Should you rely on a toddler to tell you when they need medicine?

[beanbearer]

Just wondering if I'm barking? My DD from the time she was about 8 months would point at the teething granules when her teeth hurt. My cynical side said, sure they're mainly sugar, of course she likes them. But as soon as the dribbling stopped so did the pointing. So that lodged in my mind. Then when she had a really rotten cold, come bed time she pointed up at the Calpol and said "Beee" (Please in her language). I'd been going to give her some anyway but if I hadn't been going to, should I have?

No IMO - not unless you were going to anyway.

They like the sweet taste - they don't know what its for.

Do you give her everything else she asks for? My dd asks for all sorts all the time and has done for years, but its my job to decide what she needs.

You can't let a child decide if they need medicating.
But your DD is clever to make the link between feeling pain and the medicine.

i am painting bathroom so it has been emptied. ds (2.9) found a spoon and said "medicine, i need medicine i am ill pleeeeeease i need it NOW". he has child ibruprofen about twice in the past year. i think the manufacturers may have gone a little too far with making it palatable.

Don't you think it's interesting that she asked for granules/medicine when she did need it though, and stopped when she didn't anymore? If it was just the sweet taste she was after, wouldn't she be badgering me for it constantly? But maybe it's just coincidence? Don't know.

I think if they ask for it out of the blue, and you think there is a possibility they are ill, then give it.

Teething hurts, I do wonder if a lot of 'only when necessary' dosers have forgotten that! IMO, better an unnecessary dose of Calpol than the possibility of misery and pain all night.

I agree with Colditz. If it's out of the blue then give it.