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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give my child medised because I need some sleep!

143 replies

Neighboursfan · 09/09/2007 20:37

I'm not used to ds waking up - he's 16 months and pretty much slept through the night since he was 12 weeks.

His molars are coming through - that and he's just started walking so he's too excited to sleep - and he's up twice a night. I give him milk the first time he wakes but the second time I've had enough and dope him up.

I'm not a good sleeper and when he wakes (even if he goes straight back down), I'm awake for the next hour at least paranoid that he's going to wake again.

I don't think he's particularly in pain, and he doesn't have a fever, so AIBU to give him medised so I can sleep? Please tell me I'm not alone! Obviously it is not happening every night.... but is it wrong to say that medised rocks?

OP posts:
lomondgal · 10/09/2007 23:23

sorry but i don't think that is the way to go. being a parent can be hard sometimes and when you don't get your sleep it can be very hard to cope but sedation is not the answer. could you try and get more help from family and friends maybe get a nap during the day? (sorry if this has been suggested have not read all posts)

I would try something myself to try and stay awake rather than giving my child medication. UNLESS they are very distressed and obviously need it. (coffee, red bull, pro plus)

ruty · 11/09/2007 09:12

Hmmmm.

MellowMa · 11/09/2007 12:44

Message withdrawn

scattyspice · 11/09/2007 14:14

Agree lomongal. I haven't had a full nights sleep for 4 yrs. You get used to it.

HappyMummyOfOne · 11/09/2007 14:32

Its hard being a mum or dad at times, sleepless nights are par for the course with children. I wouldnt give a child Medised just so that I could get some sleep.

When DS was teething, I used the gel or Anbesol and nurofen for kids if he really needed it. I have never bought Medised and would only use it if prescribed by a doctor.

Maybe ask your mum or other half to let you catch up on your sleep in the day or help out at night.

lucyellensmum · 11/09/2007 14:32

I am sorry neighbours fan but you are being unreasonable. I use medised when DD has a cold and i do think to myself, oh good, she will sleep well tonight. I would NEVER ever give it under the reasons you have described. I can understand a mother giving it in desperation after having no sleep constantly, but this teething lark is par for the course, you just have to put up with it im afraid. I know it isnt easy but i havent had a nights sleep since my DD was born over two years ago and up until she was well over a year she used to wake at least three or four times a night. I would have had to have her constantly doped up if i were to give her medised everytime she had a bad night.

The big danger of using things like this is that the child could actually become dependant (not addicted, that is quite different) on them. But also, long term use of paracetemol is known to cause liver and kidney problems. I am sure we all want to MINIMISE the amount of drugs our children take not use them as a crutch when things get tough for us.

Dont get me wrong, i do sympathise but it is not a good thing to be doing in my opinion. Someone here recommended the homeopathic crystals and they are a miracle cure. The teething doesnt last for long and you are creating a rod for your own back sedating him. I remember once my DD had a cold that went on for over a week, i gave medised (after consulting with the pharmacist) for about 4 days but then went back to calpol because it was almost as if she was reacting against it, she was waking up in a terrible state in the mornings. Now we only use it if absolutely necessary, ie: she has a blocked up nose or bad cold.

Disis · 02/11/2008 21:29

my 8 month old son is also teething, very snotty at night and was waking up every hour, this was awful. My doc prescribed some Medised, I give him one dose and he sleeps all night. This is the 5th night, but I feel like im giving him too much, every night, so gonna try tomorrow night without. Hopefully, he'll be in more of a routine, but the teething pain will still be there. Im confused too......

barnsleybelle · 02/11/2008 21:42

I think if your dc is in genuine acute pain then regular analgesia is the answer. It needs to be regular to provide background pain relief. However, i would only do this for acute pain for a maximum of 3 days before seeking medical advice.

Giving regular analgesia to a child in genuine pain is not a bad thing.
Giving analgesia to a child who "is not particularly in pain" which is what the op actually wrote is a bad thing.

lingle · 03/11/2008 09:06

Gosh I'm glad I didn't read this thread in DS1's medised days as it was a lifesaver for us. Ignorance was bliss.

The thread also reminds me that the day we discovered Medised didn't work on DS2 was our all time low-point of parenting.

I mentioned that Medised didn't work on DS2 to my neighbour, who happens to be a GP. He blushed and said, "oh good I'm glad we aren't the only people who use it".

I wish that Medised had worked on DS2. DS1 would have had a nicer time with less exhausted parents.

