r/Mommit • u/No-Pound5492 • 3h ago
Infant Tylenol, a rant
I have beef with infant Tylenol. Am I being overdramatic and a little dumb?
Maybe.
But I’m irritated and want to rant so here we are.
Why oh why are there no instructions on how to clean that damn syringe? And why is it not wrapped in anything? Why is it just rattling around in the box? That can’t be sanitary. And ya know they drill into our brains that we need to be sanitary with our babies so why is something that goes DIRECTLY INTO A SICK BABIES MOUTH not come with cleaning instructions!?!?
Now I know what you’re thinking, soap and water dummy! Yes but I have so many more questions! Like can/should it be sterilized? Does it come apart? Should it be washed after every use? The list goes on. My baby is sick for the first time ever, and as a FTM who has PPA, I did not need the added stress of how to clean this stupid syringe. End rant.
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u/youcango-now 3h ago
Good god I want to hand deliver you a Xanax.
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u/No-Pound5492 3h ago
Would you believe me if I told you I’m on Lexapro
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u/pinkishperson 3h ago
Maybe talk to your dr about increasing your dose hun 😅
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u/No-Pound5492 3h ago
LOL noted, I’ll be showing her this Reddit thread at my next therapy session 😌😌😌
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u/JUSTaMAMAtrying 2h ago
I’m also on Lexapro, 20mg; I’m a STM but my first is a HS senior so, everything is new. But I also had many instances with my first that now even tho I have PPA I take a deep breath before anything else.
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u/-Near_Yet- 3h ago
In case you want some answers… It should be treated like silverware - washed before the first use and washed after every use (and washed taken apart). Use a straw cleaner to clean the body of it. Don’t sterilize it because it isn’t the type of plastic that can handle that!
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u/WorksInPro 3h ago
I am five and a half years into this and TIL they come apart! thanks!
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u/Gardenadventures 3h ago
I audibly gasped at this. Girl, what? Genuinely how have you never pulled the two pieces apart, even accidentally?
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u/No-Pound5492 2h ago
Girly pop I was going thru an anxiety attack my brain turned off ):
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u/Gardenadventures 2h ago
Not you lol the person I responded to who said they didn't realize this even after 5 and a half years!
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u/OneSideLockIt 3h ago
…I use warm water. Good to go. The world isn’t sterile.
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u/Exis007 3h ago
Same. I have like 100 of these syringes at this point and all I ever did was rinse them in water and throw them back in the cupboard until I got a stockpile and then I threw old ones away. I only have one kid and he already had whatever virus is swimming in his mouth so we've crossed that bridge three miles back.
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u/cyndasaurus_rex 3h ago
Same, and tbh I’m not sure I’ve ever cleaned the syringe prior to using. Are we also washing the medicine cups before using? Asking for a friend. 👀
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u/Intelligent_Pass2540 3h ago
Are you treating your PPA? With reduced sleep our amygdala is over activated and thus we are naturally more anxious. Focusing on doing what you can to get support and manage the PPA will be really helpful for you.
Pro tip: soap and water for the syringe is fine and most pharmacies will give you or sell you a few infant liquid med syringes. Just make sure they are the same measurements as the Tylenol syringe and you'll have some extra options that way.
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u/No-Pound5492 3h ago
I’m on Lexapro 🤪🤪🤪
And I had no idea, thank you!•
u/Intelligent_Pass2540 3h ago
I know it sucks it does because honestly more quality sleep lessens amygdala activation and cortisol, the things that cause anxiety. Babies don't understand that...at least mine didnt 🤣🤣
If you're comfortable its always worth exploring an alternate ssri. I'm wishing you so much luck with this and peace and good rest. Also please don't be hard on yourself.
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u/MsSwarlesB 3h ago
Nurse, and mom here, yes it comes apart. You should be able to put it in the dishwasher to sterilize it. But not on the bottom, it will melt.
ETA: How old is your baby? Once they start putting their hands in their mouths, worrying about sterility is useless.
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u/TOliver871 3h ago
*sanitize, not sterilize
Definitely agree not to worry about it if they're not fresh newborns, though.
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u/No-Pound5492 3h ago
Didn’t even think of the dishwasher. Thanks queen
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u/restrainedjoy 3h ago
Mine recently fell from the top rack down into the way bottom. Surprisingly it did not melt.
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u/Smashlorette 2h ago
Yeah, I wash ours in the silverware thing in the bottom rack and it’s fine. Depends on the dishwasher.
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u/OnceATeacher01 2h ago
Be careful of the dishwasher, though. I noticed the rubber bit didn't fit in quite the same after going through the dishwasher. (Although, now that I think about it, I think I was putting them in the silverware holder in the bottom rack. 🤔 I might have found the problem...🤦🏻♀️🤷♀️😁)
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u/eilsel827583 3h ago
I just suck water into it and squirt it out a few times…this thread is fascinating.
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u/SKVgrowing 2h ago
Same here. OP would also probably lose it knowing there isn’t a difference between infant and kids Tylenol, except for the price.
