Is It Okay to Drug Kids for Airplane Rides?

LilSugar — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:40:17 -0800

Holiday travel entails a lot of lugging when you've got kids and suitcases. Add long lines and late flights to the list, and the last thing you need is your child having a mid-air meltdown. To prevent this, some parents give their lil darling a dose of medication like Benadryl or Dimetapp. What's your opinion?

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Baby Wellness: Cold Meds Go Bye–Bye

babysugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:00:28 -0800

When my baby was sick last month, I was tempted to buy Dimetapp to give her some relief from her nasty cold. My mom and mother–in–law both said they had given it to my husband and me growing up, but that I should ask a doctor before administering it.

I'm glad I listened to them as the doctor told me not to use any cold medication. And just recently, the FDA said,

“Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products should not be used to treat infants and children less than 2 years of age because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur from such use.”

The FDA has reported rare cases of death, convulsions and rapid heart rates in children who consumed the medications. And, it turns out that using the over–the–counter drugs may not even provide any sort of relief.

While we are still in the middle of the cold season, it's important to let parents know that what works for us may not work for our babes. So ask the professionals what to do if your tot is ill. It seems like this might be a case where doctor knows best, not mama.