Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Friends don’t believe in vaccinations or calpol

187 replies

Campingcarryon · 12/08/2021 08:22

I have some friends who are new parents and have declared that their child won’t be having any childhood vaccinations and that they also don’t believe in giving kids calpol or other medicines either.

Honestly, I didn’t know what to say when they said that to me- I haven’t come accross people who were anti calpol before 🤦‍♀️

Aibu to think it’s quite irresponsible if your child is ill not to get their temp down with calpol and that you are risking things getting a lot worse, especially with really small babies that get ill and deteriorate really fast. Let alone the whole anti vax position.

Honestly, I am still really baffled by their position to be honest. I think it’s really weird and irresponsible not to want your child to feel well 🤪

OP posts:
FedUpAtHomeTroels · 12/08/2021 08:24

They'll soon be looking for Calpol when the pfb gets that first illness that includes a fever.

Duckyneedsaclean · 12/08/2021 08:26

I'm sure when they have a snotty one year old who catches everything the calpol with be viewed with less suspicion Grin

Biscusting · 12/08/2021 08:26

Jeeze. Maybe when teething hits they’ll have rethink on the calpol at least.

Hopefully there’s a really good health visitor who has this on her radar

Original poster
Campingcarryon · 12/08/2021 08:27

I think they might be at the ‘can’t put anything in our PFB child’s body’ at the moment but honestly I did find their position really bizarre. The no childhood vaccines position just annoys me

OP posts:
katemuff · 12/08/2021 08:27

I knew someone like this. I asked if they took paracetamol and ibuprofen, which they did. So weird thinking their baby should be in pain when they don't suffer. They changed their minds anyway. No one likes a screaming child suffering in agony when they are trying to sleep eh?

Sprogonthetyne · 12/08/2021 08:29

Do they also not take painkillers, or is it only children they think should suffer unnecessary 🤔

tootingbeclido · 12/08/2021 08:29

Sorry. .But I have no time for idiots like this.

KaleJuicer · 12/08/2021 08:30

The anti vaccination stance is far more worrying than anti calpol, in the sense the former may result in death or permanent disability (eg measles). As long as my child isn’t in pain I don’t give calpol automatically for a fever - it is a mechanism for the body to fight infection. Neither of my DC have febrile convulsions tho, I’d be giving calpol like a shot if they were prone to them.

ItWorriesMeThisKindofThing · 12/08/2021 08:30

I did meet a woman like this once. She was complaining about her neighbours judging her parenting - the woman’s baby was crying all night due to teething pain and they brought it up with her. She was proud of her refusal to give the baby any pain relief.

I judged her parenting, too.

ShowOfHands · 12/08/2021 08:31

I'd disagree slightly with you re a fever as they don't automatically need to be lowered. That's not what Calpol is for. However, if a child is unwell or in pain (common with a fever of course), then it is vital that appropriate medication is given.

I hope that once faced with a child experiencing illness, injury or pain, they act accordingly.

Do they say what they will do when their child is ill or in pain?

HalloHello · 12/08/2021 08:31

I don't understand people who hold off giving their child calpol, I've heard it a few times. It's literally just paracetamol and the first thing any doctor will recommend if a child is unwell 🤣

There's probably not much you can say to change their minds, but I'm sure their minds will be changed anyway once their baby gets their first illness!

Zzzzzzxxx · 12/08/2021 08:32

To be honest I would cut them out of my life. That is so cruel not to want to make the baby suffer less when they are ill/ teething.

HarryHedgehog · 12/08/2021 08:32

I’ve got a friend like this, won’t give him anything. Just bizarre. She’ll happily let him play call of duty and other adult games on his PlayStation though… he’s 8 🤷🏻‍♀️

ShowOfHands · 12/08/2021 08:33

@KaleJuicer unfortunately, Calpol doesn't prevent febrile convulsions and shouldn't be given with that aim. They're caused not by the fever, but the speed of the temperature rising.

Totallydefeated · 12/08/2021 08:34

Have you asked them how else they will stop their child from suffering pain when teething etc?

Waspsarearseholes · 12/08/2021 08:34

I feel very strongly that these people are terrible parents. That poor baby. I hope they'll change their minds and realise how utterly dangerous their views are before their baby suffers.

Original poster
Campingcarryon · 12/08/2021 08:35

My youngest had febrile convulsions so we always have calpol immediately to get the fever down. They haven’t said what they will do if their baby gets ill actually but they don’t really believe in modern medicine that much -he is a Chinese herbalist. It’s a fascinating position though as I feel like everything changes with kids!

OP posts:
Unanananana · 12/08/2021 08:36

They'll definately change their mind about calpol.

The anti-vax thing is more of a concern. Hopefully, they will choose to educate themselves soon rather than buying into the woo nonsense of not polluting their child.

I couldn't be friends with people like this, choosing to put their childs life at risk. Disgraceful.

ApolloandDaphne · 12/08/2021 08:36

It seems odd to me that they would rather their child experience pain and possibly contract entirely preventable childhood illnesses rather than vaccinate and use pain relief.

TheTallOakTrees · 12/08/2021 08:38

@ApolloandDaphne

It seems odd to me that they would rather their child experience pain and possibly contract entirely preventable childhood illnesses rather than vaccinate and use pain relief.
Maybe when they state this to you next time @Campingcarryon ask what will happen when child is in pain, will they just ignore it?
gogohm · 12/08/2021 08:39

I worry about the anti vax more because calpol is seriously overused, unless it's high you don't need to give it for fevers. I didn't need any for dd2 in her first year, dd1 had some for a ear infection - both needed it following mmr.

Original poster
Campingcarryon · 12/08/2021 08:40

@TheTallOakTrees I think my reaction when they told me probably spoke volumes to be honest!

OP posts:
nancydroo · 12/08/2021 08:43

Give them a bit more time and they'll be desperate to get their hands on calpol. The same as the mum's who are dead against their daughters watching peppa pig. They come to the dark side eventually.
As for child vaccinations leave it to the health visitor to lecture them regularly on it, I wonder if they monitor children more who parents decline vaccinations or question their decision making /parenting more. Sure some health visitor on here will pitch in.
I never thought to question child vaccinations. Some people seem contrary for the sake of it.

Moltenpink · 12/08/2021 08:46

If he’s a herbalist then I’m sure some of that is stronger stuff than calpol!

I can remember counting down the hours between doses and alternating with ibuprofen for some of the really bad viruses, I honestly don’t think the kids would have survived without medicine.

Having said that I do think some parents really overuse calpol when it comes to giving it just in case they get teething pains overnight or a slight vaccine fever. I know I’m judgy!

StormyTeacups · 12/08/2021 08:46

I can appreciate not jumping straight in with calpol, as the fever is there to kill bugs. However the Vax thing is just dumb