Will the Pill Really Make it All Better

wow..soo much negativity here about this. I would use it in certain cases. I use comfort and love and attention and sometimes they need just a little bit more so a placebo would be grod to have. Granted, nobody would want to set the bottle out for free dosing, but sometimes kids need just a little something. I know there have been times when I go for the tylenol when I don't REALLY need it.

As a pharmacist, I have to say this is probably not a good idea. If you give a child placebos during childhood, wouldn't one think that they will grow up as adults thinking pills fix everything? Would be interesting to see a study on this "placebo in children" and how it plays out in adulthood.

Unless you have a medical degree--or are a talented/experienced healer/herbalist etc--it is a huge level of irresponsibility.... As well it leaves a child on a mental/emotional level to suppose that taking a pill cures all--what about proper diet/expercise etc....even that the child could be looking for a degree of emotional comfort and must "make up" an illness to get attention from the parent....how about a hug and a kiss...or listening to them if they are emotionally upset....emotions affect the body and health...

Why not just tell them no? Or teach them what is necessary for each situation. Giving into them when they are pretending to be sick only makes them pretend more. So, my answer would be no to the 'sugar pill' because if people abuse prescription drugs then, they will most likely abuse a 'sugar pill.'

I hate to disagree from the majority here, but I don't think this is as ridiculous as some people think. I would never advocate using a placebo as a regular "cure" for every ailment, but every once in a while when it's clear that a child is over-exaggerating to get out of chores, homework, school, or just to get attention, I don't see that it could be that harmful. I do, however, think it's very important for parents to stress to their children that they need to be honest about how they are feeling, and that lying, hiding or exaggerating about an issue could have serious consequences.

I just cannot believe this! America is the most medicated nation in the world. Why would we do this? Our children will turn into a bunch of neurotics!

Most young kids do not complain unless something is wrong. It may not be a physical ailment but perhaps a mental or emotional problem. I could see where placebo pill would help in some cases but the Dr would need to use this case by case gathering all the information carefully before prescribing

Well said, UCmba97. I agree with you 100%.

Grandma offer a spoon of caster oil...insisted on it if you were staying home from school. I went to school not feeling tip top just to avoid the caster oil...who needs a sugar pill. Bring back the caster oil!

A little bit of tough love through humor may be good way to take a child's mind off of a minor boo boo. Make sure you know the child well, and that the child knows that you have a sense of humor. This isn't meant to scare the child, but to make him/her laugh at the silliness of a suggestion to fix something small by reacting in a big, over-the-top way.

I often introduce the idea on myself first, "Ow, Mommy has a hang nail, should I go get a knife to cut off my whole finger... or just use a nail file?" This way a child can see that exaggerated solutions aren't neccesary for small problems. A good life lesson for putting things into perspective and for using laughter as the best medicine.

When a child comes up and starts to whine about a little scratch on his/her finger, one might say, "Well help me find a pair of sissors and we'll just cut it off so it won't hurt anymore." He'll/she'll start to go with you, thinking that you're getting ready to go look for medicine or a Band-aid, then stop suddently when he/she actually LISTENS to what you are saying. A child usually will stop, giggle, then say "No, that won't work. That's silly."

Then I offer some "Kiss medicine" and a hug, and with a giggle the child is on his/her way.

Once again, only do this with children you know well that know adults can be silly, so that it won't freak them out.

I have read alot of great advice here, but form my own history with my 5 year old. TV commerials have convinced him that if you give him a pill or medicine of some kind the next thing you see is a happy bouncy kid. The commercial tell him that medicine cures all. Now every time he eats to much or something that doesn't agree he wants a TUM like on TV. Or if he gets a headache from jumping and playing to hard in the heat he wants some medicine. I try to distract him, or give him something cool to drink even a popcicle, but he knows that on TV only medicine work. Even the Nick Jr. web site has ad's for some type of medicine or another. So for some children such as mine when they are convinced that the only way to get better is medicine I have to admit that I to have tricked him with a child's vitiam or 2. But every were I turn on childrens programing via tv or the internet, there it is medicine will fix it all.

Wow... I think,NO. This is almost a no brainer as you can see from a majority of the people that posted. You don't give your children fake medicine and you don't encourage your child to fix things with a pill. This is riddled with the wrong messages for children. No to mention I don't believe that their psyche is even ready for the placebo trick.

That's the basic standard of behavioral conditioning. Pavlov what do you think?

This is rediculus, a hug and kiss and some time with mom & dad or other should be the best medicine. It teaches children they 'need' to take something to feel better. Not Good.

It's all about the money, isn't it? This is the most rediculous thing I've ever heard. Knowing your own child and talking to them and giving them a hug when needed is the best action to take. Calling your doctor when concerned about your child is always a step in the right direction. I say stay away form these junk pills.

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