Is It Safe To Use OTC Medicines For Your Baby’s Cold

Babies often catch a common cold because they have not yet developed immunity to fight against many of the common infections. The common cold affects your baby’s nose and throat and there are symptoms like nasal congestion and a runny nose. According to Mayo Clinic, babies get about six to eight colds within the first year. But are OTC (over-the-counter)medicines safe for your baby’s cold safe? Here’s what you need to know about colds in babies and the use of OTC medicines.

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Symptoms Of Common Cold In Babies

To treat your baby’s cold, you must first be sure of the symptoms. Some of them are- 

• Runny nose or congested nose
• Nasal discharge that is thick and may turn yellow or green
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Decrease in appetite
• Coughing
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Difficulty nursing or feeding from the bottle due to nasal congestion

Risks Of OTC Medicines For Babies

Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines are medicines that one can purchase without a healthcare provider’s prescription. They usually are in the form of pills, liquids and capsules and are sold in pharmacies or supermarkets.

Over-the-counter medicines for coughs and colds are only for treating the symptoms associated with them and not the underlying disease. Furthermore, these medications usually have serious side effects and one of them is fatal overdose in children who are younger than two years old.

Unless advised by the doctor, parents must avoid using any over-the-counter medicines to treat coughs and colds in children who are younger than six years old. 

Natural Ways To Cure A Baby’s Cold

Here are some natural and safe ways to treat cough and cold in babies-

• Hydrate them with plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
• Use a rubber bulb syringe to keep your baby’s nasal passage clear
• Try doctor-recommended nasal saline drops
• Try natural home remedies like a spoonful of honey(if your baby is older than one year) or warm baths 
• Use a natural vapour patch that is free from toxins and harmful chemicals. It helps to give up to give relief from blocked noses.

When To See A Doctor

It’s advisable to consult a doctor if your baby has any of the symptoms below along with a cold –

• If the baby refuses to nurse or does not accept fluids
• Coughs so hard that there is vomiting or changes in your baby’s skin colour
• The mucus of the coughs is blood-tinged 
• Has bluish colour around the lips or has difficulty breathing 
• Is unusually low on energy or has sleepiness

When it comes to OTC medicines, they are more harmful than curing your baby’s cough and cold. You may use fever-reducing OTC medicines if your baby is uncomfortable due to the fever. However, fever is a way of naturally responding to the virus and it may be helpful to allow your child to have a low-grade fever.

Cover image credit – Parents