AIBU to call 111 about my baby DD again?

[filou87]

My daughter is nearly 5 months old. A short while ago I washed her hands using a natural hand wash and cold water. I put the soap on her hands and rinsed with cold water while I held her hand, but she put her fingers in her mouth while it still had soap suds on it. I read the ingredients, it actually contains two essential oils, verbena fruit oil and lemon oil. She is her usual self but I am worried. I washed her hands because my dad held her hand and he is a smoker.

I want to call 111 to check for peace of mind. However I am discouraged from doing so because I have found them twice in the last two weeks and they said that if I called again it would flag me up to Social Services. I am a teacher so well aware that they have a duty of care to my daughter but she is extremely well looked after and loved.

Am I being over cautious or should I call 111? So as not to drip feed, I do have PTSD from her very traumatic birth and she was in SCBU. I also have some health anxiety (this began in pregnancy) about my daughter's safety. I don't want to get a visit from SS!

The other times I called 111 were:

1. I gave my daughter a brand new toilet roll to play with while she sat in her bouncer chair. I was cleaning my teeth but watching her. It was only after I took the toilet roll away that I realised she had sucked on it and some had come off. 111 said it was not a not an issue.

1. DD was in her about the chair again while I was cleaning my teeth, this time I gave her a baby board book and when I removed it she had sucked to the corner and a bit of the shiny paper had come off. I was watching her and so she had the book by her mouth but I didnt realise she could actually do that with her gums. She's teething at the moment.

I spoke to my mum and she thinks I am over cautious and that the essential oil concentration will be very low.

Thanks if you read this far.

This sounds a bit over cautious, just keep an eye on her. My mum found me sat on the back step eating a stag beetle when I was just about toddling, there's worse she could put in her mouth.

Your mum is right. This is not anything to worry about. There is no need to call 111. Perhaps it might help you to talk to your gp about how you are feeling and to see if there is anything that could help you with your anxiety?

I wouldn't have called 111 for any of those reasons . I can see why they would refer it. I know they do in my area if you go to a&e too many times (not sure if they do it for ringing 111)

I don’t think you need to call 111 about your daughter.

I do think you need to get some help with your ptsd if you aren’t already.

Your daughter will be fine, please do not worry 🙂 I am pretty sure most children try eating soap at least once within their lifetimes. Or maybe it was just me? 😆

For what it is worth I do think you may be worrying a bit too much - toilet roll is just paper so that won’t do any harm, and the paint from a children’s book will almost definitely be non toxic as it would have to confirm to EU standards (you know the CE symbol).

FP42

Was it just regular soap? If so I’d say she will be fine. Obviously if She starts being sick or temp or not eating /drinking etc then give a ring but if otherwise seems fine it is ok. I had health anxiety with my first - it’s actully very difficult to go from just looking after yourself to your new baby who can’t vocalise when they are sick etc. But believe me it does get better as you go along and if you have anymore children in the future you will see just how relaxed you become.

She will be fine, my DS drunk a loaded of bath water and bubbles this evening. It map be worth speaking to someone about your anxiety as it sound's like it is really affecting you. I hope you are able to start worrying about this, I know it is hard.

Thank you for the replies so far and kindness.

Yes, I am seeing NHS birth trauma counsellor.

I think you’re being over cautious but a new baby will do that to you! Sadly, there’s a lot of accidents and near misses coming your way. They have a knack of terrifying you. Could you do an emergency first aid course specifically geared for treatment of children and babies? This may give you the confidence you may need xx

Are you seeing anyone for your PTSD? It all does sound very very over cautious and not healthy for either of you in the long run.

I don’t think you need to call 111 now. You def didn’t need to call 111 for the other two incidents.

Out of interest what age range do you teach?

You definitely need help for your anxiety. None of these incidents have been in any way a medical concern.

You can call of course, maybe S.S. will be able to help with a referral for some help for you.

Your daughter will be absolutely fine. You need to seek help for your issues if you haven’t already. She’s 5 months old and the things she’ll put in her mouth are only going to get more disgusting and more frequent as she gets older. The next few years are going to be extremely hard for you if you continue like this and there is every chance you’ll project your issues on to your daughter.

I know it’s hard, all parents worry and stress over silly things sometimes but you can’t let it consume you like this. If it makes you feel any better I was shopping in wilko the other day and when I turned around my 4 year old daughter was on her stomach fishing outbthe pick and mix that had fallen on the floor and under the display!

Op it sounds like you're being guided by the health anxiety and ptsd arising from your DD's traumatic birth and early days in SCBU - which is understandable but I think it is important that you try to work out how to find coping strategies to deal with your anxiety around your baby. She will be fine - not just this time but in the future too.

FASH - poor stag beetle - what did it ever do to toddler you?!

I understand you’re very anxious because of her birth and the time in SCBU however you’re being pretty pfb. I’m a paeds nurse and we would find it bizarre if a child came in for something like this. Kids eat and chew things all the time, it’s a fairly normal thing especially at that age when they’re teething and exploring the world around them!

I think you need to perhaps mention to your counsellor that you are experiencing more general anxiety - none of these are reasons to phone 111.

I think you are over anxious about this. Honestly. The concentration of essential oils is far too low to do any harm. Your DD is not unwell or acting out of the ordinary. She will be absolutely fine. I’m glad you are accessing help for your PTSD.

Cross posted with you. I’m glad you’re seeing someone. I agree with PP about a first aid course, I think the NCT run them?

No don't call them you are being overcautious.

Social services wouldn't visit you because your daughter ate paper or accidentally out soap in her mouth. It's just that its a waste of the time.

Obviously if there are any symptoms then call but I am sure there won't be.

ForEverlinf- I teach 11-18

Thank you everyone, this is helping me to get this into perspective. I'm so pleased I posted

I think the best course of action for you OP is to discuss options for help with your health anxiety with your GP. None of the reasons you have (or currently want to) called 111 for in the last couple of weeks have actually justified it. Children do put things in their mouths, very often things that they shouldn't. But a bit off loo roll, bit of book and extremely dilute suds are par for the course.

@myrtleWilson I was adventurous with food as a child 😂. DH mentioned about never seeing stag beetles these days like you did when we were young, at a BBQ at my parents' BH Monday, my mum just shot me a look...

There is no need to call 111. You would call them if your baby was showing signs of being unwell. You don't call 111 when your baby is clearly fine.

Babies are pretty good at showing you they need medical help. They vomit, get temperatures, rashes, swelling, you can't settle them, their poo goes strange, they won't eat or drink for a sustained period, they lose consciousness, their breathing might change. Basically anything that means they're not their usual self - and you know this better than anyone - even 111!

Please stop abusing the service (sorry but that's what it is) and reassure yourself that unless your baby is presenting some symptoms, she's fine and you're doing a good job!

Just maybe choose something age appropriate for her to suck on in future!

Your DD will be fine.

For comparison, my DS at age 3 decided drinking Matey was a good idea. He wanted to see if it tasted as nice as the bubbles smelt. Divvy child.

Sorry have seen your updates now. First aid course really advisable, especially given she will be weaning soon.

I am fairly sure no company would be allowed to sell hand soap that would be dangerous if a tiny amount was ingested. Baby books will be safe to put in mouth and ingesting a small amount of paper won't be harmful. Hope.you get some help for your anxiety. Babies mouth everything and once she is mobile she will find all sorts to put in her mouth. Use your mum as a sounding board it sounds like she is able to be more objective.