'Sedatives'

[petal31]

vERY HIGH PROFILE AT THE MOMENT WITH HORROR OF MADDIE ETC - I DONT WANT TO 'SEDATE' MY DAUGHTER BUT I AM DESPERATE FOR SLEEP - PARTICULARLY AT THE MOMENT WHEN SHE HAS THE SNIFFLES. SHE IS ONLY 5 MONTHS - MY FIRST AND I AM AN OLD FIRST TIME MUM (LATE 30S) AND SEEM TO BE MORE NERVOUS THAN MY YOUNGER FRIENDS AT THE CLINIC!

doES CALPOL COUNT AS A SEDATIVE? I BOUGHT THEIR NEW CALCOLD AND WAS HORRIFIED TO READ THAT PACK SAID ' NOT TO DRIVE/USE HEAVY MACHINERY'! WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT - WHAT DOES IT HAVE IN IT!!!! SAYS OK FOR KIDS 3 MONTHS BUT I AM CONCERNED...ANYONE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH IT?

I havent used calcold, but when ds has a cold i give him medised, which has calpol in but it also contains a decongestant.
This tends to help him sleep as well, but i'll only give him it if i have to.
Could you get some karvol and put a few drops on her blanket to help clear her nose, or maybe prop her up a bit when she is going to sleep to help keep her chest clear?

Calpol does not contain sedatives, only paracetamol and other rubbish that makes it more palatable to kids.

Calcold and medised in addition to paracetamol also contain diphenhydramine which is an antihistamine that has a side effect of making you sleepy (it is the same thing that is in Nytol sleeping tablets for adults). I wouldn't give it to a 5 month old too much.

wouldnt sedate tbh, sleepless nights are just the bad part and parcel of beng a mum unfortunatley, would rather be knackered all the time that give my child loads of medicine so i can sleep

Petal, RD is right about the indgrediants. If your DD is in pain or suffering with a cold then giving her a little pain relief is a legitimate thing to do and you shouldn't worry. I remember the first night I gave my DD medised when she had a cold thinking I'd be in for a full night sleep because of the antihistamine but she was bouncing off the blimmin' walls all night. It definately wasn't a sedative in her case! It's a different matter when you're tring to sedate them just to get some sleep. I can see the attraction but I'm not sure it's a good idea.