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Medicine for a Child's Head Cold

Natural cold remedies are always the safest when treating a child's head cold. Cold medicine only treats the symptoms of the cold so natural remedies can be just as effective at helping a child get over a head cold without the dangerous side effects of over the counter medication.

  1. Avoid Most Over the Counter Cold Medicine for Children

    • The Federal Drug Administration recommends against giving children under the age of 6 any cold medicine. They claim that the medication does not work on children under the age of 6 and that using over the counter medication could be dangerous. Children under the age of 6 can use natural cold treatments to treat the symptoms of a head cold. Acetaminophen can be used to treat fever and body aches. Vicks vaporub is a mild over the counter treatment for head colds that is safe to use in children.

    Best Over the Counter Cold Medicine for Children Over the Age of 6

    • Children over the age of 6 can use over the counter cold medications conservatively. Acetaminophen is safe to use to reduce fever and treat body aches. Many pediatricians recommend Delsym for severe cough. Delsym is a concentrated dose of Robitussin so more mild coughs can be treated with Robitussin.

    Safe Alternatives to Cold Medicine for Children

    • Head colds in children can be treated safely using natural remedies. Congestion can be treated by using a humidifier in a child's bedroom at night or having the child sit in a bathroom with the door closed and the hot water running in the shower to create hot steam. Orange juice and other foods rich in vitamin C can help shorten the length of a head cold and prevent other family members from coming down with it.

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