Cold relief for babies and children

In the UK as of March 2009 many over the counter remedies that had helped parents and children navigate the minefield of winter coughs, colds and sniffles were branded ‘bad’ for children – some reported dangerous, others simply labelled as ‘ineffective’. Many of these medicines had been tried and trusted by mums for years, offering relief from fever, cough and congestion and helping everyone get a better nights’ sleep whenever the dreaded lurgy came to stay.

But the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) ruled earlier this year that over 100 products were to be banned for under sixes due to the potential risk of sleep disturbance, hallucinations and allergic reactions.  The decision followed an earlier report in March 2008 recommending that certain over-the-counter medicines were unsuitable for under-twos following a number of overdose cases in the United States.

Now I’ll be the first to admit that if I thought any drug was a risk to my child’s health I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole, but to me this is yet another example of a nanny state gone mad. When this ruling was made, it was agreed that products need not be removed from shelves – many were still available to buy in supermarkets for some time afterwards. Furthermore, product labelling was unaffected at the time and many of the products to this day still feature dosage information for under sixes, and even under twos.  Are these medicines, then, really not safe for young children?  Or is it just that in today’s society mothers can’t be trusted to follow simple instructions and not to dope their own children?  Are the sins of the few causing the punishment of the many?

In America, the same studies were looked at but regulatory bodies stopped short of banning the products from being used in under sixes, because they feared this would lead to parents giving their children adult cough and cold remedies instead. In the UK, it has already resulted in parents lying to pharmacists about their child’s age, and here in Northern Ireland, of parents travelling across the border to obtain medicines that have been banned in the north, with some ‘mummy mules’ even buying in bulk for friends and family. But if you’ve ever spent the whole night consoling an unwell, exhausted child who can’t sleep due to a blocked nose and hacking cough, you’ll understand why they do it.

Anyway I digress. Since this ban came in Bubs has had one or two colds, and in fact we are currently in the middle of a snotfest that’s been rumbling pretty much since the new school term started in September. And during that time I’ve come across some tips, tricks and remedies that have helped us all to breathe easier, without partaking in any illegal activity – and here they are!

Humidifier

I shied away from buying a humidifier for ages because they’re not cheap and I was undecided as to whether it would actually help. One night of using the thing convinced me that they definitely work and now I would recommend anybody with young kids to invest in a decent one – the moist air means your child’s nose will be less stuffy and dry, tickly coughs are soothed. There are three types of humidifier – warm (often known as a vapouriser), cold and ultrasonic. The warm steam variety is not recommended for use in children’s rooms because of the obvious burn risks. Cold and ultrasonic humidifiers essentially do the same job but the ultrasonic produces a finer mist and is a lot quieter, so we went for this option. It does still emit a low hum but I find that this doesn’t disturb Bubs at all – in fact I sometimes wonder if he in fact finds the white noise soothing. A final point about humidifiers; it’s really important to keep them clean and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for doing so. This prevents a buildup of minerals and bacteria within the unit, which would then potentially be pumped into the air, possibly doing more harm than good.  Ours is easily cleaned with a solution of water and white vinegar which kills bacteria and removes mineral deposits.

Pillow

At 17 months Bubs is still a bit young for a pillow and doesn’t like using one.  I do, however, place a low pillow under the head end of his mattress when he is unwell.  This raises him up a bit, making it easier for him to breathe and reducing his cough.  You can also place chunky books under the cot legs at one end, but I find the pillow works better as it raises his head moreso than simply having him sleep on a slope.

Olbas Oil

I don’t rate Vicks at all really because I don’t think the vapours are strong enough to do any good, especially not when applied to the chest under pyjamas and a sleeping bag, but Olbas Oil is my saviour.  I sprinkle a few drops on a muslin cloth tied securely to the bars of the cot.  This combined with the humidifier fills the room with a vapoury mist that tackles a blocked nose brilliantly.

Saline drops

Such a simple remedy but saline drops are great for thinning nose gunk, making it easier to remove, and I recently found that the people at Calpol make a saline nasal spray that’s really easy to administer as it gets right into the nostril and clears out all the crap.  It’s a really fine spray and Bubs doesn’t mind having it in at all, which is practically a miracle considering he hates me wiping his nose the way cats hate water.  If you’ve got a super-placid kid you can also buy a ‘nasal aspirator’ -  a posh name for what we have affectionately dubbed ‘the snot sucker’ – to remove mucus but I gave up trying to get Bubs to submit to this ages ago and am working on teaching him to blow his wee nose instead.

Medicine

Thankfully, the powers that be didn’t ban the use of paracetamol (Calpol) or indeed ibuprofen (Nurofen) for little ones and I rely on both of these to relieve cold symptoms.  Calpol is fine for minor grumbles but the Nurofen is my favourite – it works quickly, keeps a fever down for longer and tastes nicer.  Plus it’s got a really handy dosing syringe that fits into the cap for mess-free dosing when your eyes are stuck shut at 3am.  If your child has a cough you can give a simple cough medicine of honey and lemon or glycerol although these are mainly aimed at soothing tickly coughs and sore throats.

The MHRA were right when they said that colds and coughs are generally self-limiting conditions that improve with rest and TLC, and hopefully these tips will help you get a bit more of the former while you wait for them to pass.  However, if you are at all worried about your child’s health or if symptoms persist for more than a few days, you should of course consult your GP.