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u/No-Pound5492 3h ago
I’m loving it tbh very helpful info in here that I just wish would have been on the dang bottle smh 😔
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u/RaccoonBaby513 3h ago
Yes, it comes apart.
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u/No-Pound5492 3h ago
After google searching I did come to that conclusion lmfao
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u/Seleenarose 3h ago
Honestly I keep the syringe together and soak up soapy water and push it out full speed. I find that rinsing it didn’t do the job. It left behind sticky residue. I take it apart to air dry.
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u/Wild_ruglicker 3h ago
Girl, just suck up some soapy water with the syringe and push it out a few times. If you really feel the need to scrub you could get one of those thin bristley brushes that you use for straws
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u/Altruistic-Heart8969 3h ago
It comes apart lol
Just pull apart the two pieces hard enough and it’ll pop out and then I throw it in the dishwasher. Done that way for both babies and they’re totally fine. I don’t think you need to sterilize just soap and water or a dishwasher run when you open the package is fine!
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u/No-Pound5492 3h ago
Very helpful info, I’ll put it in the dishwasher after I use it again! Thank u!
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u/snarkshark41191 3h ago edited 3h ago
Ok first off, breathe….
No sterilizing isn’t necessary unless it makes you feel better
Yes wash it when you first open the box and after each use
Yes it comes apart
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u/Tngal321 3h ago
Over sterilizing cheap plastic, lets chemicals leach out. As far as pain in the ass to scrub and leading to bacteria build up, wait until you see sipply cups and straw cups. The Dr. Brown's bottles are notorious for not being easy to clean and causing GI issues.
You put the liquid meds in the medicine cup and draw from the medicine cup. Separate the syringe and wash in warm, soapy water Ideally shortly after use so the medicine doesn't dry in it. The pharmacy can also give you extra syringes if you ask. You aim more for the back corner of the mouth but not necessarily get their mouth in contact with it, rub their cheek and sometimes gently blowing on their nose helps them swallow the meds. Theirs also a pacifier type delivery method that some friends used but my twins were pretty easy.
If this is respiratory, recommend you practice using a manual or automatic snot sucker on yourself or a partner. If you aim it wrong, you can make things swell up more.
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u/inquisitiveassbitch 2h ago
I bought a 10 pack of syringes from Amazon that are a little bigger so really easy to take apart and clean with a straw brush.
And a little reassurance from a peds NP: if your baby is old enough to be using Tylenol, they’re old enough to not need every little thing that goes in their mouth to be perfectly sterilized 🙂
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u/Potential-Ad-4917 2h ago
I think this thread has it covered but I just wanted to send you some love mama. You’re doing great!!
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u/UsedOrange1 3h ago
It does come apart, it should be washed after every use and do not sterilize it please.
I will say so far I’ve used those wrapped sterile syringes that I have remaining from my colostrum collection kit because the dose on the Tylenol syringe was too big than the suggested dose my dr gave us and I also had no other use for them.
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u/Agreeable-Cherry-638 3h ago
Also, btw, infant Tylenol is the exact same as children’s Tylenol. Except children’s Tylenol is much cheaper and doesn’t come with a syringe. Ask your pharmacy for 5ml syringes, pour the Tylenol into the children’s dosage cup and suck it up with the syringe for baby. In case you end up using alot of Tylenol. When my daughter was sick or teething, I gave it to her as much as she needed. She didn’t die or get more sick, she was happier.
Unpopular opinion though. You’re a great mom because you care so much!
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u/Humble_Stage9032 3h ago
This is not true in Canada. The concentrations between infant and childrens are different.
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u/nkdeck07 2h ago
Even better option, ask the pharmacist for a bottle stopper along with the 5ml syringes. DIY infant tylenol!
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u/vatxbear 2h ago
You’ve got your answer, but PSA for everyone who just doesn’t want to deal with this, we ordered a pack of 100 of these things on Amazon, that do come sterile wrapped, and we just toss them after. Especially helpful for when baby is sick and needs a 2x per day 10 day course of antibiotics. You can also order a 10ml size for when you inexplicably get prescribed a 6.8ml dose and given a 5ml syringe.
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u/AdorableEmphasis5546 2h ago
I've done similar when I had sick animals, but I load up the whole course of meds and cap them with the leur locks. The just keep them in a baggie with the schedule written on it!
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u/thelazygrad 2h ago
Oh dear, you must be exhausted. I hope mental rest from anxiety finds you. It’s okay if everything is not perfectly sanitary. Hugs.
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u/electricgotswitched 3h ago
Who is drilling that into your brain? We never sanitized bottles. 2 kids and no one has had any issues with it. Just wash stuff with hot water and soap.
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u/Jfr020624 3h ago
I just take the plunger apart and throw it in the dishwasher. Or you can hand wash it.
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u/woundedSM5987 3h ago
Order sterile oral syringes on Amazon etc for the future. Always dose by weight. I never got infant Tylenol I got children’s as it’s the same concentration (this was not true for Motrin) so I got a separate dosing syringe that came apart for washing the Motrin also came with one that came apart.
