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AIBU?

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Original poster

Mum putting Movicol in water bottle at school, would you tell the school?

250 replies

Dramatic · 09/02/2025 18:19

So one of the Mums at the school gate was telling me her daughter gets constipated sometimes and when she does she puts Movicol in her water bottle for school. The kids are in Reception so age 4 or 5 and probably still of an age where they might take a swig from someone else's bottle or get their bottles mixed up, do you think I should tell school she's doing this or just keep out of it?

Yabu - don't tell school
Yanbu - tell school

OP posts:
x2boys · 09/02/2025 18:28

A sip of movicol won't do much
But I wonder why she's sending it her child's water bottle rather then havng it at home.?

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 09/02/2025 18:33

Keep out of it 😄, omg, the school probably know

Even if they don't, I wouldn't be making an issue of it

UndermyShoeJoe · 09/02/2025 18:35

School prob know. We had a child who needed it regularly in my daughter’s class so it was a daily thing in her water. If it’s the only time they will willingly drink it you take it.

soupyspoon · 09/02/2025 18:35

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 09/02/2025 18:33

Keep out of it 😄, omg, the school probably know

Even if they don't, I wouldn't be making an issue of it

Edited

Why would the school know? Do your childs school know about your child's bowel movements?

OP, shes probably putting it in the bottle so the child takes it and evenly through the day perhaps its the only way the child will take it or doesnt know about it.

I doubt a sip from another child will make any difference

MargaretThursday · 09/02/2025 18:35

Movocol is revolting just with water. If another child takes a gulp, it won't do them any harm, and they'll never pinch another child's bottle again.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 09/02/2025 18:36

Movicol is supposed to go in water.

She’s doing exactly what she’s supposed to with it.

Crunchymum · 09/02/2025 18:40

I'd hope the school have been informed but I can't see the issue per se. My DC1 was on up to 10 sachets a day and had he been school age I'd have needed to add it to his school water bottle to get anywhere near the 10 sachets into him.

Franjipanl8r · 09/02/2025 18:50

What do you think is going to happen if another child accidentally takes a single sip? They definitely aren’t going to swig it if it doesn’t taste like water.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 09/02/2025 18:50

soupyspoon · 09/02/2025 18:35

Why would the school know? Do your childs school know about your child's bowel movements?

OP, shes probably putting it in the bottle so the child takes it and evenly through the day perhaps its the only way the child will take it or doesnt know about it.

I doubt a sip from another child will make any difference

Show quote history

Yes absolutely, if I put movicol in the bottle I'd just let the school know so they're aware

I wouldnt think it a bigger deal than that

Cattery · 09/02/2025 18:52

Poor little thing. Keep out of it ffs

Nattalie18 · 09/02/2025 18:59

It's movicol not crack cocaine

alwayssunnyinsoton · 09/02/2025 19:00

My child's school won't let her have it at school; so we have to give it to her at home instead!

MumChp · 09/02/2025 19:03

Medicine to be shared with other children if worst case without grown ups to know and prevent it. Yes. I would speak to the school. It is unacceptable.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 09/02/2025 19:04

MumChp · 09/02/2025 19:03

Medicine to be shared with other children if worst case without grown ups to know and prevent it. Yes. I would speak to the school. It is unacceptable.

But she’s not sharing it.

Five is old enough to recognise your own water bottle. If not then cover it with stickers or something.

MumChp · 09/02/2025 19:06

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 09/02/2025 19:04

But she’s not sharing it.

Five is old enough to recognise your own water bottle. If not then cover it with stickers or something.

Show quote history

Until she does or a mix up happens.
I would be very surprised if a school thinks it's great to have uncontrolled medication in random water bottles around 5 yo.

MrsSunshine2b · 09/02/2025 19:13

Reception children were born in 2019-2020. Never before in history has there been such a germ-phobic Reception class. Most of my daughter's class would stick pins in their eyeballs before "taking a swig" from someone else's water bottle. Add to the fact that water bottles now come in a dizzying array of bright colours and patterns, and it's not at all likely they are going to make that mistake.

It's Movicol, not methadone. In the very unlikely event another child took a sip, they'd think "Ew, that's disgusting," and move on with their day.

Oioisavaloy27 · 09/02/2025 19:17

I'm really surprised at the school letting this happen to be honest.

Oodlesandoodlesofnoodles · 09/02/2025 19:18

Tell your child to make sure she only drinks from her own water bottle.

SemperIdem · 09/02/2025 19:20

Your username is apt.

Bearbookagainandagain · 09/02/2025 19:20

I understand why the mum thinks it's ok as it's "just movicol", but I do think it's a bad idea.

You shouldn't put medication in a water bottle that would be picked up by any child, you never know if someone that can't tolerate it could drink from it. Yes it's very unlikely and a sip won't hurt anyone, but it's still not acceptable IMO.

For those commenting about the taste, it could be a flavoured version.

Burntt · 09/02/2025 19:21

Absolutely the school should know! It's a medicine they will have procedures for.

It may be no big deal to most but it is actually possible to be allergic to movicol I know a child who is

MumChp · 09/02/2025 19:23

Oioisavaloy27 · 09/02/2025 19:17

I'm really surprised at the school letting this happen to be honest.

If they are made aware of it they will act on it. Health, safety and safeguarding.

johnd2 · 09/02/2025 19:24

MrsSunshine2b · 09/02/2025 19:13

Reception children were born in 2019-2020. Never before in history has there been such a germ-phobic Reception class. Most of my daughter's class would stick pins in their eyeballs before "taking a swig" from someone else's water bottle. Add to the fact that water bottles now come in a dizzying array of bright colours and patterns, and it's not at all likely they are going to make that mistake.

It's Movicol, not methadone. In the very unlikely event another child took a sip, they'd think "Ew, that's disgusting," and move on with their day.

Why do you say they are so germ phobic? My son's class are sharing germs like candy and have been for the last year and a half, trust me we've all had everything going around!

Topjoe19 · 09/02/2025 19:26

How do you know she hasn't told the school? They may keep her drinks bottle aside for snack/lunchtime?

LostMySocks · 09/02/2025 19:26

Movicol tastes revolting in water. If a child had a sip they would only have a tiny bit.
It effectively acts as a sponge holding water and softening faeces so doesn't affect the body so a sip would be unlikely to have any impact.

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