SmugColditz · 03/11/2008 09:16

Teething is painful, it does hurt, you only have to feel their hot little gums, and molars especially hurt.

Try to avoid giving medised, try calpol instead. If it's pain keeping him awake, he will go back to sleep when it is relieved.

FWIW, I've never been told not to use medised by my doctor, but as a hefty adult I took the 12 year old's dose myself once, and the effect was similar to taking diazepam, so think before you give it because it's strong.

SmugColditz · 03/11/2008 09:18

If he's waking for milk at night it could be because he's trying to sooth his gums - it he chewing the teat?

DustyTvHasSizzlingSparklerssss · 03/11/2008 09:23

This thread is over a year old and the age of when you can given meised has changed to 2 years and over now.

DD (and I ) could have done with some when she had the cold from hell a few weeks back and couldn't drink from a bottle, wouldn't take it from a cup and wouldn't eat.

My HV advised me to use medised then until I pointed out the age factor

Craggy · 03/11/2008 09:41

this is from last year

Lilybeto · 03/11/2008 09:56

On the medised website it says that medised is for over 2 years. Is is some sort of under 2s medised that you are using?

DustyTvHasSizzlingSparklerssss · 03/11/2008 10:02

lily, there is no under 2's medised available, I know this as I really could have done with some a few weeks ago for DD who would have been 10.5mo.

My HV didn't know about the age change and then backtracked when I challenged her about it to say 'oh there is a baby medised'

There isn't.

I went to 7 different chemists and none of them had ever heard of baby medised.

I think the age changed this year, but I am not 100% sure.

SmugColditz · 03/11/2008 10:16

The age only changed this year, a lot of people don't know about it.

Ivegotaheadache · 03/11/2008 11:06

I've never heard of medised, think I was missing something! .

I do have Calpol night, but I don't think it works any better than the regular Calpol, but then I don't really give the dc's anything unless I know they are in real discomfort. You know when they are getting better, so you stop giving them medicine.

My neighbour says she gives her ds calpol every night practically, because he screams when it's time to go to bed, so he must be in pain what every night?
No, it's beacause every time you stick him in his cot he cries, you lift him and give him toys to play with and bring him downstairs to watch telly until he falls asleep at gone 11 o clock. This happens every night - he's 18 months.

So stop giving him bloody Calpol. Can you tell this annoys me a bit!

MorrisZapp · 03/11/2008 12:44

What is medised, is it available over the counter?

Is it a sleep aid for children?

onthewarpath · 03/11/2008 13:41

Not had a complete night sleep in eight years, my DCs do not seem to be able to sleep a full night before they are two and DD4 wakes up every 20mn on the dot. I am considering myself as a tincy bit sleep deprived but somehow the idea of giving her Mediced when she does not need it... I don't know.. it makes me feel a bit uneasy.
I did give it to her when she was teathing.
MorrisZap Mediced is a syrup type of medicine for children

  • who are teathing or
-Have a bad cold (it helps breathing an facilitate sleep)or -have a temperature

It is good stuff when needed. I would not recomend it as a sleep aid for your child if no other symptoms like pain or fever. But that is just me.

onthewarpath · 03/11/2008 13:50

Tiggerish, I do need an excuse to take paracetamol, I dont know anyone who just takes it because it tastes nice ?!
Paracetamol is harmful for the liver . Just because it is not a prescription medicine does not mean it has no bad effect on you if taken without due care.Sorry I do sound very bossy and patronising but it is true please do not take Paracetamol too often, pretty please.

pamelat · 03/11/2008 13:54

Havent the rules on medised (never used it) and calpol night recently changed?

I think that the child has to be over 2 now, or maybe even 5?

I have used calpol night and didnt realise about the new rules, not even sure why my DD can not have it (she only 9 months), the bottle says 3 months but think it was changed earlier this year.

VictorianSqualor · 03/11/2008 13:58

This is an old thread pamelat.

rebelmum1 · 03/11/2008 14:02

Fuck yes

rebelmum1 · 03/11/2008 14:02

can't someone give you a break?

CharleeInChains · 03/11/2008 14:02

My DS is 2 and still wakes about 3-4 time every night. I have been known to give his Calpol Night on a couple of occassions when it had got to the point where he was screaming all day becuase he was tired but wouldn't sleep and dp and i were poth physically and emotionaly drained and beginning to get ill due to sleep deprivation.

I'm not proud of it but sometimes need's must.

He has a bottle still which i canno't get him out of.