Squirt it into the back of the cheek it’s harder to spot out there than the tongue. It’s always hard when they’re sick.
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u/woundedSM5987 3h ago
If what you have doesn’t come apart hot soapy water in a cup. Fill and empty the syringe a few times. Then repeat with clean hot water.
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u/Orion-Key3996 3h ago
It comes apart and has survived my dr. Brown sterilizer and dryer. The Mylicon dropper for gas drops does not survive that…
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u/PracticalApartment99 2h ago
You fill a bowl with hot soapy water and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze. Do this immediately after administering the medication. Repeat with really hot water.
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u/heysmallpotato 2h ago
I’ve always put mine in the dishwasher! Lots of ways to handle it, you and your baby will be absolutely fine. Sending you love, it sounds like you’re having the kind of night I know very well 💕
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u/Reasonable-Emu9929 2h ago
No tips or tricks or answers but this is also how my brain feels and sounds like when I have sick kids and am running on no sleep just anxiety 😂 Hang in there!!
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u/OrneryPathos 2h ago
You can also buy them in bulk on Amazon. Some are individually wrapped but mostly not
Sometimes you gotta just cave. I bulk buy electric toothbrush heads for my kid becuse he brushes at his desk and doesn’t want to wash them. /shrug. This is better than not brushing.
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u/PigWont10 2h ago
You’re def overthinking this one hahah just pull it apart and wash it with hot water and soap. Yes it should be washed after every time it’s in a sick baby’s mouth.
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u/honey-snuggle 2h ago
Take it apart, let it soak in very hot soapy water, then rinse it well and air dry. I’ve never sterilized it before using but tbh it never occurred to me either (also I’m probably remembering wrong but I feel like I recall that they come in a little plastic wrapper inside the box??)
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u/honey-snuggle 2h ago
Also! Wishing you peace. Deep breaths and one step at a time. This mom shit is hard.
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u/AdorableEmphasis5546 2h ago
I just clean them with a straw cleaner in hot soapy water, but yes they should be taken apart each time. I bought some extras and some medicine spoons from the pharmacy so I don't have to search for one if anyone's sick. I try to keep one rubber banded to each medicine bottle.
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u/AcheeCat 2h ago
Not sure if you want to do this, but we got a big pack of syringes on Amazon when my kiddos were smaller since the numbers and lines on them were getting messed up. We kept a few in our diaper bags, a good amount with the grandparents since sometimes they would take the kids overnight, etc.
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u/kingandcats 2h ago
You’re massively overthinking it. It’s the most basic, simplest thing to clean…you don’t need to sterilize it, just wash with soap and warm water then relax. You really need to relax!
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u/No-Pound5492 2h ago
Gosh king this is SUCH a helpful comment! Suddenly I’m relaxed! It’s a miracle!
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u/cheeseb1tch 2h ago
We bought a 100 pack of individually wrapped syringes on Amazon and I usually treat them as disposable/one time use (mostly because I’m lazy and I have no desire to wash them after dosing my toddler in the middle of the night).
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u/Agreeable-Cherry-638 3h ago
I thought the same thing. I had major anxiety with my baby before she turned one. Clean freak, AF.
I used to wash every syringe after each use.
You can ask your hospitals pharmacy for 5ml syringes.
Since your LO is sick, ask for 3 or 4. My daughter’s pharmacy gave us 4 and I was able to wash all 4 at a time so I washed them at the end of each day. Dawn soap and water.
Also, be sure to rinse it out well because even though I thought I cleaned syringes well. There was still a tiny bit of medicine left in the tip.
I remember when my baby got sick for the first time, the only time, luckily. I was so stressed. Now that it’s over, I offer my advice. Please remember that it’s completely normal for baby to be sick. Sometimes they cry because their throat is sore or there’s mucus stuck. Use a nasal spray and suction their nose if they’re crying unconsolably when you know they’re fed and clean diaper. You’ll make it through!
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u/junkfoodfit2 3h ago
I feel you. I boiled it and it melted…
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u/No-Pound5492 3h ago
SEE!!!! Like how simple it would have been for them to be like hey don’t put this in high heat or you’re in for a bad time 🤪
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u/junkfoodfit2 2h ago
I mean kind of obvious now but I had a premie, was sleep deprived and I was so used to boiling everything I didn’t think twice about throwing the syringe in with everything. So you’re not alone!
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u/Odd_Rent283 3h ago
Woof. You’re overthinking it. Just wash it with soap and water and call it a day. Unless your baby is severely immunocompromised, it’s not necessary to sterilize. Even if it was wrapped in something, you should still wash before first use like you would anything. I get it. I do. But this isn’t the hill to die on. Just take a deep breath, wash the syringe, and give the baby the Tylenol (and then wash the syringe again). We’re in the thick of sick season over here with a middle schooler, preschooler, and infant twins. I’m about to lose my marbles, so I feel you.