Avoid Cough and Cold Meds for Kids Under 2

What This Means to You

It's hard to watch your baby cough persistently or struggle to breathe through a stuffed-up nose. But don't assume that OTC decongestants and antihistamines are OK simply because the product's label says it's meant for infants. There aren't specific doses of cough and cold medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for kids under 2, which is why labels say "call a doctor" instead of giving recommendations based on weight and age.

There's usually no need to treat occasional sneezes, sniffles, and coughs anyway — a virus, usually a cold, is often the culprit. Antibiotics can't battle viruses, so there's not much you can do treat them. Like most viral infections, colds just have to run their course.

Instead, make sure your child gets plenty of rest, avoids vigorous activity, and drinks enough fluids — breast milk or formula for infants, milk for kids older than 12 months, and juice, water, or other noncaffeinated beverages.

Other simple steps that may help while your child's on the mend:

• Use saltwater (or saline) drops in the nostrils to relieve nasal congestion.
• Use a cool-mist humidifier to increase air moisture.
• Put petroleum jelly on the skin under the nose to soothe rawness.
• Sit in a steamy bathroom for approximately 20 minutes (after letting the shower run on hot for several minutes).

Call your doctor if your child has:

• cold symptoms that get worse instead of better after 3 days, last for more than a week, appear at the same time every year, or seem to be triggered by something (e.g., pollen, dust, or animals)
• a severe cough, especially with blood or lots of mucus, a "whooping" sound when breathing after coughing, wheezing when exhaling, or stridor when inhaling (a noisy, coarse, almost-musical sound)
• a fever of 103º F (39.3º C) or higher, 101º F (38º C) or higher lasting longer than a day, or any fever in a baby 3 months and younger
• difficulty breathing (working hard to breathe or breathing faster than usual)

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD Date reviewed: January 2007