TOO MUCH CALPOL

[huggybear]

i posted a comment a while ago on someone s thread about a friend who gave her dd 3 tablespoons of calpol to get her to sleep and people posted back that it was dangerous (as they should and i agree) but the problem is, is that shes still doing it! she lets her swig from the bottle and gives her 20mil ect. her dd is only 2 years old. ive told her over and over again that shes going to harm her daughter but she says "shes used to it" or "it wont do her any harm" and more recently shes actually handed her dd the bottle and said "lets make auntie xxx cross" ffs

i need advice of what to say/do because even if she seems fine after taking the calpol it could be doing her long term damage! ive seen her do it 3 times in the last week

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Its like paracetamol and Im sure that damages your liver does it not? She needs to know the consequences of her actions.

Tell her that her daughter will probably need a liver transplant before shes 5! Shock tactics might work!

Appalling

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It has in big bold letters on the box DO NOT EXCEED THE STATED DOSE

she just laughs about it, the same way that she laughs at people telling her that chain smoking around her dd is dangerous - she wont believe it, she reckons its scare tactics!

in other ways she tries her best, shes just come out of an abusive relationship - her ex has been arrested for battery and kidnapping and is on remand, so shes stressed. shes short tempered and has no paitence but she is under alot of pressure. shes fallen for a married man which isnt helping. she loves her daughter though

You should report her. Its child abuse.

As giraffeski said, i would mention it to your gp. How would you feel about ringing social services?

This is actually a form of child abuse!

It is paracetamol and will damage her liver or kill her in repeated doses like this. Do you know her HV?

Tell her in no uncertain terms that she is risking her child's life. Print this thread and show her it

OMG Huggybear!!

I'm bad enough when I hear of someone giving their kids ANY Calpol just to get them to sleep when there's nowt wrong with them..... but to OD on Paracetamol!

The is SO dangerous, how irresponsible. She really could be doing serious damage to her dd's liver! Don't know what to suggest other than social services! Or contact the HV and see if she'll pop around to chat to her.

BTW - Paracetamol DOES NOT cause drowsiness. So I have never understood why people give it children to get them to sleep!

If anybody takes more of this medicine than they should:

immediate medical advice should be sought in the event of an overdose, even if the child seems well, because of the risk of delayed, serious liver damage.

As on teh calpol info leaflet with the bottle.

I'm glad Mears has said this because it's what I was thinking but didn't like to say it.

This is v difficult for you.

Mears is right. People have been prosecuted for unwiitingly killing their children with Salt over doses!!!! This is much worse than that!

shes my best friend and shes having a really tough time. i know how much she loves her daughter. she'd probably be pissed off if she new id been 'talking' about her - even though she doesnt use mn. i was thinking that i could maybe print some stuff off about calpol od's

Toothache I agree with that. But my ds1 gets bad growing pains and on the odd occasion after a few restless nights I give him calpol to let him have a goodnight. Should I stop?

Toothache I agree with that. But my ds1 gets bad growing pains and on the odd occasion after a few restless nights I give him calpol to let him have a goodnight. Should I stop?

Why would they be using "scare tactics" to stop you taking as much of th medicine as you want? The drug companies want you to buy loads of the stuff so they certainly wouldn't use "scare tactics" to stop you taking more than the recommended dose would they?

Printing off od info sounds like a good first step huggy.

This is what NetDoctor says about paracetamol:

I think I would stop fussing every time she does it, because this is clearly ineffective and she is playing up to you, and tell her HV. I honestly would.

Louise - the difference there is the pain factor. Babies will sleep better if they are not in pain. However, I am aware too of parents using Calpol as a means to get babies/children to sleep. That is not what Calpol does. It is a painkiller not sleep inducer.

Huggy, can you try "tough friend" ie stop or I'll have to tell your hv?

Louise1980 - I was about to answer, but mears says it much better than me.

Huggy - she'll be having a harder time if her little girl gets a damaged liver, and is taken into care, and herself into court....she needs saving from her silly self!

i could never forgive my self if anything happened to her dd. but at the same time i dont want to ruin our friendship. its pathetic, i know. her dd's health is the most important thing. i dont understand why she does it - shes got to know the risks. everyone does.

she thinks im over-reacting

Huggybear - You're NOT overreacting though. Does anybody else know about this? What about her parents/siblings? Could you speak to them?