When a baby comes down with a cold and the symptoms include a cough, the cough is a natural reflexive response that helps to clear the build up of secretion. However, a cold and cough can be very discomforting. Parents will turn to everything from old wives-tales to the over-the counter medicines in an effort to bring their baby much needed cough relief.
Baby cough relief medicines are generally found it two different types. One, the expectorant, is formulated to thin out the cough secretions and help the baby cough it up and out. The other type is the cough suppressant, which does what its name states, it suppresses the cough. Recently, however, according to findings by the Consumer Healthcare Product Association (CHPA) and recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the use of over-the-counter cough medicines for babies and children under the age of 6 is discouraged, even prohibited, unless prescribed by a doctor.
Because of newfound information regarding the use of cough-relief medicines, baby cough relief is based widely on keeping the baby comfortable, treating the cough naturally and letting the cough run its course.
What to Look for
Since most pediatricians no longer prescribe cough medications for use with babies, cough relief can be found through increasing fluid intake and humidification of the air. When looking for a humidifier or vaporizer, make sure they have an adequate reach for the room you plan to use it in.
If the cough is severe, however, consult with a pediatrician for cough-relief treatment. Persistent coughs, coughing and wheezing, or deep-sounding, productive coughs may indicate more than just a common cold symptom and should be properly diagnosed and treated with pediatrician-prescribed medicine.
Common Pitfalls
In the last year, many over-the-counter cough-relief medications that were once the chosen remedy by many parents have been recalled by manufacturers. Some drug manufacturers successfully created new formulas that removed the key ingredients that sent up warning flags. It is important to make sure over-the-counter cough medicines you may choose do not contain pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine.
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