What Are Cough and Cold Remedies for Children Under 2?
Questions have been raised about the safety of cough and cold medication use in children and whether the benefits justify any potential risks from the use of these products in children, especially in children under 2 years of age.
Other options to treat coughs and colds in young children include:
- Cool mist humidifier: A cool mist humidifier makes nasal passages shrink to allow easier breathing. Cool mist humidifiers are recommended over warm mist humidifiers, which may cause nasal passages to swell, making it more difficult to breathe.
- Saline nose drops or spray: These keep nasal passages moist and "running," rather than stuffy. Nasal sprays containing oxymetazoline, such as Afrin®, are not intended for children under 6 years old.
- Nasal suctioning: Using a bulb syringe to suction nasal passages, either with or without salt water nose drops, works well for infants less than a year old. Older children often don't like the nasal syringe and will fight its use.
- Fever / pain medicines:
- Acetaminophen (like Tylenol®) can be used to reduce fever, aches and pains in children older than 2 months. Parents should read the packing carefully and prescribed dosing.
- Ibuprofen (like Advil®) can be used to reduce fever, aches and pains in children older than 6 months. Parents should read the packing carefully and prescribed dosing.
- Call the doctor right away for any fever in infants under 2 months old.
- Drink plenty of liquids to stay well hydrated.
Very young children should not take most over-the-counter cough and cold medicines because they are ineffective and, if too much is taken, can cause serious side effects, such as high blood pressure, hallucinations, erratic behavior and constipation.
