Nothing tugs at a parent's heartstrings more than a sick baby. And when it comes to giving medication to an infant, it's essential that you pay close attention to what you are administering, as infants and children are much more sensitive than adults to many medications.
Even non-prescription drugs, like aspirin, can cause serious illness or death in young children, especially if the child is sick with chickenpox or flu. For that reason, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you should never give a child under two years of age any medicine -- including over-the-counter pain medication or cough/cold preparations -- without first checking with your pediatrician.
According to the FDA, half of the children who take medicine are given it incorrectly. So whether it's acetaminophen for a fever, or antibiotics for an infection, here are some tips to keep in mind the next time your baby needs medicine:
Ask questions Among the most important to ask your pediatrician and/or pharmacist:
What is the drug for?How long will my baby need to take it?
What are the common side effects? And which ones warrant a call to the doctor? What do I do if I accidentally miss giving a dose?Does this medicine interact with other medications? (Be sure to tell your pediatrician and pharmacist about any drugs, vitamins or other supplements that you give your child)
Know your baby's weight The dosage for over-the-counter medications is often determined by weight. Age is never an accurate measurement.
Read the label carefully Some details on the label might strike you as unimportant. "Give with food," for instance, or "Do not crush." But it's essential that you pay attention to these instructions. Taking with food may prevent an upset stomach, for instance, but it may also affect how quickly or slowly the medicine is absorbed into the bloodstream. Likewise, a crushed tablet may also be absorbed too quickly and affect how the medicine works.
And never, ever, increase the amount of medicine, or the frequency with which you give it, because you think it make your baby feel better faster. It is possible to give a baby a life-threatening overdose of an otherwise "safe" medication such as acetaminophen.
Measure accurately Never use a household teaspoon to dispense liquid medicine (this goes for older children and adults too). Depending on the design of the spoon, it may hold 3 ml of liquid, or 7 ml. An accurate teaspoon holds 5 ml. If the medicine does not come with a dropper or syringe dispenser, ask the pharmacist to give you one.
Don't stop too soon Many prescription medicines, like allergy drugs or antibiotics, must be given consistently or they may not be effective. They also must be given for a certain length of time -- one full week, for example -- so never stop giving your baby medicine simply because she seems to be feeling better.
About The Author
Nevada-based freelance writer Dana Sullivan is a frequent contributor to Your Baby Today and also writes for Fit Pregnancy and Parenting. She's mom to Liam, 4, and Julia, 2.