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Cough Medicines for Infants

When an infant is sick, parents want to do anything to help them feel better. Coughing is not only upsetting for an infant, it can be tiring for parents also, leading them to look for medications acceptable for use.

  1. Types of Coughing

    • According to kidshealth.com, coughs are one of the most common illnesses parents will deal with. Many times coughing is not a sign of serious illness, but a persistent cough is annoying and frustrating. Croup, whooping cough, cough with a fever, and coughing at night are all common for infants.

    When to Call the Doctor

    • It is a good idea to contact a doctor if an infant is having difficulty breathing or is breathing quicker than usual. If an infant in running a fever and is less than 3 months in age, or has been coughing for several hours it is recommended to contact a doctor immediately. A doctor will help diagnose the cough and determine the correct treatment.

    Home Treatments

    • Before reaching for the medication, it is a good idea to try some home remedies. Kidshealth.org finds a warm bath or sitting in a steamy bathroom for 20 minutes will help alleviate coughing and allow an infant to breath more easily. Using a cool mist humidifier in an infant's room will also help soothe coughing and assist with sleeping at night.

    Over the Counter Medication

    • According to nytimes.com, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an advisory in 2007 warning parents never to give cough and cold medications to children under the age of 2 unless advised to do so by a doctor. There are several potential adverse reactions from cough and cold medications for infants, and such medications have been responsible for a handful of deaths in children under the age of 2.

    Expert Insight

    • Dr. Sears finds using Infant's Tylenol Cold Plus Cough is safe for use in children six months and older for colds and sinus infections. There may be side effects such as over-stimulation, with other mild side effects such as headache, upset stomach, and dizziness. There is Dextromethorphan, or DM, in the medication, which is a cough suppressant and will offer temporary relief from an infant's cough.

    Conclusion

    • Benjamin C. Wedro, MD, FAAEM, writing for medicinenet.com, finds that aside from fever control, good hydration and humidity, there isn't much else to offer an infant, except time. Cough suppressants don't always work. The FDA advisory is for children under the age of 2, which is often based on weight. This has caused the FDA to reevaluate safety of cold medications for children under the age of 6. Contact a doctor before using any cough or cold medication with an infant.

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