Toddlers, Snot, and More Snot

[Daycare Mommy]

The problem is, is that you can't buy over the counter medication for runny noses for young children. That's why parents give Tylenol. They don't have anything else to give them unless they want to give them a med that's not for young children.

All my dc kids are 3-5yrs old right now so Nope! That's not it.. not at my place anyway. Just clueless parents. Anyway, for the youngers (12-23 mos) if mom calls their doc they can get the correct dosages on whatever med the doc thinks is appropriate. If the doc says don't medicate, they just need to stay home with them when they are sick.

If they are sick and parents want to bring them to daycare with a cold the kids drainage and/or coughing HAS to be medicated effectively or I will send them home. If the meds aren't enough to keep their noses from running like a faucet or keep them from hacking all over the place then I call them for an early pick up. Any green drainage or fever it's straight home too.

Just because Bobby "only" has a cold doesn't mean it can't turn into a miserable double ear infection in Suzie causing her mom to have a doctor bill and eat up her sick time at work and then even worse hospitalize Johnny with pneumonia. (Yes this has happened!) It's not about grouching at the parents, it's about keeping everyone in our care safe. That's what I do. I think it annoys some of them sometimes, but I'm up front about it and overall I think they appreciate it because in the end we have a LOT less illness than most places around here.

[Childminder]

Now that they have taken cold meds off the market for young children parents are stupid enough to give them adult med. Loratadine and benadryl seems to be the meds of choice recommended by pediatricians around here for children as young as 6 mo to dry up the nasal symptoms. No script needed.Even have dosage sheets printed with the Dr's letterhead. I'm sure they have gone to this to keep parents from using adult meds. As persephones post says they should talk to a Dr but most dont.

"The Loratidine page says not to be use on children under 6 with out talking to a doctor.

Benadryl also says between 2-5 do not use unless directed by a doctor.
And under 2 do not use.

There is nothing safe to use for under age 2 over the counter. Other then some Vicks rub and some nasal spray to clean it out.

Both are for Allergies or Hayfever. Not something you would use for an every day cold. Unless it's the sinus(Benadryl allergy and sinus) one, and that one says not for children under 4."

Daycares are pretty much petri dishes and by the time a child shows symptom they have pretty much given it to everyone that comes around. My policy states that a child may not come to daycare if fever is over 101 or spewing out either end. As for colds; snot it pretty much comes with the territory and you might as well except it. Most children have between 6-8 colds per year and it helps to build their immunities to be exposed so that they don't have bigger problems later.

[mac60]

Right, which means that those parents who were stupid in the first place and had them change the age would be giving their kids the wrong amount if they used them, and overdose their child.

My own kids are now 19 and 21, and they were in daycare, and as parents we gave them meds for nasty colds that were over the counter and age appropriate.....obviously we knew what we knew what we were doing as we had no issues..........my point is, is that many years ago there were products to give young children and we used them safely.

[Persephone]

My own kids are now 19 and 21, and they were in daycare, and as parents we gave them meds for nasty colds that were over the counter and age appropriate.....obviously we knew what we knew what we were doing as we had no issues..........my point is, is that many years ago there were products to give young children and we used them safely.

I know...but there were some people who didn't use them right and that's why things changed now.

That's like when I was little taking a tsp of med meant getting out the spoon from the draw and pouring it on. Never a measurement.

[momma2girls]

I have an almost 1 yr old dcb who I swear every other week has a runny nose. I have told mom that when he has a runny nose I keep him in 1) booster sit at kitchen table 2) pack n play and 3) exersaucer. Apparently it doesn't bother her because she didn't say anything and she continues to bring him when he has a runny nose. Dcb has a cousin in my care also who is like the 1 yr old. I keep him by himself to play. I think some of their problem is that they are surrounded by smokers at home. But that is just my opinion.
1 yr old screams bloody murder when I try to wipe his nose. Frustrating and annoying.

I have the exact some thing here. She screams bloody murder when I try and wipe it.