Do you wake your child through the night to give medicine?

[LittleLadysMama]

Seems to be a real split in opinion among my friends!
My 20 month old was given an antibiotic today for tonsillitis- gave first dose after 5pm and some calpol before bed around 830pm.

Would you be waking them through the night to give another dose of the antibiotic (penicillin v) or leave til morning if they're settled and sleep through?

Thoughts welcome, please 🙏

I would give all doses spaced out during the day

I should have said the dosage is 5ml - 4 times a day so assuming I don't wake them, id go for 730am / 1130am / 330pm and 7pm with food and or milk around 1 hr after each dose.

You're meant to space them out throughout 24 hours, especially in a young toddler. My 6year old just had to have a double the usual dose of amixicillan and we were told to give it to him evey 6 hours 4 times a day and we just woke him in the night.
Tonsillitis can be particularly horrible, it's worth a few disturbed nights, use the time to also give pain relief, calpol or other. Hope your little one gets well soon.

I have never woken my children overnight to give meds and wouldn't do it

No, I wouldn’t wake a 20 month old. Does the baby really sleep almost 12hours non stop? Lucky mummy.

I would try and space the antibiotics so they have them right before bed and as soon as they wake up. When mine are unwell, they’re up in the night anyway so I just give it then. If they have a temperature, then I wake them up slightly as I do a paracetamol suppository (when babies and toddlers) as all of mine got very high temperatures so needed to have the paracetamol.

One of my kids suffered terribly with tonsillitis and didn’t really sleep well with it so would be awake late and then wake through the night as well, so we never had to wake her up. But I would have if necessary when the antibiotic is 4 times a day.

So I woke her, meds in but now DH is trying to console her while I have a meltdown feeling the worst mother ever 😭 she's wailing and so upset, I should have let her sleep 😔

I wouldn't wake an unwell baby, no.

Sorry OP didn't see your update

I hope she is feeling better soon

LittleLadysMama

It’s best she got another dose of medicine in tonight. Tonsillitis is really horrible. She’ll soon be feeling better. It’s dreadful when your child is poorly and upset though.

Thank you @PianoAndGuitar
I am glad I got another dose into her but I hate seeing her so upset, she was sleeping so contently. I don't think I'll do it again 😐 we'll see how tomorrow goes 🤞 just got her settled again. She only wanted me and not her dad, definitely a sign that she's poorly!

Never have unless they’ve had a fever

Whether or not I'd wake them depends on how serious their illness was. And I'd probably clarify with the doctor when they prescribe whether I'm meant to wake them up or can let them sleep.

Tonsillitis sounds nasty though so all things considered I'd say you did the right thing. Hopefully tomorrow she'll be better and you can skip the night time meds.

A full night's sleep is as good as a shot of antibiotic.

@dementedpixie

I would give all doses spaced out during the day

This.

I did ask my DS’s Dr when DS first had antibiotics prescribed, and was told to do this.