The FDA issued a warning today advising parents to not give over the counter cough and cold medicines to infants and toddlers because of the risk of “serious and life threatening side effects that can occur”.

In October of last year, drug companies stopped selling certain versions of baby medicines. Later that same month, FDA advisors voted that the drugs didn’t work in infants and suggested that such drugs not even be used for pre-schoolers–meaning children up to age 6. Expect a formal ruling on the use of such medications in preschoolers and elementary school children to be publicized some time in spring.

Why issue a warning now? The FDA is concerned that parents have not gotten the message and that they may currently have such medicines at home, or that they may use other medicines designed for older children to medicate their infants. Also, decades ago, when these medications were first developed, scientists thought that what worked in an adult automatically would work in an infant.

Right now, specialists are advising parents who have infants with colds and coughs to rely on old fashioned remedies which include–plenty of love, rest, and liquids.

Is it just me, or do children usually come down with some sort of illness around the holidays? Perhaps it’s the change in weather, the stress, or just the amount of activity and changes in the schedule, but I seem to remember more “sick” holidays than “well” holidays. Then again, I suppose a Christmas spent with Tylenol is more memorable than one without.

I wasn’t surprised when yesterday, our 9 month old started with a “cold”. Today, it’s turned into a full blown virus. No fever, but stomach distress, and a slight rash in addition to the sniffles. Yup, we’re on our way to another sick Christmas.

In fact, this is a memorable event in many ways. Firstly, it is my baby’s first “real” illness. He’s made it 9 months without any sort of sniffle or anything. Isn’t that awesome? And, this is my first time without being able to use that great infant decongestant stuff since it was taken off the shelves a few months ago.

My oldest is 14, and I always used those drops! I swear they worked when you used them correctly, unlike what the medical professionals claim. When I called the product hotline, the rep on the other end of the phone claimed that they were taking the product off the shelf because it had come to their attention that some parents were using their product incorrectly and overdosing their children so they would sleep. This leads me to a bunch of thoughts. Firstly, just now you realize this? This product has been out for decades and just NOW you figure this out? Secondly, again, why do we all suffer because a few people choose to do the wrong thing?

I digress…..so this cold, my son will use the old stand by. He’ll get the salt water drops and have the mucous aspirated out of his nose. He loves that! I have the vaporizer running, and I have the Vicks Rub for Infants which has helped him. And, when he is really uncomfortable, I’ll give him some tylenol.

I’m sure we’ll make it thru this first cold. Hopefully, he’ll even be well enough to celebrate his first Christmas.