Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are widely available and affordable, but this does not mean that they are safe for everyone.

They can be very dangerous to a baby or young child if administered incorrectly. It is critical that parents read and understand the instructions and dosage information of the medicine and that they talk to their pediatrician before giving any OTC medications to a young child.

Medicines to avoid

Aspirin

Never give your child aspirin or any medication containing aspirin. It can make a child susceptible to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal illness that attacks the body’s organs, with the liver and brain suffering most seriously. Always check to make sure that a medication is aspirin-free by reading the label or asking your doctor or pharmacist. Look for ingredients such as "salicylate" or "acetylsalicylic acid." For fever or pain relief, use acetaminophen or ibuprofen products instead of aspirin.

Cough and Cold Medicines

Concerns over OTC cough and cold medicines have been widespread over the past few years.  The overall recommendation is that they should be avoided for children under age 4.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that these medications not be given to infants and children under 2 based on a 2008 safety review. The agency found that potentially life-threatening side effects are possible, but rare, and mostly due to incorrect dosage or accidental ingestion. Some of the health problems that have occurred include convulsions, rapid heart rates, decreased levels of consciousness, and even death.

The pharmaceutical industry voluntarily changed labels on OTC cough and cold medicines to ensure that they not be given to children under age 4. In fact, there is no dosage information included on these medicines for children under 4.

Additionally, most experts believe that cough and cold products are not effective in treating symptoms of children under 6, and will not shorten the length of time that a child is sick.

Anti-nausea Medications

Do not give your baby any type of anti-nausea medication unless your pediatrician specifically recommends it since it can lead to possible complications. Vomiting tends to be short-lived, and babies and children usually can get through it without any medication.

Chewables

Avoid chewable tablets since they are a choking hazard for babies and young children. If your child is eating solid food and you want to use a chewable medicine, mash it and then mix it in a soft food such as yogurt or applesauce.

Cough Drops/Lollipops

Cough drops and medicated lollipops are a choking hazard for young children and should be avoided.

Safety Tips

• Never give a child medication that is labeled only for adults.
• Only give medicine that treats your child’s specific symptoms.
• Be careful if you are giving more than one medication to a child. Make sure that the medications do not have the same type of active ingredients (such as an antihistamine, a decongestant, a cough suppressant, an expectorant, or a pain reliever/fever reducer).  
• Carefully follow the directions for how to use the medicine in the DRUG FACTS part of the label. These directions tell you how much medicine to give and how often you can give it.
• Only use measuring devices that come with the medicine or those specially made for measuring drugs.
• If your child develops any side effects of concern, stop giving the medicine and contact a doctor immediately.
• Keep all medicines out of reach of children.

Remember to contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about OTC medications and your child.

By Sandi Schwartz - Science writer and mom
Reviewed by Dr Olson Huff

You may also be interested in...

• Carpet cleaning safety and your toddler
• Traditional carpet cleaning chemicals tend to be toxic, and can potentially cause many types of health problems.
• more

• Avoiding BPA in toddler products
• Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical that has been used for over 40 years to produce polycarbonate plastics (typically has recycling code #7 or “PC”) and the epoxy resin that lines canned food to prevent the can from rusting and contaminating the food.
• more

• Medicine - how to give your child medicine
• Here are some tips for giving your child medicine.
• more