I'm a nanny, and I agree with PP. The fever itself is cause to call a parent, especially if there was no temp. when they were home. If I couldn't get hold of a parent, I would use my personal judgement as best I could. I would write down everything I gave, and tell the parents when I could get in touch.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. At 101, I could go either way with medicating or not depending on how child is acting. I would trust nanny judgement here. Nanny has never called during day to clear anything, in over 6 months. I'm annoyed bc I feel giving a kid medication is serious and I think nanny, or anyone else, should check with parent first. I just don't know if I'm over reacting. I wasn't home when nanny left today so I want to see what others think before I address this with her. In past I talked to nanny that DD is on X medication for health problem and then had surgery, etc... This was a few months back. Also, at one point I said unless emergency and need to call 911, I want her to call me for any medical problems.

With a fever at 101, I would call MB (or DB if there is one) to ask, BUT if I couldn't get a hold of them, I would medicate. I don't mess around with fevers and anything 101+ needs medication. It's a fever reducer, not a cough/cold medication. A child could make due without cough medicine (even if feeling miserable) for a few hours, but you should never not try to reduce a fever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I check first, because they want me to. But at 101, your kid needed medicine. I can't believe you'd withhold medicine with such a high fever. 103 is cause for a trip to the ER!

This person is wrong. I hope she is not doling out medicine to someone else's kid based on this warped view!

Oh, are you a doctor?

Anonymous wrote:I check first, because they want me to. But at 101, your kid needed medicine. I can't believe you'd withhold medicine with such a high fever. 103 is cause for a trip to the ER!

This person is wrong. I hope she is not doling out medicine to someone else's kid based on this warped view!

Anonymous wrote:I check first, because they want me to. But at 101, your kid needed medicine. I can't believe you'd withhold medicine with such a high fever. 103 is cause for a trip to the ER!

Not every child needs medicine with a fever of 101. In fact, we rarely medicate at 101 unless the child is absolutely miserable...as in laying on the couch, lethargic, hysterical mess. We prefer to let the fever do its job...which is to start killing whatever virus or bacteria has invaded the body. Nor do we rush to the ER for a fever of 103...unless it is a very young infant. We do treat 103 b/c the child is most likely miserable at that point and we don't want to take the chance that it goes any higher.

Always check first and always document how much and what time.

Anonymous wrote:
i give my charge ritalin on the days that she may need another dose. she takes 3 doses during the school day and if she is having a hard time settling after school and doing hw, I am to give another dose with dinner. OP, some medicines you have to be trusting that your nanny can exercise good judgement about. I once had an MB who did not want me to administer "meds". I put that in quotes because she did not want me to give orajel on the gums. So, for 12 hrs her child was screaming in pain because she would not trust me to dole out baby ibuprofen. If you had not had an agreement with her before, she may not have thought twice about it. When you have a nanny, the idea is that she will care for your children as her own and sometimes that involves making decisions without contacting you. If you have a serious issue with it, you need to tell her that you want to be consulted before any medicine is given. That will be a bit of a hassle if you are for example not answering your phone, or not available so you need to think about this. If you trust this person with your child, you should be able to trust that she won't overdose your child on tylenol. good luck!

According to my MB, there have been studies saying that baby orajel can cause too much numbness in the mouth and cause babies to choke. I'm pretty sure that's only if you use too much of it, but she never wanted it in the house. The teething process was HORRIBLE.

I check first, because they want me to. But at 101, your kid needed medicine. I can't believe you'd withhold medicine with such a high fever. 103 is cause for a trip to the ER!

Anonymous wrote:MB here. Nannies do you usually check w parents before giving ibuprofen or tylenol to toddler for low grade temp? MBs do you expect nanny to check in first before medicating toddler? Got home from work, DH had gotten home 1st and told me nanny said she gave toddler ibuprofen for 101 temp. This has not been addressed before, but I am annoyed that she did not check in first. If I were watching someone else young child even if it were a relative I would call first if there was fever or other illness before medicating someone else kid. What do you think?

I definitely check first, I actually have a medicine chart drawn out for me that I really appreciate.

i give my charge ritalin on the days that she may need another dose. she takes 3 doses during the school day and if she is having a hard time settling after school and doing hw, I am to give another dose with dinner. OP, some medicines you have to be trusting that your nanny can exercise good judgement about. I once had an MB who did not want me to administer "meds". I put that in quotes because she did not want me to give orajel on the gums. So, for 12 hrs her child was screaming in pain because she would not trust me to dole out baby ibuprofen. If you had not had an agreement with her before, she may not have thought twice about it. When you have a nanny, the idea is that she will care for your children as her own and sometimes that involves making decisions without contacting you. If you have a serious issue with it, you need to tell her that you want to be consulted before any medicine is given. That will be a bit of a hassle if you are for example not answering your phone, or not available so you need to think about this. If you trust this person with your child, you should be able to trust that she won't overdose your child on tylenol. good luck!

My current employers and I have a standing agreement as well regarding medications. We discussed it within the first week of employment, and I know I am able to exercise judgement regarding tylenol, motrin, and breathing treatments.

If it's being administered during the course of an illness I don't bother notifying them b/c they assume I will continue what they've started or we've talked about. If someone presents with a fever on my watch (high enough to warrant meds) I usually text MB or DB (if MB isn't working from her home office that day) to let them know about the fever. I always keep a written log of any meds I administer...it's really casual though (a post-it note on the kitchen island). I don't text when I give meds for a headache, but I will write it down (if I'm handing over to DB) or give a verbal rundown to MB at the end of the day.

If I did not have a standing agreement with this family I would notify them before administering any medications, as I do on the rare occasions I need to give a child medication when I am babysitting for a different family outside of work.

OP here. At 101, I could go either way with medicating or not depending on how child is acting. I would trust nanny judgement here. Nanny has never called during day to clear anything, in over 6 months. I'm annoyed bc I feel giving a kid medication is serious and I think nanny, or anyone else, should check with parent first. I just don't know if I'm over reacting. I wasn't home when nanny left today so I want to see what others think before I address this with her. In past I talked to nanny that DD is on X medication for health problem and then had surgery, etc... This was a few months back. Also, at one point I said unless emergency and need to call 911, I want her to call me for any medical problems.

I've always discussed this with parents before it comes up. In your situation I probably would have cleared it before giving medication, but with my current employers we have a standing agreement that I will use my judgement and be sure to let them know of any medication used in the log. Perhaps your nanny is used to this kind of arrangement? If you prefer that she clear it with you first just say so.

Out of curiosity, are you upset because if you had been asked permission you would have said no to the medication? Or are you upset simply because nanny didn't ask permission? Do you typically have her clear decisions with you throughout the day?

I ALWAYS check with my MB before giving the children any medications. I would definitely make it clear to your nanny that she has to ask you prior to administering medication.

MB here. Nannies do you usually check w parents before giving ibuprofen or tylenol to toddler for low grade temp? MBs do you expect nanny to check in first before medicating toddler? Got home from work, DH had gotten home 1st and told me nanny said she gave toddler ibuprofen for 101 temp. This has not been addressed before, but I am annoyed that she did not check in first. If I were watching someone else young child even if it were a relative I would call first if there was fever or other illness before medicating someone else kid. What do you think?