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

[Dramatic]

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

Definitely tell school. Medication in school is meant to be monitored, and movicol is stronger than something like lactulose. At that age drinks are often put on a shared area and if another child has the same bottle it could easily get mixed up for the day. Presumably she's mixing with squash too so could quite likely lead to a child drinking the entire thing being excited that its not water as a change.

OP, but I don’t think you are being ott. These policies are in place for a reason, the school need to be aware of all medication children take at school and it needs to be documented, that’s the bottom line. It sets a dangerous precedent if parents are putting meds in their child’s water without informing. As many posters have asserted, many children do this AND let the school know. This mum isn’t above policies.

Hmm not sure what being born during covid has to do with it, it's not as if they were learning this as newborns. My daughter was April 20 and is in reception and has no qualms of sharing. I imagine it would be more a thing of those that experienced covid times if it was any of them.
Anyway gone off topic, hopefully the mother has informed the school. Both my kids have suffered with constipation and I made the school aware.

She should tell them, or not do it, but it's not serious enough for you to report in my opinion.

You're not wrong. Mention it to the school or tell her she needs to.

Definitely mention it to the school. They're in charge of the welfare of all the kids and it is essential they know what medication is in children's hands! I'm astounded at home many people think it's okay to not tell them tbh.

Jeez everyone on here saying one sip won't hurt..... has no one seen a young child drink? It may well be a sip, or it may well be a case of guzzle it down like you've been in a desert for days.

It's a prescribed medication and absolutely shouldn't be risked to be had from another child.

There's no telling of the conditions of the other kids in the class and how even a sip might effect them.

If I found out another child had prescribed medication hidden in the class without the school knowing, I would be hitting the roof.

Also, it should be taken over a short period of time so the dosage can be monitored. How does she know what time the child has taken it?

Maybe have a chat with the mum gently, acknowledge how hard it must be but it can not be in the classroom, especially without the school being aware, raise the points above. Then if you think she will continue, absolutely go to the school.

Is it something another child could be allergic to?

Yes but also if you have a child with a naturally loose bowel habit, or worse, IBSD the results could be horrible and worse,the parent or school would have no idea why it had happened.

I feel a bit sorry for the girl that her mum is discussing her constipation issues with the other school parents in the playground. I get that you chat about these things when they are babies but once they are at school they’re entitled to a bit of privacy and dignity surely?

My son started nursery in late 2020 and it was drilled into him not to share water bottles. It was very much a covid thing. It obviously varies from place to place but my son’s nursery was very strict on it.

If you’re that worried about others drinking it and your child is a regular user of it then it’s definitely worth spending some time reading up on it, how it works, potential complications, likelihood and severity of those etc.

Its fair enough not to understand it if it’s not something you come across, but if your child has it regularly then it’s worth you understanding it better.

(and then you’d think it’s a total non issue).

I do this a couple of times a week as I know he drinks the whole bottle at school he is 8 though I didn’t think i could be in the wrong 😑 maybe I am

The Mum needs to inform the school. What if another child drank it by accident?

Why are you assuming that 1) the teacher doesn't know 2) the water bottles are all just randomly shared like it's some kind of crack den and 3) this one bottle isn't being kept separately by the teacher, when they will 100% be aware that there's medicine in it? I bet you also think there's razor blades in Halloween sweets. Chill out.

Agree with everyone who says Movicol in water tastes horrible- so in the tiny chance a child takes a sip from the wrong bottle (does that really happen often?) , they will likely spit it out, or if they are too polite to do so then a tiny bit won’t hurt as a one off.

I’m just impressed that the Mum can get her DC to drink it in water 👏 - we only manage to get a single sachet a day in my son as he’ll only drink it with chocolate milk (and I don’t want him having multiple cups of that a day). He refuses to drink even squash, juice or ordinary milk- only plain water (or chocolate favoured anything) is acceptable!

Good idea that they know, maybe ask mother to tell the teacher. Even if every child who is age appropriate would not drink it there may be children with SEN who would. Presumably a child at that level of need would be monitored but If the SEN child would be at more risk of movicol than water they might take precautions.

Given the other posts here the other chance is that they accidentally drink from a water bottle of another child taking movicol.

Quite a few kids at our primary school had movicol in their squash. Teachers knew and encouraged them to drink it. If another kid sipped it, I'm sure they'd spit it out because it tastes salty and disgusting!

Please tell the school.

If a child drinks movicol who is on other medication, it may interfere with it.

For example, a child on anti seizure medicine may be more likely to have seizures if they took a laxative.

They're 4, not 14 😅

Can't be embarrassed about constipation until you can spell it! 😂

I’d try to find a way to bring it up again and advise her to make teachers aware just incase. Maybe say you’re thinking of doing it too but will let teachers know as your “friend” who does the same for her child has made you aware that it can cause serious allergic reaction in rare cases. lol sorry half asleep. Hope that made sense.

I would mention it yes, because we are a family of allergists! Some of the reactions have been very odd and not all connected, and something like this could/could've caused some serious issues.

I'm a teacher and would absolutely want to know.

1. I would want to support the child taking the movicol, and make sure they were drinking regularly.

1. I've known many children drink out of the wrong bottle. There are often multiples of the same style of bottle.

1. I've taught er several children with SEND who would simply drink from the bottle that they liked the look of.

1. You have no idea whether another child might have a reaction to a prescribed medication.

It's not about interfering or stopping a child from having the medication they need, it's about making sure all children are safe.

It very much depends on school policy too though.

In many schools water bottles just go on the side together and children go and get their drinks as and when. Lots of people don't label bottles despite them being supposed too.

Most schools say water only unless agreed by school.

No school would accept medication in a standard water bottle lft on the side like this. All medication needs to be recorded using the school system and given in ankle controlled way.

It'd be way too easy for another child to just pick up and drink. That could be a health issue for other children.

Because I know the teacher doesn't know, the mum told me she doesn't. I didn't say it was some kind of crack den, what a strange comparison to make.