As a first time mother when a friend of mine told me that her doc told her that giving a baby children's cold medicine could make it worse I was stunned. Does anyone know if this is really true or not. If it isn't I don't want to sound like an idiot to my doc by calling him to ask that question. Could someone please help? Thank you sooo much!
2007-01-30 01:23:46 · 9 answers · asked by Ashli B 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I think that may have been taken out of context. Most cold medicines to not make you better, they just relieve symptoms.
That being said, there was just a study done on cold medicine and young children and found that young children are ODing on cold medicine regularly, so be careful with it. They have suckers now that have vitamin c and zinc in them, my little one loves them and they help without harming.
Also, better to call the doc and feel like an idiot than have a problem later!!
2007-01-30 01:30:40 · answer #1 · answered by D Marie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Each doctor seems to have their own way of doing things - min in particular does not like anything that is not a natural products. Drives me nuts sometimes! My little one had a horrible cold at around 2 months and I gave him a small dose of medicine. Glad I did - he was able to sleep and breath - hard to drink a bottle when their nose is all plugged up. My cousin, who had a baby a little younger, was told to squirt saline solution or breast milk up her nose to clear it up. So - just goes to show you how different everyone is. I am learning to trust my gut and make my own decisions. If the cold medicine would harm a child I don't think they would sell it or a warning would be on the package.
2007-01-30 01:34:53 · answer #2 · answered by Mom@Home 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a first time mother too and I gave children's cough meds to my kid and they were fine not as fussy and stuff. I don't see how a doctor would say it would make it worse when he would have most likely prescribed the same thing you only need a doctor to tell you how much. when it comes to a child that small but your the mother you decide whats best and don't worry about calling the doctor they have had dumber questions than that your just a concerned parent.
2007-01-30 01:34:33 · answer #3 · answered by Frendly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know about it making the cold worse..however, it definately won't cure it. All it does is treat the symptoms (stuffed up nose, fever, cough) to make the cold more bearable. Letting the cold run it's course is the only "cure" maybe there are certain foods or vitamins that can boost the immune system to cure it faster (ei. echinacea). Maybe the "making it worse" theory is from using the cold med.s and supressing the symptoms slows down the building up of immunity to the virus.
2007-01-30 02:30:27 · answer #4 · answered by babya 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cold Medicine has never been proven to work in infants because they aren't able to tell you what is wrong and if it is working and they are feeling better. I talked to my doctor about it with my first chlid and he is 2 now and he said that if your child seems irritable to give him Infants or children's (depends on babies weight) Tylenol, Advil.(Which ever you happen to be using for your child. I have done this now with my first son and now my 5 month old baby girl. I prefer infants motrin because Tylenol is way to hard on a babies stomach and liver and it has gotten me through some pretty nasty colds with kids. Good Luck I know it is scary being a first time mom and your child gets sick.
2007-01-30 01:58:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure that the dr feels the medicine would make the cold itself worse. I'd guess he means that the medicine doesn't really do anything (what one ped told me that once) and that all it will do is give them the bad side effects.
2007-01-30 01:28:42 · answer #6 · answered by Trouble's Mama 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doctors don't reccomend give a decongestant to a child under two anymore. Pseudophedrine is an ingrediant of a decongestant and from what I understand it is not good for babies. Also, a cough suppressant can be bad for them as well. It suppresses their ability to cough up the phlegm that they need to get rid of to get better.
Of course this is something to talk to your doctor about since each doctor has their own philosophy on how to treat their patients.
2007-01-30 01:37:45 · answer #7 · answered by zinntwinnies 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when it's childrens cold med. and you are giving it to an infant, you have to call your doc to see how much to give, otherwise, I have never heard of that and I have 3 kids!
2007-01-30 02:32:30 · answer #8 · answered by jacksonblonde 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. There is cold medicine for new borns. Plus hopefully it wouldn't be sold if it made it worse.
2007-01-30 01:29:25 · answer #9 · answered by Mujer Bonita 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