Will you stop giving cold/cough medication

Nope. Gracie has a misserable cough and stuffy nose right now and without her medicine before bed she wakes herself all through the night coughing and gagging.

From the article, stating a fact about the 3 infants who died after taking cold medicine.
Um... hello? Follow dosing instructions!

No I won't stop. I give my kids what they need when they need it. Thankfully they've never really needed anything much but when they do, I want to help alleviate their symptoms and help them feel better. Especially when they're trying to sleep.

I agree that you have to watch the dosing and that's why I always write down how much was given and when so I know when it's okay to give some again if needed.

I give tylenol and motrin as needed for fevers aove 100.4 if they seem unhappy (which is almost always with a fever over 100.4) and always before bed with a fever.

As far as cough meds....I don't use them much b/c I've found they usually don't work for my kids. If I did and they worked (like Elaine) then I'd use them while following proper dosing guidlelines. I have, in the past used pediacare for stuffy noses along with antibiotics and it did work and IMO helped an ear infection clear up faster b/c he wasn't sniffling all night long.

I agree with you ladies, with correct doseage for weight and correct meds for the symptoms they have then I will not stop using them. Why should they have to be miserable. Its all about doing it correctly.

I use a saline spray and sucky thing during the day just to keep her cleared out and have also been rubbing her chest with an infant vapor rub before bed... neither one does anything for those night time coughing fits though. I don't believe in medicating every ache and sniffle but when used correctly, medicines can be beneficial in providing some temporary relief from symptoms.

I'll give whatever my doctor tells me is safe. Like the ladies said, I'll follow the dosing recommendations.

I very rarely give DS cough medicine - only if his coughing is keeping him up at night, since I'm a firm believer that a good night's sleep is of vital importance to fight off a cold. When we fly, if he's even the slightest bit congested, I'll give him a dose of Benadryl.

I hate having to take the meds I take currently, and because of them, can't take most other medications. So I tend to just be miserable when I'm sick. But being a SAHM, I don't have to be as alert as either DS or DH do, so they need to get their sleep, you know? I can nap all day, if needed.

My worry with a total ban is that parents are just going to give their children a version of the medicine not intended for small children without the correct dosing information.

I agree with you Mel that in our day and age we do ingest ALOT of man made chemicals that are potentially harmful. But why start with medicine ??? Why put a ban on a beneficial product that is just being improperly used ??? Why not push a ban on soda a completely unnecessary product which contains phosphoric acid, a chemical also used in insecticides and cleaners known to cause tooth decay, GI problems, and weakened bones?

I think it's important to point out that medicine is a good thing when used correctly and judiciously. Yes, medicines may not be all natural, but that doesn't mean that they are bad for us or our children. It's also important to realize that not all herbs and natural remedies are safe, either, so there is no panacea.

We don't use over the counter cough medicines. Never have. My doctor prescribes what my children take, and since he is the one with the medical degree, I tend to trust him. He has a daughter the same age as Emily, and another daughter a few months older than Travis, and I know he would not prescribe anything to my kids that he would not prescribe to his own. He is very cautious in all his treatment methods.
The FDA isn't always right, either, so keep that in mind. This is the same administration that once approved FenPhen and Redux.

Mel, I didn't say to trust just any doctor. You need to get to know your doctor, establish a relationship with him/her, and use common sense. Every doctor is not great. Some doctors are more knowledgeable than others. I am neither naive or ignorant. Given my mother's extended illness, I have had more than my own fair share of dealings with doctors. I also believe that she had the best doctors, and without them, their care, and the medicine they gave her, she would not have lived as long as she did. Doctors are HUMAN. They don't know everything. No one does. My opinion and belief is this--I trust my doctor. I am an intelligent woman. With those two things working for me, I believe my children's doctor and I are capable of providing them with the best possible care, and that includes giving them medicine if needed. I believe medicine is purposeful and beneficial, but it has to be used wisely and correctly, and we have to look at the whole picture rather than saying a certain medication is bad--we can't say the medicine itself is the culprit--we have to look at the whole situation--were the children overdosed, were they on other meds, did they have other health problems, etc.
It's like Elaine pointed out, medicine isn't the only thing that contains chemicals. Look at the labels on your shampoo, make up, food, etc.

I was logging on to say what Tammy beat me to. We have been lucky and our children don't get sick that often but when they do, I give them what I think is needed to help them feel better. I do consult with my kids' doctor and get her advice/opinion on what is best to give them given their symptoms and trust that with her advice/opinion that I will make the best decision on what to give my child.

My kids' doctor isn't one to rush into giving medicine for everything and she has often told me when suggesting an OTC that it was something that worked for her children. She has also said to be careful to not get the OTC that cover several different things when I just need something for a cough or congestion. So I trust that what I give my children is what is needed for them. With my kids' doctor's consultation, OTC can be just as safe as prescribed medicine can. She also suggests humidifiers and Vicks for congestion.

And I also dose by weight and not age. And considering most (all that I've seen) infant medicines don't give dosage for children under 2, you have to consult with someone knowledgable to get the right dosage.

I have used the same ped for 12 years and the same pharmacy for 15 years. I trust her and them. We had an ER dr once and I didnt trust him and followed up asap with the ped's office the next day. There are people that "Dr Hop" or Pharmacy hop and I think it is those poeple that are the problem.

