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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give DS calpol before nursery?

189 replies

CalpolDilemma · 05/04/2022 08:33

Our nursery has a policy that children can’t be given calpol before or at nursery in case it masks illness. They also send home any child who has a temperature over 37.5 degrees.

DS is teething. He could be unwell but he has all the classic signs of teething. His temperature is 37.6. He’s well in himself and happy and playing, but is slightly warm. WWYD?

He’s 18 months.

OP posts:
HotDogKetchup · 05/04/2022 09:14

I can’t lie to the staff - so I wouldn’t, I also wouldn’t want my DC to be poorly but it go unnoticed because they don’t know to be a bit more vigilant that day.

DownWithTheBloodyRedQueen · 05/04/2022 09:15

@inheritancetrack

Don't give it at home, but allow them to give it if it is simple teething and he is grizzly. If it's not bothering him, why give it anyway if he's happy and playing. A slight rise in temperature isn't reason enough. Nursery are right in this
Agree with this. Send him in say he's teething. I actually had this the other week. He seemed okay in himself just rosey cheeks and I could see a tooth starting to poke through. Told nursery and they said they'd give him some calpol there if he started to seem like he needed it.
2pinkginsplease · 05/04/2022 09:16

@flower277

As someone who has worked in nurseries and currently works in a school, it’s really frustrating when parents do this.
Totally we have had so many parents over the last week saying we have given them calpol as we think something is working on them, they brig the child in and I’m the 4th member of staff off due to a bug!

It’s infuriating as I’m now losing wages as parents are sending unwell children in

DownWithTheBloodyRedQueen · 05/04/2022 09:19

But if it's a temp it's probably not teething.

bobbibee · 05/04/2022 09:24

Are you only giving the Calpol to get the temp down to 37.4? Or are you giving it because he actually needs it?

If he's happy I wouldn't give Calpol. However, my nursery wouldn't usually send DD home for a 37.5 temp if she was happy in herself. I'd explain at drop off and they'd monitor it, then call if it went up or she started to seem unhappy.

The only two times they've called for a mild fever was when they knew there was something going round and she seemed a bit grumpy. So once for chickenpox and once for covid, both times it turned out to be teething and she was back the next day.

I'm amazed the amount of people saying to keep him off. My DD got a low grade temp for a couple of days with every tooth but was happy in herself once she'd had teething gel. If id kept her off every time I'd have lost my job by now.

Original poster
CalpolDilemma · 05/04/2022 09:26

A slight temperature is a sign of teething actually.

I say he could be unwell because obviously I don’t know. I only took his temperature because he feels slightly warmer than usual, and knowing nursery policy, I thought I should check. But he is well in himself, apart from red cheeks and constantly putting his fingers in his mouth.

37.6 degrees isn’t even a high temperature but it’s nursery policy that anything over 37.5 means no nursery.

They also don’t administer calpol themselves.

OP posts:
Whattodoniw · 05/04/2022 09:27

This is not fair and you know it.

I'm a ex Nursery Manager and this is a typical ' stunt ' many parents try to pull.

You don't know for sure it is teething.

Think of your child as well as other people and keep them at home until they are better.

It really isn't rocket science.

lollipopsarentbreakfast · 05/04/2022 09:28

If he has to have Calpol then he stays at home. Im on the side of the few childminders, Nursery workers that have responded to you. I'm sorry if that sounds cruel but why give him medicine then send him to a place where it's a playground for bacteria? Some Mums think Calpol is a quick fix - it isn't. I get prices are rising and people have to work but if you have a baby who's unwell then look after that baby.

JenniferBarkley · 05/04/2022 09:32

Argh, what an annoying policy. Ours are happy to take them with a dose of Calpol and to administer it themselves so long as the children are happy in themselves once it's kicked in. They're understanding of the number of illnesses that fly around a nursery.

In your case I would be very tempted by a dose of ibuprofen.

TheDuchessOfMN · 05/04/2022 09:32

You don’t know for sure that he’s teething. They are also signs of the slapped cheek virus.

I think it would be wrong to send him in. Also, calpol wears off, so you’ll just be getting a phone call to collect him anyway after a few hours

Duracellbunnywannabe · 05/04/2022 09:34

@CalpolDilemma

A slight temperature is a sign of teething actually.

I say he could be unwell because obviously I don’t know. I only took his temperature because he feels slightly warmer than usual, and knowing nursery policy, I thought I should check. But he is well in himself, apart from red cheeks and constantly putting his fingers in his mouth.

