Here are the things that you should and shouldn’t do when your kid gets cold and cough:
*** DON’T use cough and cold drugs if your kid is under 4 years old!**
About 7,000 children under 11 go to emergency rooms each year after taking cough and cold*medicines, according to the CDC. Roughly two-thirds of those occurred after children drank medication while unsupervised, according to the CDC. Currently, leading makers of over-the-counter pediatric cough and cold drugs has changed their label on the product. According Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) the label will say: DON’T GIVE OVER-THE-COUNTER PEDIATRIC COUGH AND COLD MEDICINE TO CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 4. The new labels will start showing up on store shelves this year. But, the CHPA says there are no plans to take products with the old labels off the shelves since the FDA hasn’t indicated a need to do so.
*** DON’T you ever give multiple products at the same time**
Believe me! You must follow this advice, because these words are not from me but from Janet Woodcock, MD, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. She also said that parents should follow, very carefully, the directions on the package.
*** DON’T use drugs to make your kid sleepy**
Don’t use over-the-counter pediatric cough and cold drugs containing antihistamines to sedate or make your kid sleepy. So, please do read the contents of the drug, will you?
*** DO follow the dosing recommendations exactly and use the measuring device that comes with the medicine.**
**DON’T you dare to give an adult medicine to your kid!
Ah, I know you won’t be that stupid to do that, right?
*** DON’T use two medicines at the same time that contain the same ingredients! **
*** DO keep your kid hydrated**
Cold can make your kid dehydrated. So, keeps him or her hydrated by giving enough fluid. It can be from your home made chicken soup or fruit juice or other foods and drinks that have healing effect for the cold and cough. For example, giving honey to relieve the coughs (but do remember that honey can not be given to children under 1).
*** DO **use saline nasal drops or a humidifier to ease the congestion, and keep your kid’s head elevated when resting.
*** DO go to the doctor when the cough and cold are getting worse!**