You may notice your baby's congested when she is having trouble breathing and has a stuffy nose. Infants can become congested for a number of reasons, such as weather changes, allergies or the common cold. When your infant is congested, decongestants can help open her sinuses so that she can breathe easier. Before trying over-the-counter decongestants on your baby, ask her pediatrician for approval and a recommendation on which type is best for her and how often you should administer the medication.
Pediacare Decongestant Infants
Pediacare Decongestant Infants uses the active ingredient pseudoephedrine in a liquid form to help relieve sinus congestion due to allergies, hay fever, sinusitis and the common cold, according to Drugs.com. Pediacare is also used to treat ear congestion caused by an ear infection or inflammation of the ear. In certain instances, this is only available by a doctor's prescription. Pseudoephedrine is more likely to cause severe side effects in newborns and premature infants, such as rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat and unusual restlessness. Drugs.com advises that children under the age of 4 use pseudoephedrine only under the supervision of a doctor.
Infant's Tylenol Plus Cold
Infant's Tylenol Plus Cold is available over the counter in a liquid suspension. Infant's Tylenol Plus Cold uses phenylephrine to treat nasal congestion due to a stuffy nose and acetaminophen to relieve headaches associated with allergies, hay fever and colds, according to Drugs.com. Acetaminophen may cause kidney damage or cancer of the urinary bladder and kidneys, especially if you give the medication to the child for a long period of time or in large doses. Due to the risk of side effects, newborns and infants should only take Infant's Tylenol Plus Cold under the recommendation and supervision of their pediatrician.
Pediatex-D
Pediatex-D and Pediatex 12D are available over the counter in a liquid form and use an antihistamine to relieve runny and stuffy nose along with sneezing and watery eyes. Antihistamines are used in conjunction with decongestants such as phenylephrine to alleviate congestion due to colds and hay fever, according to Drugs.com. Children under 2 should not take this medication without prior pediatrician approval. Your infant's pediatrician may give you special instructions in regards to how much your infant should take and when he should have the doses.
