spend the first month after their boosters having a delayed reaction, rash, fever etc and my daughter probably had a dozen doses of Calpol in the three weeks following her MMR and MenB jab. Then from 12 months there are around 16 teeth that come through, which are nasty and painful for some children. On top of that are the general illnesses and unexplained fevers etc.

I think it is cruel to deny a child approved medication when they are in pain and it will help. However, if the illness persists it makes sense to check with a doctor that there isn't any underlying problem.

welshweasel · 22/12/2016 12:29

I have an amazing homeopathic dispenser in my house. It dispenses every homeopathic remedy under the sun in exactly the right dose. It's called a tap. It's well known that the placebo effect is real, but please don't claim that there is any scientific evidence whatsoever for the efficacy of homeopathy beyond that.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 22/12/2016 12:29

but I have personally experienced and witnessed some amazing results with homeopathy. For example wisdom tooth pain so bad that I couldn't eat, drink, and hardly talk. Minutes after taking a homeopathic remedy the pain had completely gone and didn't return for several years

The placebo effect is both fascinating and very powerful.

OP I think you are both being U for what it is worth. It sounds like you may reach for the calpol rather too often, if a child needs regular painkillers then there is probably some underlying medical issue. However your DP shouldn't be lecturing you. You are definetly being U in not giving a correct dose.