Babies, Parenting, Child Health, Infant Nutrition

Baby Development – Cold Medicines to Add Child Advisory

08.10.2008 | 4:45:32 pm | Posted by admin

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

baby development, parenting Back in January of this year, Mum Mum’s reported a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued public advisory on the use of over the counter cold and cough medication for children 2 years of age and under. The advisory warned parents not to give over the counter meds to children under 2 due to potentially life threatening side effects. Now, those medicine manufacturers have decided to voluntarily change their product labels to err to the side of caution.

Announced Tuesday, manufacturers of pediatric cold and cough medicines will change their labels advising their products not be used by children under 4. The announcement follows an FDA scientific panel’s testimony on the issue just last week. In addition, FDA safety experts recommended banning the use of over the counter cold and cough medications for children under 6, with an advisory panel in full agreement.

Vowing to fight further restriction, manufacturers initially agreed only to advise against the products use in children under 2. After listening to the FDA experts the manufacturers conceded, adding that they are trying to reduce any medication errors and that new product labels would be a step in the right direction.

baby development, organic baby food Even though 39% of US households use pediatric cough and cold products, recent studies found they have no therapeutic effects on the symptoms but merely act as a sedative. An increasing number of studies have found the medications not only to be ineffective, but also potentially dangerous including the risk of hives and neurological problems. Products containing certain antihistamines will also have a revamped label advising parents not to use them simply to make a child sleepy. While some parents attest sleep is good medicine, medical experts advise against sedating a child as it can worsen the breathing conditions caused by a cold or cough.

What You Can Do
Consumer Healthcare Products Association, a trade organization that represents makers of over the counter medications, stated that the majority of the injuries from the medication occurred in children under 4, thus the new regulations would eliminate the majority of the problems. Many injuries also occurred from accidental overdose by children who got their hands on the bottles without their parents knowing in addition to parents giving too much medication when either confusing the dosage or giving 2 different products that share similar ingredients. As a parent, make sure all medications are out of reach of your little ones at all times. Also, be sure to check with your pediatrician before giving any over the counter mediation to your child.

Permalink

Email this article

Printer-friendly version

About this Blog:

The Baby Mum-Mum blog discusses everything to do with babies and parenting with a focus on child health and child development. Baby Mum-Mum is a healthy, easy to digest baby rice snack that is enjoyed by babies and mothers around the world for its portability, gluten free ingredients and great taste.

Announcement:

On February 22, the FDA issued letters relating to labelling to 22 food companies, including several baby food manufacturers. We were advised by the FDA that we are not permitted to print the statements "Low in Fat" or "No added fat or oils" on our Baby Mum-Mum packaging.

Although these statements are true and each serving of Baby Mum-Mum does not contain any fat, the FDA has brought to our attention that these claims are technically not allowed on our packaging solely because the product is intended for consumption by infants and children under 4 years of age.

In the future, these claims will be removed from our packaging.

Syndicate this Blog: