When can you start worming your baby?

[Shanti]

As the title says..... when can you? Is it 12mths+ ?

We have a dog and she's wormed regularly and up to date but I'd still like DD to be wormed as soon as she is able to be. Does anyone know when they can start? We are careful that DD doesn't touch the dog or anything but when she becomes more mobile it will be hard to avoid....
TIA

[feeb]

hmm i had never even thought about this so will be watching with interest.

DS loves our dogs and is always touching him and they lick him and play together.

[STARRYSKY]

hey ren, all worming medications are contraindicated for under 2s. if you think she has worms, see the doc, I think they can give something on prescription.
its also a common misconception that kids get worms from dogs, they are different kinds of worms.

[Rach75]

yeah same as above if you think she has worms take her to dr, Jack is nearly 3 spends hrs with our dog and has never been wormed nor got worms

[Cheeky_Monkey]

I asked a pharmacist this a few months ago and he said unless you actually suspect worms in which case you would go see your GP - then it's recommended at 2+ years.

[luna moth]

TBH I wouldn't do it - there's been so much out there that suggests that the same part of the immune system that responds to worms has now been made redundant (due to us eliminating them) and so has shifted its attention to other things, like severe allergies and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
I'd leave it, unless you actually suspect worms.

But as a kid, I loved that chocolatey worming stuff

[Lulu]

There would possibly be worms in her nappy if she had them. I wouldn't do it as a matter of routine.

If your dog is up to date with treatment, there should be no problem.

[Shanti]

Ok great thanks girls. That's put my mind at ease then. There is no reason to suspect she has worms now it was purely just me wondering about it and what we should be doing. But it sounds like no need and our dog is regularly wormed too so I guess for that reason there is no point?
Maybe when she is 2+ I can look at now and then giving her something.

cheers.

[SamiH]

Just out of interest ... our child care centre had a case of worms and asked all parents to worm their children. So off I trotted like a good mummy - and the pharmacist said no way treat as a preventative, only as treatment if they actually have worms - simialr to what snuggly posted earlier.

[Shanti]

Thanks SamiH. thats good to know.

[Visitor8]

worming a child who doesn't have worms doesn't prevent it, it's just wasted medication and unnessisary.

[Phteven]

TBH I wouldn't do it - there's been so much out there that suggests that the same part of the immune system that responds to worms has now been made redundant (due to us eliminating them) and so has shifted its attention to other things, like severe allergies and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.
I'd leave it, unless you actually suspect worms.

Yep, I've read that too. Funny to think that worms could actually be good for us....

[Sammiejane]

DSS had worms when MJ was a couple of months old.
I saw the pharmacist and they said that i should worm myself and then 4 hours later BF.
That way the dose would get through, but wouldnt be a full dose that she got.

FWIW we have got a cat and a dog, MJ is all over them and as long as we keep them wormed i dont see much of an issue... especially with a baby or child in nappies, it would be exceptionally easy to know if they have worms, have a good look at night time as this is when they come out to lay their eggs.
I agree with what Sammy has said, you cannot take worming tablets as a preventative, they only work if you actually have worms