daughters friend eats TUMS all day and offers it to her friends

[jb03]

I would just mention to the teacher that it's going on. It's relatively harmless and the kid might just see it as candy. Somebody (hopefully the teacher would) should suggest to the mother that perhaps the child only brings what she needs. (I'm pretty sure it's not illegal to carry TUMS around outside of their original packaging )

[sskkc]

They "plug" me up - I certainly wouldn't want my kids chewing on them all day!

I agree that you should approach the mom first and talk to your daughter about not accepting them. If they doesn't work, then you should approach the teacher.

[hypocore]

I'd suggest a quick chat with the school nurse. You can ask the nurse to clarify whether or not the school/district considers TUMS something that has to be monitored by the school and let her know of the issue.

In our district it specifically includes antacids under the definition of medications therefore requiring a parental request via written form to dispense and can only be given to the student by the nurse. Additionally the policy states "Dietary supplements and other nutritional aids not approved, as medication by the FDA may not be dispensed at school."

So either way, a student would be in violation having and taking the TUMS in our district.

The school nurse would be the one to talk to the student and to the parents. They may find that indeed a doctor has suggested this and if so then the parents would need to get the doctor to write it as a prescription (yes they do that) and then the nurse would be controlling when the child got them, which would prevent any other children from getting any.

If the nurse discovered there was not a doctor behind this, they could inform the parents of the policy and perhaps educate them along the way as to the hazards of blanket allowance of TUMS they have given their child and what could happen if they child is sharing them.

Sadly, there are some districts that wouldn't hesitate to accuse the student of intent to distribute, so I'd get a feel for what the nurse's take on it is before mentioning that the kiddo has been sharing.

There can indeed be an overdose from TUMS that according to my search says to call poison control if it occurs, so I'd be a little concerned for the child. She may not be ingesting a lot at one time, but over a long period it could become a problem.

[chicagojlo]

I'd personally want my kids school to know that there are 8 year olds sharing what they believe to be medicine with their friends in the lunchroom and that it's not being picked up on by whoever is supposed to be supervising. Sure it may blow up and out of proportion but rather that than the other extreme.

[Hopes]

[quote=Momma_bear;16342185]If they are neighbors I would try to talk to them face to face and not involve the school. The school may make a bigger deal out of it than it really is. In fact, you can use this when you talk to the parents and tell them that you wanted to be the one to tell them before someone made a big deal out of it.[/quote[
I agree that the school could go way overboard. You could mention to the mother that she is sharing them with friends, and you're concerned she isn't getting her full dose and another child might experience side effects.

Originally Posted by hypocore

The school nurse would be the one to talk to the student and to the parents.

I recommend talking to the school nurse OR the parents. If you talk to the school nurse, you don't want the parents to know you were the one who went to the school. That could cause big problems between neighbors.

Originally Posted by hypocore

They may find that indeed a doctor has suggested this and if so then the parents would need to get the doctor to write it as a prescription (yes they do that) and then the nurse would be controlling when the child got them, which would prevent any other children from getting any.

Exactly. If the daughter needs to take them with food, the nurse will have her stop by the nurse's office before or after lunch.

Originally Posted by hypocore

Sadly, there are some districts that wouldn't hesitate to accuse the student of intent to distribute, so I'd get a feel for what the nurse's take on it is before mentioning that the kiddo has been sharing.

This is very likely! Schools go crazy sometimes.

Originally Posted by hypocore

There can indeed be an overdose from TUMS that according to my search says to call poison control if it occurs, so I'd be a little concerned for the child. She may not be ingesting a lot at one time, but over a long period it could become a problem.

I'm sure the girl has them because the doctor said to take them. I doubt the parent views them as a candy snack.

Originally Posted by AnonChick

Also, calcium bonds with vitamin D; so if they're eating tums and not taking vitamin D (or getting sufficient amounts of D through sun exposure) then they're just eating fruit-flavored chalk with no benefit at all.

Perhaps she is refusing to drink milk or perhaps she has acid reflux. If she's taking them for calcium due to diet, the doctor probably included prescription Vitamin D, which wouldn't need to be taken at the same time of day. If she isn't taking them for acid reflux, it doesn't matter if she is not benefiting from the calcium.