So did everyone see how yesterday the drug companies announced they will put labels on children's cold and cough medicines warning against use for kids under 4 (story here). The American Academy of Pediatrics still warns against using them for up to age 6!

Here's the blog I wrote today.

This all seems crazy and confusing, and doesn't actually inform parents of what they can do when they're children get sick. What do you all think?

I love that they are warning and letting us know that things aren't as safe as what we once thought but again, what are we to do about our babies getting sick? I hate it when someone says, "they just have to get over it" or "just let it run its course"! You aren't there in the middle of the night when my child is screaming and crying because they can't sleep because they feel so horrible. "Bugs" these days are nothing like they use to be, they are now stronger and some can't be treated even with regular antibiotics! What's a parent to do?!

I am left to wonder if this 'ban' has more to do with people thinking "If .8 helps a little then .16 will work twice as fast" or even giving a little "sleep aid" moreso than an actual harmful/not helpful issue. It is such a shame that kids are left to suffer at the expense of irresponsible people abusing what was intended to bring some relief when they need it most. I know the OTC stuff does not cure anything, but it does relieve symptoms and allow kids to get much needed rest. I admit that I will still buy the OTC stuff for the 3 year old, but with guidance from the pharmacist based on her weight for the dosages. I hate giving meds unless they are REALLY needed so I don't think I am likely to cause harm. I hope the AAP realizes the need for children's meds and can help out even if it is after my kids are older.

It really can be so tough to know what to do with your children when they are sick! We really rely on the cool mist humidifier. It works great!

Ditto again Michelle.. I think though that part of the problem is human testing. As adults, we can volunteer for clinical trials and we are advised of the risks. Who wants to risk their kid for a clinical investigation of cold medication?

H has terrible allergies (hereditary..I do too) and she takes Claritin when I remember to give it to her. But when they have a cough, I have given them Triaminic. But only at night and only the dosage recommended. Just something to ease the symptoms so they can sleep since rest is so important. And not like I'm dosing them with Benedryl to get them to sleep or anything. I do try to stay away from antibiotics if I can.

When H was a baby she got 3 ear infections and
antibiotics with 2 of them (2 rounds with the second one) On our 3rd trip to Peds After hours, we saw an intern or resident who was working on his MD here, but was a doctor in India. He said that they very successfully used a decongestant/antihistimine for repeat ear infections. So that's what we got a prescription. And no antibiotics. Within hours, she was sleeping peacefully and the symptoms were all but gone in 24 hours. The meds dried up all the fluid on her ears and allowed it to clear.

I'll tell you my pet peeve and that is giving benadryl to babies or little kids to quiet them down. DOn't people know that babies die all the time from this??? I had a g/f who was taking her baby on a plane ride and was telling me she was going to medicate her baby to keep her quiet and calm and I had to give her a piece of mind!

Kristin..do people really do that? I think I would call the police..good GOD!!!! Is that even legal?

I have heard of that too. Even saw a poll on babycenter.com regarding medicating babies for plane rides....

I hear about it all the time to. I have heard people talking about long car drives and giving their kids Benedryl to keep them quiet!!

And Michelle I am so right with you on the over dosing of meds. If it says 5ml's then give them 5ml's!! And if it says every 6 hours then don't give them more in 4 hours...or 5. People want to increase dosages and then when the child has a bad reaction, or worse, they want to complain about or sue the company that makes the meds!!

It's all crazy.

I only use Tylenol, Motrin, Benedryl, Delsym (not at the same time of course!),or what the DR prescribes. I stay away from multi symptom meds completely.

You know what is funny, well not funny, but a lot of people don't know is that Benedryl can have an adverse reaction on children and make them hyper. It's a must in our home, due to my daughter being allergic to anything that bites so we have to use it if she is bitten so we don't have to resort to using the EpiPen which I am terrified to ever have to use, I can't even stand to think about having to hold her down and jam that thing is her leg, eewww I just got chills down my spine.

quote:

Originally posted by KE'smommy:
You know what is funny, well not funny, but a lot of people don't know is that Benedryl can have an adverse reaction on children and make them hyper. It's a must in our home, due to my daughter being allergic to anything that bites so we have to use it if she is bitten so we don't have to resort to using the EpiPen which I am terrified to ever have to use, I can't even stand to think about having to hold her down and jam that thing is her leg, eewww I just got chills down my spine.

Funny that you would mention the hyper reaction....we call it the 'benedryl high'....my 3 year old gets it everytime I have to give her benedryl. We are always sure to give it to her at least an hour before bedtime because it starts about 20 minutes after she takes it and lasts anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes. There is no crash afterwards where she gets sleepy either...she just returns to normal after the immediate effects wear off.

On the other hand if you give me or my 16 year old Benedryl we are out for hours in about 15 minutes!!

I took my daughter on two plane ride one was 2 hour and the other 5 hours without medicating her. She did really good to our surprise. We just made sure she had stuff to do and things to eat. She was kinda amazed by all the stuff going on and liked the fact that she did not have to stay in the carseat for the entire flight. She took really long naps as well. There were times when she got fussy, but not that bad.

I just hated the fact that everyone watches you, and heard some people comment babies should not be allowed to fly.

It bothered me so much, we were going to take our daughter to see her great grandparents. On my side my daughter is great grandchild number 30. On my husbands side she is great grandchild number 8. Those people who think that she should not fly should have to face my family and my husbands family to tell them why they can't see their great grandchild.

quote:

Originally posted by GatorMommy040707:
I just hated the fact that everyone watches you, and heard some people comment babies should not be allowed to fly.

That is absolutely awful. I can't even believe someone would say something like that!?

As for using medication to get children to sleep, I don't understand that theory either! I have also known parents to do this, and I just don't understand it. First of all, it is so dangerous. And second of all, you have to teach your child how to go to sleep on their own!

quote:

Originally posted by KE'smommy:
You know what is funny, well not funny, but a lot of people don't know is that Benedryl can have an adverse reaction on children and make them hyper. It's a must in our home, due to my daughter being allergic to anything that bites so we have to use it if she is bitten so we don't have to resort to using the EpiPen which I am terrified to ever have to use, I can't even stand to think about having to hold her down and jam that thing is her leg, eewww I just got chills down my spine.

I had a little boy in my aftercare program that was allergic to bee stings and we went outside a lot and walked to swim lessons. I had to carry the epipen and get trained on how to use it. It was so scary! He had been to the hospital twice and his mom told me if he gets stung again he could die. Too much pressure for my summer job! Well, our first day on the swings at the pool the kids ran to tell me that the boys found a wasp nest and guess who was poking it with a stick? I jerked that kid up by his shirt and made him sit out the whole day I was so terrified I was about to see tragedy!

Stinging insects are nothing to play around with. I believe Em and I are allergic to fire ants. Of course not enough to put us into anaphalactic shock or anything, but the site will swell and it's really nasty looking and sometime scars. She got into an ant bed once and had about 50 bites on each leg. I was so scared I called the doctor...guess what! A teaspoon of benedryl. Thankfully, we don't have the adverse reaction and it actually calmed her enough that she slept.

Did you know the same ingredient in benedryl is the sleep aid in things like tylenol pm?