What makes you feel confident as a parent when your DC is feeling under the weather? Tell Nurofen for Children for a chance to win a £250 Love2Shop voucher! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

Nurofen for Children have asked us to find out whether Mumsnetters feel confident in making decisions on their DC’s health. We’d also love to know what would make you feel more confident in these kinds of decisions.

Here’s what Nurofen for Children says, “Our research shows that 7 in 10 parents feel judged on the decisions they make for their children and a quarter of those surveyed said the health of their child is the most difficult subject to make decisions on. As parents, you want health advice you can trust. Nurofen for Children is trusted by parents - 9/10 parents who used it would recommend it to a friend*. If your child is struck down with cold, pain or fever, Nurofen for Children offers products to help manage their symptoms. It starts to work in just 15 minutes to bring down a temperature and is clinically proven to last longer than paracetemol to relieve a fever.”

So, what makes you feel confident in making health-related decisions? Would you like more support and if so, from who? Would you like more practical advice on treating your child’s symptoms? Would you like more resources available from your pharmacist? Or is it emotional support that would help your confidence? Would you appreciate more help from your partner or more advice from your friends? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it.

Everyone who leaves their comments below will be entered into a prize draw to win a £250 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck,

MNHQ

Terms and conditions
• To enter the competition simply post a comment below telling us what makes you feel better when you’re down with a winter bug
• Competition closes on 22nd December 2014.
• Entries posted after the closing date will not be considered
• One winner will be chosen from all entries
• Entrants must be aged 18 or over
• Competition hosted by Mumsnet, Deane House Studios (Studio 6), Greenwood Place, Highgate Road, London, NW5 1LB
• Mumsnet will choose the winner at random after the closing date
• Mumsnet will contact the winner privately to organise delivery of the prize
• The prize is £250 Love2Shop vouchers
• Full T&Cs can be found here.

*Survey of Survey of 2,000 parents by OnePoll. March 2014

**Survey by Mum's Views of 225 mums ‘9 out of 10 mums who used NfC would recommend it to a friend’. Last accessed August 2013

EI: Nurofen for Children Cold Pain & Fever 3 months to 9 years Orange / Strawberry. Nurofen for Children Orange / Strawberry 3 months to 12 years. Contains Ibuprofen. For relief of cold, pain and fever. Always read the label.

I like being able to phone my mum (she's a nurse) for advice when the kids get ill - she's less judgemental than the dr or nurse.

The fact they come to me first when they are ill. Makes me feel I am doing a good job in caring for them the rest of the time!

Listen to them, reassure them, cuddle them and provide the right medication for the condition, including a visit to the doctors if needed...

I feel fairly confident when my little ones, but always doubt myself when hypercondriac members of the family make me feel bad about not rushing to the doctors at the first sign of a sniffle! Luckily my Hubby is supportive in the treat them at home first if possible approach.

I like the range of resources available - medical website, helplines, pharmacists etc, but I hate the waiting times for appointments at our GP and that you feel unable to get appointments for check ups or advice without the 3rd degree from the receptionists. It's a real battle and I'm made to feel bad for needing an appointment.

knowing i'm there for them telling them i am there to love & look after them. Also having confidence in the medicine i'm using that works!

support from friends and family xx

The thing that most often gives me confidence when DC is under the weather is 10 minutes googling the symptoms. This almost always gets me close to the issue and gives enough ideas about how serious the problem is and how to treat it. It has certainly proved much easier and more reliable than trying to get to see the GP.

nhs 111

Consulting Mum :) And not google! :/

I'm not always that confident with things like this, but I'm lucky to have lots of friends & family around me who are always on hand to provide advice & help

As a single parent I would prefer the opinion of someone else when my son is ill, sometimes he has been really poorly in the night and I have half terrified myself into thinking he is seriously ill, would like someone to reassure me its just a bug or the like, as no other means of urgent access to medical assistance is available, the NHS direct phone line takes ages for a qualified response. Am confident with appropriate medicines but would like easier access to doctors, when I need them not 3/4 days later, also when working I find it hard to juggle sons illness with attendance requirements, and inevitably I end up getting ill too after.

