There are a wide range of over the counter cough, cold and flu medication out there, designed for children and even babies. However, leading paediatric experts advise against giving your toddler any kind of over the counter remedies when he or she has a cough or a cold. They advise, instead, that any child under the age of six, rather be treated with natural home remedies as far as possible.
The reason for this is that the medication you give your child is more likely to merely cause side effects like irritability or hyperactivity, than it is to shorten the length of severity of the cough or cold symptoms.
The only exception to this when your child has a fever. In this case, you should ask your doctor for a prescription for child safe paracetamol or ibuprofen, but remember never to give a child aspirin – it can leave your child vulnerable to Reye’s syndrome, which is a potentially fatal condition.
The reason for this is that the medication you give your child is more likely to merely cause side effects like irritability or hyperactivity, than it is to shorten the length of severity of the cough or cold symptoms.
The only exception to this when your child has a fever. In this case, you should ask your doctor for a prescription for child safe paracetamol or ibuprofen, but remember never to give a child aspirin – it can leave your child vulnerable to Reye’s syndrome, which is a potentially fatal condition.