37.6 degrees isn’t even a high temperature but it’s nursery policy that anything over 37.5 means no nursery.

They also don’t administer calpol themselves.

Not according to the NHS although some countries disagree. But with nearly a full degree of raised temperature its more likely to be an illness.
Crunchymum · 05/04/2022 09:37

If you are going to do this, can you at least LFT (just in case?)

Not sure what the rules are in childcare settings - mine are on holiday so our school won't tell us until they go back - but I assume they still want to avoid Covid outbreaks?

Ponoka7 · 05/04/2022 09:39

Teething can cause temperature spikes of upto 38. I can't believe that some Nurseries are leaving teething babies without pain relief. It's just bloody ridiculous. Thank God I had my children in the 80's/90's.

Original poster
CalpolDilemma · 05/04/2022 09:40

@Duracellbunnywannabe

Actually the NHS agrees too - www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/teething/baby-teething-symptoms/

Good point re LFT - will do one. We haven’t mixed with anyone since last Wednesday (which was the last time he went to nursery) but we have obviously been to the shops, etc so I didn’t think.

OP posts:
passport123 · 05/04/2022 09:41

Everyone does it, but you know that teething doesn't cause a temperature and he's probably brewing a cold. If he's teething you're giving it for pain relief not temp :-)

flower277 · 05/04/2022 09:41

@Woeismethischristmas

Calpol or ibuprofen is better if you have it and send him in. That’s what I did when mines were that age. It’s rubbish but I don’t get paid if off plus cost of childcare fees. Not sure how people manage to keep children off for every sniffle whilst keeping their jobs tbh.
And what about those members of staff in nurseries and schools who end up off ill?! I had 4 days off a few weeks ago because I caught something from work. This has triggered a welfare meeting about my attendance!
TupilaLilium · 05/04/2022 09:43

I used to give calpol 3 hours before nursery, top it up with ibuprofen in the car park, and collect after 5.5 hours.

DS1 always ran a fever with a new tooth and I was on a probationary contract.

lilahbelle · 05/04/2022 09:45

I've done it before if it was clear DS wasn't "sick sick". I'd usually give ibuprofen cause it lasts longer. Only done it once or twice.

ChoiceMummy · 05/04/2022 09:47

@CalpolDilemma

Our nursery has a policy that children can’t be given calpol before or at nursery in case it masks illness. They also send home any child who has a temperature over 37.5 degrees.

DS is teething. He could be unwell but he has all the classic signs of teething. His temperature is 37.6. He’s well in himself and happy and playing, but is slightly warm. WWYD?

He’s 18 months.

So you send in and then in 4 hours time get called to collect him?!

You know their policy. You've agreed to it. So now you have to accept the inconvenience of a potentially teething child or child with covid or other condition...

teraculum29 · 05/04/2022 09:47

When My DD was teething (years ago) only teething powder worked on her. (ashton-and-parsons-infants-powders).

caringcarer · 05/04/2022 09:47

Your child could be incubating Covid. If he has temp over 37 keep him home. Really where has common sense gone? It is unfair to other children and staff to send a child in with a temperature especially because we all know children are most infectious before really unwell.

worriedaboutmoney2022 · 05/04/2022 09:50

@RaginaPhalange

That is such a bizarre policy. I've worked in childcare for years and never heard of this. Everywhere I have worked we are always able to administrator calpol or any other medication. I would give it to him and send him to nursery.
My childminder and the school nursery both allow calpol you just send it in labelled It seems madness if they are "slightly off it" to stop them going in Then again my mum was always of the opinion we'd go to school unless we were mega poorly
DoItAfraid · 05/04/2022 09:51

I really don’t rate parents who dose up ill kids and send them in to spread their germs.

We ALL have to work / have other commitments etc - that is why our kids are in nursery surely?

People who do this are so incredibly selfish.

MissyB1 · 05/04/2022 09:53

I’m sitting here right now feeling poorly with a sore throat that is like razor blades, and a hacking cough, because a parent insisted their unwell child was “perfectly fine” and “desperate to come to nursery and be with his friends”. By the time we had clocked how unwell he was it was too late - I had been exposed to it.
If your child needs Calpol they stay at home.

MissNothing1991 · 05/04/2022 09:54

Don't know why, as a parent, you'd actually want to send your child into nursery when they could be ill. Probably just wants cuddles etc., not passed off.