I am lucky that I can always turn to my Mum and sister for advice. My Mum raised 5 healthy children and is always sensible and calm, when I am panicking!

I am confident as my children as very rarely ill, they have only had the odd sniffle. Plus my brother in law is a doctor so I can always give him a quick ring. I usually ask my mum about the normal teething problems, but if I need more reassurance or advice my hv is very friendly and I've got to know her quite well from having two children. My gp is great at giving us appointments, but like I said we have been very lucky and not had anything serious.

Most of the time I feel confident and always do over minor health issues. On some bigger issues when medical help is needed I don't feel too confident with the medical profession either. I have one friend who is a GP and another that is a surgeon and I invariably use them for a second opinion on issues where I'm not sure of what our doctors are saying. You'd be suprised how ofter the opinions differ which make me less confident.

Trust your own instincts, save yourself time by going to A&E if you feel it warrants it - NHS Direct or 111 is not worth the delay.

Mostly I'm confident with my own choices. If in doubt I'll call NHS Direct (or whatever it's called now) and have found them quite helpful on the whole. I called a Paramedic out once for my 2 yo son when he had a high fever, shallow rapid breathing and was drowsy and unresponsive.

It turned out to be 'just' an Upper Respiratory infection, (drowsiness made worse by the medication I'd given him) but the paramedic was SO supportive and kind, and said I had absolutely done the right thing to call. She said you just can't take chances with kids. I wanted to marry her, actually.

I always think that if a cuddle makes them feel better they can't be too bad.

What makes you feel confident in making health-related decisions?
Speaking to other parents and my friend who is a paedatrician

Would you like more support and if so, from who?
Pharmacists and health visitors.

Would you like more practical advice on treating your child’s symptoms?
No I think the guideline are clear but keeping them hydrated is a challenge - diarolyte is never popular

Would you like more resources available from your pharmacist?
Yes, medication for minor ailments like conjunctivitis, it seems like a waste of the GP's time when they are so stretched

Or is it emotional support that would help your confidence? Would you appreciate more help from your partner or more advice from your friends?
Yes, in terms of time my husband could be more supportive, but I appreciate he does have a very demanding job. Fortunately my children are rarely ill and I'm not anxious about their health and well-being

I trust my instincts, if I don't feel my child is right in his/her-self I will take them to a GP and if I can't get an answer I'll ask for a 2nd opinion.

Having had 1 child that doesn't always get a temperature when ill and another with a severe reflux disorder I've learnt that doctors don't always get it right first time and if your instinct is telling you there is something wrong, ask for a different GP.

I feel more confident now that they can talk and tell me how they are feeling or where it hurts.

I am generally confident about dealing with my child's health. it is much easier now that he is 7. When they are babies it is much harder. I would like more accessible advice by phone whether from GP/nurse /or pharmacist depending on the issue.

NHS 24 is a waste of time and money. They have only ever told me to take him to hospital or give him paracetemol.

For small conditions more access to drugs via the pharmacist would be useful.

having my mum nearby for a second opinion has always helped me be confident when my little ones are poorly

I usually talk to my sister as she has two older children, but I do like to confer with my DH, as I am to much of a worrier about consequencies ets. If were both not sure than the doctor

I think having someone to help wit decisions is a great help, but not always practical, so I've had to learn to rely on my own instincts. Experience helps and I think I've been more confident with my youngest, as I know more of what to expect.

When I am down with a winter bug I like to dose up and rest up (easier said than done with little ones running around). I think it is better to completely rest up for a couple of days, in order to get back on your feet sooner. In the past I have tried to soldier on and ended up with a prolonged illness for weeks and weeks. I am sure this is because I didn't wave my little white flag early on!