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I am a firm believer in the placebo effect, particularly for children. Kids (well, my kids, anyhow) believe so ardently that I am in control of all situations that I honestly could give them a sugar pill and they'd say—and believe—it worked. Indeed, many's the time that they announce they're already feeling better when they've barely finished chewing their Tylenol tabs. I occasionally use Tylenol almost as a placebo, giving the kids a low dose when they complain that they can't sleep or they don't feel good, in the absence of any real symptoms. Sometimes I think that Robitussin can work as a placebo too, because when my kids are up coughing at night, they fall asleep almost as soon as I give them a spoonful.

Before you excoriate me for any of a number of perceived bad-parenting decisions, let me assure you that (1) I would never depend on a placebo to cure a fever, a bacterial infection, obvious pain, or the like; and (2) I don't suggest to my children that every ailment can be cured by taking a pill. A skinned knee is not going to feel better no matter what you take, and a stomach bug just needs to run its course. But there are many instances when kids just don't feel "right," and there's really no reason why—that's when placebos work their magic.

The other day I heard about a new product coming out called Obecalp (get it?). It's a chewable cherry-flavored pill designed for parents who want to give their kids something to make them feel better, even when there's either nothing really wrong with them or there is something wrong but there's no medicine that can help. At first I pish-toshed the whole idea—the "Invented by a Mommy!" banner being the main culprit there—but then I started thinking that it wasn't so ridiculous after all.

This story in the Times pretty much dismisses the whole thing, but I can definitely imagine parents of young kids giving this a shot. As one doctor said, "“Anybody who has ever been up in the middle of the night with a crying child would be tempted to try something like this. You’re so desperate for anything that could quiet down your poor, miserable kid.”

Comments

[James]

Our solution has often been to just stay with them, but then one parent is pretty much up all night when things are really bad.

Different kids have different needs, and families will choose their different methods of comfort. Often these turn into lifelong habits. I don't think it's easy to know what is going to have a positive long term effect.

Pills as solution bothers me a little bit, and my daughters sound like they are more skeptical than your kids in general, but I think it's pretty harmless in the long run. And possibly a good thing if it works.

[Karen]

I honestly can't imagine ever buying the darn things, but I do think it's an interesting idea. There have been times when one of my kid has been up two or three times at night for no readily discernible reason, and I finally give out some Tylenol, which does the trick. Who knows?

[Mark]

Our pediatrician told us that a little Children's Benedryl at night (occasionally) is harmless if that is what it takes to get a kid back to sleep.

I think the Missus and I did a little jig when we heard that.

[Di]

I wouldn't do it as a panacea, but occasionally would be OK. And I think using Tylenol that way occasionally is fine too.

One time when I took my needle-freaked daughter for a shot, I pulled the nurse aside and asked if she would put some "numbing cream" on the place where the shot would go. Basically, it was vaseline or something. But it soothed her enough to calm down for the shot.

Sometimes whatever it takes is the best solution!

[Universal Placebos]

We agree that the responsible use of placebos can work wonders, and not only for children.

We are four friends who have been following the debate for a while and decided to do something about by making placebos available to the public. On our Universal Placebos website there articles and testimonials about what happens if you know you are taking a placebo . . . hence no ethical dilemmas about deceiving the patient.

If you are curious you can check it out on www.placebo.com.au