On Parenting: Cough Medicine Isn't for Kids

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I find this infuriating. Medicines that I successfully used when I was a child are now verboten until the age of 6, if they are even sold at all. All because of a handful of mortalities caused by people who didn't pay attention to dosage and a few studies. See how long it takes for them to ban tylenol and advil once enough harried parents overdose their kids with that.
And now the rest of us have to suffer. At least give the parents the data (1/10^6 kids have died taking this product due to ...) and let us decide the risks instead of banning it completely. Everything will eventually kill you anyway.
It is so sad that instead of utilizing the breakthroughs we have made in modern science we have to fumble around like cavemen looking for substandard solutions.

AM of PA 10:26PM February 15, 2013

This is a very good article. Thank you.

Tom of NM 2:03PM October 31, 2011

My son just turned 2 and I thought at 2 there would be more options when he would get a cold, but aparently not. When he was under 2 my ped would always tell me to use the saline drops/spray & the vicks humidifier, prop him up & give him infant motrin or tylonel if he had a fever and I never thought those options worked very well. So when he turned 2 I went to the drug store to see if they had anything...and they had nothing for children under the age of 6 years old. Now I did find something at another store called Cold n Cough for kids. Its a homeopathic cough medicine for sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, sneezing & runny nose. So I tried it & I'm not really sure about it. My son seems to be breaking out with little red bumps on his face so I'm thinking he may be alergic to something in it. But once again this leaves me with nothing but tylonel or motrin for my son. They really need to come up with some other option if they are going to take over the counter cough medicines off the table for children under 6. I just put a call into my ped to see what he has to say if there is anything that I can give him. But its really awful to sit here & see your child sick & know there is nothing you can do about it except a vaproizor. I wish everyone the best of luck & hope that someone comes up with something.

Aidan's Mommy of PA 11:09AM October 13, 2010

There are a number of cold remedies that you can make with items in your kitchen. You can find them pretty easily in books and online. Some I have tried include boiling 4 cups water then adding lots of fresh garlic, let it cool and add sugar. Shake well and sit for 12 hours. Also refrigerate. Another one is put 2c. boiling water on 2 tbsp. Thyme then cool and sit for 12 hours and add honey, shake and serve. Health food stores also have pre made remedies

Melissa of KS 2:23AM June 04, 2010

Honey, in my experience, has helped greatly. However, I did not try this until my son was over 2. I believe the AAP recommends at least over the age of one to avoid risk of Botulism. I use a cold mist humidifier, and I have tried the baby vicks vapor rub, but it has never worked. I've heard to spread it on their feet to calm a cough, but it did not work for my son. Basically, saline drops/spray, bulb syringe, humidifier, and lots of love. I have given motrin or tylenol if he seems extremely uncomfortable, but no cold medicines of any sort.

Jenifer of PA 8:57AM May 04, 2010

What about menthol or Vick's vapor rub? Is that toxic too? I know it is hard to hear your kid coughing a lung out. Can't we come up with more than this list of 3 things? Am I dating myself if I say mustard pack? Or honey and hot tea? Just curious if there aren't more alternatives.

kevin of HI 3:54PM May 03, 2010