Update On Baby Who Is Always Medicated

[sharlan]

That's why I don't do daily diaper bags.

I have the parents provide me with a bag on Monday with clothes for the week. The only thing that goes back and forth is the child, shoes, and jacket. Diapers and wipes come by the big box or bag and I store them.

Meds must come in the original prescription bottle. I have the parents ask the pharmacist split the meds into two bottles, one for them, one for me. I will medicate a child IF ""I" deem necessary, but I have the bottles of Motrin (or whatever) in the cabinet. NO OTC MEDICATIONS to be brought from home.

[Hunni Bee]

We outlawed diaper bags because critters were coming in. Ugh. We require that all bottles and jar food be brought in a clear plastic Ziploc bag, and nothing else be sent with the child. If we request refills of diapers, extra clothes, etc...it must come in a plastic shopping bag.

I would be extremely leery of a child medicated heavily all of the time with such a mix of medications. Im sure the mom has not researched the effects of mixing prescription and otc meds, and plus she overlaps the dosages and asks you too. He's still pretty much a baby. He could have a reaction on your watch, God forbid, and you wouldn't even be able to give the paramedics the information about what he had and the last dosage and time.

Honestly, I would discontinue care. You can't say anything to her about it because she will continue to claim he needs it for teething, congestion, etc and then you would run the risk of her saying he hasn't had the meds when he really has. She's doing harm to her son, whether she realizes it or not, and it's just scary.

[renodeb]

Wouldnt dymatap make him sleepy? Thats alot of meds at once. Its probably
more like she cant function w/o giving himthat stuff. Poor baby.
Debbie

[Cat Herder]

Tylenol (acetaminophen)Abuse/Overdose it DEADLY. The damage is permanent. It is a horrible, slow and painful death. Most would rather burn than go through it.

Not enough people realize Infants Tyenol is at a MUCH higher dosage per ML than Childrens Tylenol. Antihistamines should not even be given to young children.

Infant (drops): 1.6 ML/CC = 160 MG.
Childrens (liquid): 5.0 ML/CC = 160 MG
Adult (liquid): 5.0 ML/CC = 108.3333 MG

[MommieNana4]

Document everything!

[littlemommy]

I told her last night that all those meds need to be cleaned out of the bag because there are too many little hands that can get in there. She agreed, but asked if she can leave the Dymetap here for me to use. I said yes, but it has to stay and cannot go back and forth. I kept telling myself that this does NOT mean I have to use it. Especially when she's not telling me when his last dosage was. She seemed fine, and put him in the car. She came back in a minute later and asked about if he's on antibiotics. I said IF they must be given timewise while he is here, that I need to be told about it and it needs to be in the original container.

If there is anything left in his bag today I'm giving one final notice. If she doesn't listen she's gone. This lady is kinda nutty.

[littlemommy]

Wouldnt dymatap make him sleepy? Thats alot of meds at once. Its probably
more like she cant function w/o giving himthat stuff. Poor baby.
Debbie

I thought about that. She has told me it makes him sleep better-that's kind of a red flag! Like I said, this is her last chance!

[littlemommy]

Well, she just did an extremely quick drop off so I didn't get a chance to ask if she cleaned out the bag. I looked after she left-everything is still there. I have a couple options:

A) Term now. I'd like to keep them around for financial reasons until I have my baby in January. It would be nice to have one less child after my maternity leave.

B) Put the bag outside and put a note in there stating that it needs to be left home because she did not follow the rules.

C) Let it slide. I know if I don't say anything she will continue to be weird (not that I can change her weirdness..)

[mismatchedsocks]

I would love to say A, but understand financially.

Definetly not C, so B. But I would call her at work, let her know the bag is outside tied up in garbage bag. Tell her she is no longer allowed to even bring bag in. Medicines in ziploc baggie with doc note and if she comes and tries to leave bag do not take it, if she sets down pick up and hand to her.

I would be so bold to say, this is the last time I will remind you. I dont want to get my license taken away because of you.

[Cat Herder]

D. Tell her you no longer give meds OR allow diaper bags.

[GretasLittleFriends]

I told her last night that all those meds need to be cleaned out of the bag because there are too many little hands that can get in there. She agreed, but asked if she can leave the Dymetap here for me to use. I said yes, but it has to stay and cannot go back and forth. I kept telling myself that this does NOT mean I have to use it. Especially when she's not telling me when his last dosage was. She seemed fine, and put him in the car. She came back in a minute later and asked about if he's on antibiotics. I said IF they must be given timewise while he is here, that I need to be told about it and it needs to be in the original container.

If there is anything left in his bag today I'm giving one final notice. If she doesn't listen she's gone. This lady is kinda nutty.

What to do? I would take everything out of the bag and lock it up. If there were prescription meds in there I would check to see if they need to be refrigerated, and lock them up as well, just don't forget to give them back at the end of the day.

I would also have a serious talk with her. Maybe even to go as far as to notify her today to say something came up and we need a conference tonight. Then explain things to her this evening. You said you would give her one final notice. It seems to me that she needs to be sat down and talked to, not just in passing, to perhaps help her better understand. It could be that she left those items in the bag with the thought of leaving them at your house. I would also give her and go over with her your medicine policy and the licensing requirement, you should be able to print off your area's requirements if you don't happen to have a copy on hand, but show it to her as well.

I would even go as far to explain to her how serious it is that these items are left in the diaper bag, what would happen to you or to any child who got a hold of them. I would also consider explaining your concern about the child being constantly drugged (worded nicer perhaps) and give her some literature on long term affects of certain drug usage.

[GotKids]

honestly if she is continuing to ignore your rules, especially safety rules, I would give her notice. I also think that I would have made an anon CPS report. There is no reason a child should ever stay medicated just to make it easy on mom. If she leaves your care and no report has been made she will just find another provider and perhaps one who doesn't see what mom is doing as a bad thing. I would feel like I didn't do my job in protecting the little ones that come through my door.

If you do make a report though, let your licensing person know you did and I would anticipate some sort of retaliation as this lady does seem pretty unstable. Good luck, hugs to you and the little one. You both need them!

[nannyde]

Can the kid even have Dimetap?

http://www.drugstore.com/childrens-dimetapp-cold-and-allergy-grape/qxp210139?catid=184156

Do not take more than 6 doses in any 24 hour period

adults and children 12 years and over - 4 tsp every 4 hours
children 6 to under 12 years - 2 tsp every 4 hours
children under 6 years - do not use

[littlemommy]

Can the kid even have Dimetap?

http://www.drugstore.com/childrens-dimetapp-cold-and-allergy-grape/qxp210139?catid=184156

Do not take more than 6 doses in any 24 hour period

adults and children 12 years and over - 4 tsp every 4 hours
children 6 to under 12 years - 2 tsp every 4 hours
children under 6 years - do not use

OMG!! I never even looked at that since I never gave it to him. Wow. I don't even know what to say!!

[littlemommy]

This makes me so scared for him. A DCP friend just had a dc baby die of SIDS. I was just reading about over-medicating infants and how it can cause a slow, painful death. My gut is telling me to term because I cannot risk this happening in my home. I will term Friday.