Exactly, Becky. The key is consistency. Use the same doctor and pharmacy. Establish a relationship and if you have to change either, get your kids' files and move them with you. All of Emily's doctors are affiliated, so she has one chart that moves with her from her ENT to her pediatrician.

We have to take responsiblity for our medical issues and our kids. Yes Dr's make mistakes but we also need to be on top of things too. You cant put it all back on the drs.

I limit the otc meds the girls take. Most of the time there is none even in the house. (same with OTC for Kev & I) However Kate & Lyssa HAVE taken it and if they NEEDED it I would give it to them. I don't pull out any drugs til they have fevers and have that I'm awful look to them (you know it when you see it) Most of the time tylenol or motrin will take care of the fever and there is no real need for them to have other meds.

I agree with the other ladies. As long as you have a good lasting relationsip with your Dr adn pharmacy and you have to trust them. I am NOT a dr and if I have doubts on somethign I ask. I trust the girls ped. He has 3 or 4 kids himslef all around where mine are and he gives me options just like he would do for himself and tells me what he would do. HE left where we are and I have to drive more than just up the raod now but I trust him and am comfortable with him.

I also think it's hard to say that you won't give your kids meds when they haven't been really sick. Just wait til he's really sick one time. I think saying that he'll be uncomfortable but he;ll get over it is a bit harsh and uncaring. The first time Lyssa was real sick it broke my heart. I'd do anything to make her feel better. I think part of the MOM job is to make our kids comforable when they don't feel well.

I agree, Karen. I thought it was a flippant remark and a little harsh, too. Travis was very sick when he was only a few months old. So sick that we were told to take him to the ER. Seeing my six week old son THAT sick was scary. I was willing to try anything to help him. And you know, the ER doctor prescribed some meds for Travis, but because I didn't know this doctor, I did not give Travis the meds until I actually spoke to Travis's pediatrician on the phone about them.
Mel, you are right, cough medicine isn't a life saving medicine, but just because it isn't a life saving medicine doesn't mean it has no value. And remember, just because something is natural doesn't mean it's safe.
Also, for the record, I don't think you are an uncaring mom, far from it. I do think the remark about the discomfort (can't recall your exact wording) was harsh, though.

I didn't intead for you to think I though you were *uncaring* I just meant that TO ME I would feel like an awful mom if I just let them suffer and be uncomfortable. And TO ME you seem to be on others cases about giving their kids OTC. and it seems that you just want us to all stop medicating children.

I agree that there is a time and place for OTC meds. But I think your a bit harsh on those who use it seeing how I don't believe Gabe's ever been that sick (but what would I know - you don't talk to me and I NEVER see my nephew even though you live less than 30 minutes from us and you stop up a block from the house but can't swng by the house to say HI) I just don't think you should be so judgemental if you've never been in the same position as those of us whose kids have been ever so congested they can't get a good nights sleep (the kids) who wake up crying in the middle of the night cause they don't feel good.

Now I know why I stopped posting here so much.

Logan was very sick as a baby. He ended up with RSV at the age of 4 months. His congestion in his lungs and chest would get so thick they thought he had CF. When he would start with a cold we had to thin it out asap before it got away from us and we ended up in the hosp. So I used cough medicine, per my DR to try and stay on top of. Its our own personal choice how we handle whatever situations that arise with our kids. This is a debate and we are all entitiled to our opinions and to discuss them. WIthout someone taking offense which is why its in the debate forum right?

And like someone said, just because it's natural doesn't mean it's safe. But it also doesn't mean it will work for your child. When one of mine was a few months old and had a very bad cold and was very congested, humidifiers and steam baths did not help at all. We were having to give him breathing treatments to help him breath and keep the congestion out of his lungs. Thankfully we had a doctor we could trust to help us get him better. Since then, I have absolutely no problem giving OTC medicine to help alleviate symptoms and to try and keep something from getting that serious. With my oldest being 7, I don't think we've ever gone through a whole bottle of cough medicine but we have used our fair share of decongestant and pain relievers. As rarely as we need them, when they are needed they are used.

Cough medicine, fever reducers, and decongestants may not be "life saving" but until you have had a baby that has coughed so long and hard they have thrown up several times, till their chest and lungs hurt so bad they whimper instead of cry, till they are coughing so hard they can barely breath and there is no chance they will have any rest, a baby with a high fever that no amount of sponging or "natural" method has touched and they are listless and miserable and hurt from head to toe, a baby so stuffy they won't eat or drink because they can't breath, that can't even lay down because they are so stuffy and congested, that steam, cool air, humidifiers, etc...has not touched...or God forbid a child with the flu who has ALL of these together...
Don't knock those of us who have, and know what it's like to watch our babies suffer, and who will do what is needed to make them feel better.
I don't make a habit of handing out OTC meds like candy, but my kids have and will continue to get them when they are suffering. I am all for trying the "natural" methods first, but I won't hesitate to use medicine if my boys need it.

And for the record....some OTC meds can be life saving....A friend of mines son who is highly allergic to bees got stung one year and didn't have his epi-pen handy. If it hadn't been for another mom having benadryl on hand and giving him a dose he wouldn't have made it till the ambulance could get there...the OTC med slowed the reaction and kept his airway open enough he could breath till help arrived.

Hey ladies... just a friendly reminder to keep personal attacks off the boards. We are all entitled to our opinion and may openly argue that opion in the debate forum... HOWEVER, we need to be respectful of others' while doing it.