Dear Alison,
I’ve got a 4 year old daughter. When she gets sick, I’m hesitant to give her OTC medicines because I’m afraid that they are not good for her developing body. Am I right or is that just me being over cautious? Marissa L., WI
You’re right to hesitate. Over the counter medication is not good to give small children. It is often not very effective and as we’ve heard in the past couple of years (with all the recalls and warnings), can be dangerous. If it’s a cold or cough, pushing fluids, using a vaporizer, and Vicks are about the best remedies out there.
Remember that fevers are actually a good thing. Dr.‘s will tell you to stay home and try to push fluids with fevers up to 104 degrees (at 105 they’ll have you come in to the hospital). The place where kids get into trouble is that they dehydrate easily. So do whatever you can to get your daughter to drink when she is sick. My kids rarely get juice or pop (Talking Rain, diet Sprite or 7-UP) so if that’s what it takes to get them to drink then that’s what I’ll give them. My son loves to get sick so he gets special drinks and can lay around and watch TV all day!
Some natural remedies:
- A really great natural remedy for stuffy noses is saline nasal spray. This is basically just saltwater and it works very effectively at clearing up plugged noses.
- For a sore throat *_Traditional Medicinals_ has a tea that I find very soothing called Throat Coat that is also sold in a separate box packaged and formulated especially for kids. It includes licorice in it’s blend. For a more inexpensive option one can just buy licorice root in the bulk section and brew it as a loose leaf tea.
- Hot water with freshly squeezed lemon and honey is a tried and true remedy that works wonders for colds and congestion.
- If your child is coughing and having a hard time breathing a cool mist vaporizer can give your child a comfortable nights rest. There is no need for the medicated vapor.
Please keep in mind that I am not a medical professional, however I do have coursework in Mothering 101, Bleeding and Bandaging, How to get your kid to sleep through the night when he can’t breathe, and my personal favorite, 101 Ways a Kiss Can Heal. :)
Your partner in health,
Alison
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