GainesvilleMoms.com

According to an article on usatoday.com, another study raises questions about the danger of giving young children cold/cough medicine, which can cause convulsions, rapid heart rate and even death.

Mothers who are breatfeeing should also stay away from cold medicine, as it can be passed through their breastmilk.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-08-04-otc_N.htm

What do you all do when you are your child has a cold? Any home remedies?

I stopped using that stuff after reading/seeing the media coverage. Prior to these scares, I never used it very often as my kids rarely get sick and I was always concerned about using meds to begin w/. When they have colds,rarely, I try to increase fruits/oranges and decrease dairy.

I won't use combination medicines. It is too easy to double or triple treat a symptom. I usually avoid medications unless the symptoms are interrupting sleep. I only use Delsym(for cough) or basic plain Benedryl(for congestion).. I use Tylenol or Childrens Motrin for pain/fever. This way I kno what I am treating for and nothing extra is given. I also write down times meds are given and keep it on the refridgerator until meds have stopped. It's just too easy to lose track if I don't. Can't be too careful!!

I use OTC counter medicines when they are needed. Most of the problems I have read about are caused by giving children the wrong dosages. My little man gets really bad nasal allergies and we have used all kinds of things to clear it up without meds...but a dose of Pediacare and he can actually sleep at night. We have tried vaporizers too, which work ok. We use them in conjunction with the Pediacare. I always give them less than what the dosage says for their age though and they work just as well.

Lew - It's funny you bring up dairy because I was thinking about that. I've often heard dairy can worsen a cold, but someone recently told me that wasn't true. Anyone else know anything about this?

I had some bad colds while prego and the only cold medicine on the list from the doc was Sudafed. I went to get some only to find that I had to get it from behind the counter, provide my driver's licens, and sign for it!!! Seems it has meth or something in it to make meth...and that's the one I'm allowed to take!!! Scary.

Our children's pediatrician always advises against using over-the-counter cold medicines. He says most of them don't even work.

When we are in need of cough/decongestant medication, we call him and his nurse quickly calls in the prescription. We have never used any over-the-counter medications with our two.

Now if only there were a cure for ear infections!

MILK:
Some doctors advise against drinking milk when you have a cold because milk may thicken phlegm which in turn may irritate your throat. Milk does not; however, help to produce more phlegm. This info was on the Mayo Clinic's website.

SUDAFED:
Pharmacies have moved this medication behind the counter simply to be able to keep track of buyer purchases. The active ingredient in Sudafed is PSEUDOEPHEDRINE. It can be ground up to make methamphetamine.

We only use Children's Tylenol and Motrin to treat fevers, but I don't think we even own anything else. We've found a warm bath and a humidifier work just as well as meds for a runny nose.

I am very anti-medicine here. I give only when really needed. When my kids have colds, I crank up the vitamin C through fruits, juices and sometimes vitamin C supplements.
My daughter gets a little bit of seasonal hay fever. And I do give her some children's OTC allergy meds to treat the symptoms. But one bottle lasts us for over a year.
I don't think I have ever used more than half a bottle of anything before the meds expire and I have to through them away.