The Safety Mom Chronicles

The FDA Says "No" to OTC Medicines for Babies - Is It Time To Get Back to Basics?

The FDA today released a statement declaring OTC cough and cold medicines too risky for children under the age of 2 and warned parents to avoid using them ""because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur."   This comes on the heels of drug companies pulling many of their infant cold medicines off the shelf this fall.  Today, however, is the first time the government has issued a ruling on this matter due in large part to concern that parent's are not heeding the previous warnings.  And by spring, the FDA will rule whether these medicines are appropriate for children even older - up to age 12.  Click here to read the entire article FDA Statement

I suspect that this will leave parents once again confused as to what is and is not safe.  Many "veteran moms" and, I suspect, some pediatricians will tell you that these medicines can still be given safely.   Some will wonder which medicines are safe and others, hating to see their children suffer, will still "sneak it."   But, as always, I say know the facts and practice pragmatic parenting.   As with the recent toy recalls, many moms are saying that now is the time to get back to basics.  There are many remedies to help relieve cold symptoms that are safe and effective.

Honey:  According to a recent study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, giving children over the age of 1 a teaspoon of honey has proven to be more effective than cough medicine at quieting the cough and helping them sleep.

Lots of Fluids: "It's critical to keep children extremely hydrated when they have a cold." explains Barb Dehn, NP and national health expert.  Some creative ideas for getting children to take fluids include giving them slushy drinks, cut up melon and jello cubes.

Keep Their Environment Moist: Place a cool-mist humidifier in the nursery to keep the air moist.

Relieve a Stuffy Nose: Use saline drops to soften secretions and a bulb syringe to suction out mucus.

Offense is The Best Defense! 

• Practice good hand-washing skills and carry alcohol-free hand sanitizer gel with you to clean hands in high-germ areas such as grocery stores, playgrounds and especially pediatricians' offices. 
• Frequently wash down "high-touch" items such as door knobs, phones, remote controls and light switches.
• Don't allow family members to share food, cups, utensils, toothbrushes and towels.  Allow a child who is sick to use paper plates and cups and plastic utensils that can be thrown away.
• Teach children to cover their mouth with their arm when they cough and sneeze.

The Cold Medicine Confusion - What's a Mom To Do?

On Friday, A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel recommended a ban on over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children younger than 6.    Many reports showed that the medicines were nothing more than a placebo and recommended the drugs be tested to see if they are in any way effective.  The recommendations apply to medicines containing at least one of the following ingredients: decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines and antitussives, the AP reported.

So today, as we read the reports that the medicine we've been giving our children for years is not only ineffective but might not be safe, how will moms respond?  For the past few days, as initial reports having been coming through,  my e-mail box has been jammed with questions and concerns from moms on what this really means.  Most will be scouring their medicine cabinet and probably filling at least a bag full with medicines they will be discarding. 

Between this news and the spate of toy recalls, it leaves all of us anxious.  How do we best care for our children and keep them safe?  Is this a call for "back to basics?"  Most pediatricians will advise parents that the best remedies for babies when they have colds is saline drops and cool mist vaporizers.   As moms, we took comfort in the fact that, when we saw our little ones miserable from a cold or flu, we could give them something to make them feel better.   Now, we're waking up to the fact that there's no magic bullet.  Our children's illness needs to run its course and we're in for some cranky days and sleepless nights.    But in the end, we're willing to put up with this if we know that it is the safer alternative to the chemicals we've been giving our babies that could potentially harm them rather than cure them.