Overmedicating a baby..

HisBetterHalf

Do you know anyone that does this?  Like anyone who is convinced, lets say, that their child is teething all the time and always gives them tylenol or motrin?  Or is convinced that their child needs Benadryl for some reason?  Is constantly giving Mylicon drops (I know this is not really a medicine)?  Convinces the DR that child has reflux and gets them on zantac/prilosec, etc but is using examples from someone else child??

I am having such a difficult time dealing with someone in my life like this.  I don't know what to do about it because its not my child and not my place to do anything but I feel like this could be very harmful to the child.  I'm just so uneasy about it.

DandR

Like the lady who told my friend's sister after a long plane ride with a 3 and 4 year old from Italy "why didn't you medicate them to sleep.  That was the worst flight ever from them screaming!"

yeah, it happens, and if i had first hand knowledge of someone doing that, I'd probably confront them about it.  "does he REALLY need that?  come on, he's fine!"

triplea1819

Are you sure they are medicating when not needed?  Are you around them all the time to know they are really not teething?  Or how do you know that they used examples from some one else?  sometime stories can sound similar. 

 i am sure some people may feel I over medicate DS, he has been teething with his molars since he was 14 months.  they just are now popping through.  I asked the dr and preteething hurts just as much. 

 I am not flaming just playing some devils advocate.  and to answer your question honestly, unless they were over medicating to the point of making the kid sick, it is really not my business. 

hikerbeth

Unfortunately, I think it's one of those things you have to let go. . . especially the mylicon/zantac/prilosec thing.  I can tell you first hand that when you have a colicky baby you want SOME kind of solution besides "just deal with it, it's colic"

HisBetterHalf

Yes I know she is overmedicating.  She has told me word for word, "the doctor says she's not teething but I just know she is so I'm giving her tylenol every 4 hours anyway".  And the baby has NO teeth and she's been giving tylenol (not constantly) for 5 months. And as for the reflux story, she is using MY DDs story.  She knows that DD was a very fussy baby at first and then when we found out that she had reflux and got her on medicine, she was a completely different child.  I've never seen her baby have any of the symptoms that DD had and frankly the medicine is not making any difference in her child.

I know I have to let it go, but its disturbing me.  Its not even that the baby is colicky.  Its that the baby is bored and not stimulated enough.

snickerdoodle27

I'm paranoid about overmedication so I only use it when it's absolutely necessary. I don't know anyone who does this though. That's scary. Maybe you could say something like: "oh I know a remedy that really help with teething!" and suggest a teething ring or cold washcloth. Or maybe, "are you sure he/she really needs the medicine?" I guess somethign that shows your concern in a non-confrontational way. it's hard when it's not your child though.

kertybird

I had a really sick infant (until we pulled her out of day care) Everyone was always telling us to lay off the meds, but our doctors and specialists said she has to be on it!  It was always hard to explain WHY she needed it all.  But she had 8 ear infections in the first 9 months, she had allergies, they thought she had CF, clogged ducts, she had ALL of her teeth (including 1 set of molars) by 10 months, horrible fevers.  I would not say anything unless you know FOR SURE that is going way overboard.  Some kids get sicker than others.