What OTC Rx Do You Use?

We have found the PediaCare works great for our 2 1/2 year old when she gets a runny nose. We've been using it for almost a year when she has a cold and it usually works well and quickly. I have been cautioned that PediaCare can cause hyperactivity in young children but our daughter is not affected that way when she takes it. Hope this helps.

A.

1 mom found this helpful

My son has allergies that contributes to his runny nose, so I give him Claritin. You need to give it every day, the best time is right before bed. It takes a week to really see the best results.

little nose spray works well.

I have a humidifier running as well as a Sudafed Gentle Vapors plugin to help with the moisture in the air an to help keep the sinuses dry. Plus you can smear some Vicks Vapor Rub on a washcloth and place it under the nightshirt above the chest so your son can breathe the medicine in and help dry up the sinuses; and it is not in direct contact with his skin. Plus drinking Orange Juice (the real kind, not Juicy Juice and not Sunny Delight) will help build up his immune system and give him the proper Vit C he needs to battle the cold season. Also to help dry up the sinuses is your basic Robittusin cold and sinus liquid. Hope my suggestions help you as they have helped me.

children claratin might work, any kind of nasal spray. My son is on prescrption meds for runny nose, like nasonex and Zertyk. Any kind of antihistamine will clear the nose up.

I am a pharmacist and like to avoid meds for the little ones for cold symptoms. Saline spray is a helpful remedy and very safe. Steam showers can help loosen congestion.

If you feel that your son is just miserable, then I would go with the dose your pediatrician recommend. Just be careful if your son has never tried Benadryl. It usually causes drowsiness, but sometimes in children it has the opposite effect.

Good luck.

I agree the the Sudafed plugins they work great!!!

I have read in several places (including from the American Pediatric Association) that all cold medications are unsafe for children under 6. Until then, push fluids to thin the mucous, use saline spray, Vicks, and a humidifier. It'll pass on its own like all colds. Good luck!

Try to use vicks - before he goes to sleep rub it on his feet and chest then cover him with socks and a blanket. I know it sounds funny, but it works. I even use it for myself for colds it works better than medicine. THey make an infants vicks too, I use the infant on on my 18 mo old, and the adult one on my 3 year old.

I hate to say it but my Doc said nothing! We use vicks plug in or vicks on the chest and a vaporizor. Good Luck with what ever you do! All my guys are sickos over here! SO I feel your pain
K.

Children under the age of I think 6 years old arent really supposed to take any kind of cold medicine but I know it is really hard when they cant sleep. I use the pedicare night time when I have to but the little noses spray works really good. If you spray it up their nose, Everything drains out and it basically cleans out their nose. My doctor told me to use it on my kids a little bit before bed and during the day when they are clogged.

I know that the research says you shouldn't use anything, but I use Tylenol mulit-symptoms for colds (children's), I also give then vapor baths before bed. In fact I have used the vapor baths on myself and it does seem to work. Good luck. I also beleive everything is good in moderation.

For a runny nose, I use the Triaminic strips that dissolve in their mouth. I have found that the purple ones (not the red ones) have worked better for a runny nose - I'm thinking one was cough and cold and the other one was just cold, but I'm not at home and can't remember.

At nighttime, I also am a firm believer in the Triaminic nighttime cough and cold liquid medicine accompanied by a cool mist humidifier.

Hope these suggestions help! - K.

My ped recommended Dimatapp for the last co;d that we experienced just talk to the pharmacist about the new dosage amounts. We also do the saline and sucking for minor instances.

Flush the nose with saline solution, or nasal spray. Then, suck out his nose with a bulb. It will help keep him clear.

I use the regular Children's Dimetapp (not the infant formula, which has been pulled off the shelf) and have done so since my son was 3 (he is now almost 7.) I am pretty sure my doctor told me how much to give him then and also my daughter who would have been 1 at the time. PLEASE ask your doctor though, because the label starts dosing at six years old!

I prefer the Dimetapp over the Benadryl for 2 reasons: 1 is that the taste is better (my son won't take anything but Dimetapp actually, which is extremely annoying) and 2-it has an antihistimine and a decongestant and usually they need both things.

BUT...I rarely give my kids cold meds at all! I will only give it to them at night IF they are coughing from the drainage. Otherwise I do not give it to them. Yes, it's gross that their noses run, and yes, I did, when they were little, have to run around wiping them till they learned it for themselves! However, my youngest has a heart defect and when I was discussing cold meds with the cardiologist, he said that it is best to not give ANY child cold meds if you can avoid it because it does affect the heart rate of some children.

So I really do have to agree with the pharmacist who responded...the saline is good if he is congested or just let it run it's course. Especially during the day. I have used the benadryl with my daughter at night for the cough and it does work, especially if the runny nose is just clear running sort of like a faucet. Good luck!