My old pediatrician said I could give my LO cough medicine when she had a cold at 18 months. She had a bad cough last night so I gave her some cough medicine before bed. I took her to our new pediatrician today and she said I shouldn't be giving her any until she is 4. I was just surprised at the big difference in recommendations. What does your pediatrician say about cough medicine?
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When she was 2, her ped recommended Chestal (homeopathic honey cough formula). So we have that in our medicine cabinet. I wanted to give it to her a few times when she was sick, but for some reason her colds just passed without her ever taking it. But to answer your question, before she was 2, they didn't recommend any cough medicine... just things like a humidifier and baby vicks...
I wonder what cough medicine your old ped was talking about? Was he/she specific regarding the brand and dosage?
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@NYCaliMama: she just said any kind of OTC. i gave her 3/4 tsp of children's robitussin since my old pediatrican said that i could. i will check out chestal, thanks! i feel like the cough medicine did help her last night as it allowed her to sleep all night as usual. i also did the humidifier and baby vicks.
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nope haven't given charlie cough medicine because of the guidelines that say you shouldn't. but he has a cough now and it would really help!
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@Andrea: oh okay... Chestal's label does say 2 years and up. I hope your LO feels better soon!
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@NYCaliMama: thanks! i will get some.
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I've given my 10 month old (at the time) cough medicine, as prescribed by the doctor. The dosage is in drops, like 10, for that age. I think the issue in the US is with the dosages, right?
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@looch: my old doctor always adjusted the dosage for the LO's age and weight. She even told me that I could buy the adult version and that the kid ones just come in fun flavors. I guess my new doc is a lot more conservative but I will just use my own judgment.
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@Andrea: that's good to know, I am going to ask my ped about it, but he's a crank, I hate talking to him, lol. I just like to be prepared.
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@looch: haha. Reminds me of my OBGYN. I was always scared to ask him anything.
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I've also given my son a homeopathic cough medicine. It might have been chestal as well. My doctor told me that honey usually works just as good as any cough/cold medicine. So i just mix some honey in warm water for him. He doesn't like the taste . But I make it a game by spoon feeding him and counting. Eventually he got used to the taste.
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The AAP recommendations are no cough medicines at all. The reason they say that is that none of them have been demonstrated to work effectively (that's why there are so many), yet they can cause respiratory depression and other bad side effects from the medication. I had one 2 year old hospitalized with seratonin syndrome from taking lots of robitussin.
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@Mrs. Jacks: is this not until they are 4 or none at all?
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@Andrea: After 4 the risk of overdose is much lower, but I won't give my kids any cough medicine unless prescribed by my pediatrician.
We use nasal saline and suction to remove post-nasal drip, albuterol for cough variant reactive airway or allergy medicines for allergy induced coughs. Luckily we've never needed any of the above for our little ones except the nasal saline and suction. (Love my nose frieda)
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@Mrs. Jacks: my pediatrician prescribed it. Well she said I could give an OTC one and my LO is well under 4!
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@Andrea: It's not standard of care, but many peds still do, especially if they are old school... just know that evidence does not support its use.
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@Mrs. Jacks: thanks for the info!
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@BoogieBea: thank you! i just tried to give my LO some water+honey and the spoon trick worked the best. i have to resist the urge to give her medicine - hard to hear her coughing so much from her chest. =(
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@Andrea: I hope she feels better soon! It's so so hard when they're sick.
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@BoogieBea: thank you! At least she is in a good mood!
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