OK - guidelines aside, is there any CLINICAL reason why I shouldn't give Medised to ds (2.6) and dd (5 months)?

[TAFKAtheUrbanDryad]

I always gave Medised to ds when he was teething/had a cold, but it was 3 months+ then.

Have the ingredients actually changed? Is there something in there that toddlers and babies shouldn't have? Or have the guidelines changed because of some new research?

I know a lot of parents with dc the same age who blithely still give Medised - they usually lie to the chemist to get it! Calpol just isn't cutting it with dd at the moment - she needs sleep but she's too poorly with a cold and her top teeth coming through.

Yeah was due to loads of side effects etc

Think it was because some people weren't reading the bottle and were giving other paracetamol remedies at the same time. Lowest common denominator stuff.

It was a godsend when ds was tiny, that much I do know.

Have you also tried making dd's room all steamy? Humidifier was the best baby/child product we ever bought but kettle with lid off would do.

She's sat in the bouncy chair while I have a shower which seems to have expelled some of the snot.

It's the sleep thing really. She's exhausted and miserable and just can't seem to nod off. When ds got like that I would give him a spoonful of Medised and he would nod off very easily - i think it has antihistamine in, doesn't it?

From what I read the antihistamine in medised can cause some to stop breathing, I think it's more in the younger child though. This was a while back and I can't remember everything though, I'm sure googling would help.

Think I used it once (before the age limit changed) because the chemist recommended it but it didn't make mine sleepy at all. Not that I was using it for that reason but it didn't do it anyway.

What about Calpol night - that has the anti-histamines too doesn't it? Is that 6+ as well?

Yup, that's how it helps them sleep.

As well as Medised, we used to leave the humidifier on most of the night in ds's room, with the window open a crack so the wallpaper didn't peel off the walls. Then one horrible day the blasted thing broke... OMG I had forgotten quite how miserable it is when they are ill and can't sleep. Sent dh out to Argos first thing that morning!

Would a walk send her off to sleep maybe? I know you've been up since ungodly times though so must be knackered.

Medised was a godsend for DS1, but sends DS2 absolutely hyper.

i used it on my ds who is 17 weeks old last week, with no after effects at all.

I like you used it on dd when she was little before guidlines changed

Ds is sick too, don't really want to get him dressed and drag him out too IYSWIM. We have to drive to pick my mum up from the station in an hour or so - that usually sends her off to sleep.

She is really trying to go to sleep, you can tell, but short of putting her in the playpen (only enclosed item of baby furniture) and letting her cry it out I'm out of ideas.

Same as anything isn't it, some will have side effects, some won't. No way of telling though is there.

Poor things Would feeding help her nod off? Maybe take them both back to bed with you? Not sure if you've already tried that. Or get dressed and drive round earlier than you need to? Might send them both off to sleep.

Funnily enough, ds - who is slightly intolerant to aspartame - was always fine with Medised. Goes loopy if he has squash with sweeteners in though!

Will I have to lie to the chemist to get it?

She won't nurse to sleep, Jodie, even when she's well. Strange child - she feeds well, and is still ex-bf'd at 5 months, but she doesn't seem to find the comfort in nursing that ds did. She won't have a dummy, she will suck her fingers/thumb but she doesn't seem to be in the mood today.

Usually ds can cheer her up, but he's not well either and is lying on the floor in front of CBeebies looking very sorry for himself!

Ooh....if I drive round early i can get a Maccy D's breakfast. In the interest of my ill children, obviously!

Yes I think they might ask you, might not though. Hmm, I'm used to babies that feed to sleep so no advice there then.

Oh I do really love their breakfasts, egg muffin and hash browns try a coffee too, think I'll need some myself today!

I'd definitely do that. Drive round, get them to sleep, go to petrol station, buy magazine and chocolate (or McDs breakfast!!) park in a secluded corner of train station or supermarket. Eat, drink, read... sleep!!

(can you tell I've done this LOTS of times. We live near the beach, so I used to drive down there, then look at the sea whilst they slept.

Ah, that's nice FourArms.

They are both zoning in front of an In The Night Garden DVD at the moment. Thank god for ITNG! How did our parents cope without it!?

Could you call your doctor and get a phone appointment and ask? I asked my GP about using it on DD2 when she was little as she was a complete snot monster and the antihistamine helped dry it up so she could sleep and feed more easily. He double checked all the info he had and said it was absolutely fine but reiterated not to give any other paracetamol based medicines.

That's a good idea Malkuth - will give them a call now, the early morning rush should have finished!

I would think that the drive to get a McD's breakfast will definitely help too though

You can buy it online if you can't face lying!

Just spoke to my GP - she confirmed that there's no clinical reason why you can't give Medised to an under 6. The guidelines changing is an arse-covering measure (her words, not mine! ).