9 Medications That Are Not Naturally Appropriate for Toddlers

Unlike adults, children are far more susceptible to side effects than the drugs they are given. That is why careless administration of over-the-counter medicines can have a negative impact on the health of children under five years old (toddlers). Sometimes due to panic, parents rush to give medicine to help alleviate the child's condition. In fact, conditions that are general in nature, such as coughs and colds, can subside by themselves without the administration of certain drugs. Giving arbitrary drugs, it will only have a bad impact on the body of the Little One.

Drugs that can be given with special attention

The following medicines can still be given to your child, but with caution:

1. Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen can be given to infants, only if it is more than three months old and has a body weight of more than 5 kilograms. Nevertheless, Mother should not be careless in giving ibuprofen, because it can endanger the health of your child. Especially if he is dehydrated, has a history of asthma, kidney disorders, liver disorders, and chronic diseases. Always consult your doctor about the dose and safety of giving ibuprofen, before you start giving ibupforen to your child.

2. Paracetamol (additional)

To relieve fever and pain, this medication can be given to toddlers older than two months. But that needs attention, several types of drugs already contain paracetamol. If so, avoid giving additional paracetamol separately because it risks causing the child to overdose.

3. Anti-nausea medication

With adequate rest and diet control, generally nausea and vomiting in children, can subside without medication. The use of anti-nausea drugs should only be given according to a doctor's prescription. Because, giving these drugs carelessly, can cause complications in the child's body.

4. Chewing Medication

Not all children under five are able to chew medicine until it is smooth, so this type of medicine risks making children choke. Therefore, only give chewing medicine if it is prescribed by a doctor. If necessary, consult a doctor to administer chewable medicine, whether it can be smoothed beforehand, before Mother gives it to Little One.

5. Antibiotic drugs

Antibiotics generally do not need to be given when a child has a cold or cough, which is caused by a virus. Antibiotics are only given when the infection is caused by bacteria. Adjust the dose of this antibiotic drug based on doctor's recommendation.

Drugs that should not be given to children

In addition to drugs that need special attention before administration, there are also drugs that absolutely should not be given to children who are toddlers:

1. Aspirin

Giving aspirin to a baby can result in Reye's syndrome. Therefore, never give Little Aspirin to treat conditions that are general, such as colds and fever. In addition, note also that there are several types of drugs that contain aspirin with different names, such as salicylate or acetylsalicylic acid. This drug is not even recommended until children over 16 years old.

2. Medicine for adults

Adult medicine should also not be given to toddlers, because the child's body may not necessarily be able to process the drug. So, never give it even in a lower dose.

3. Medication for other diseases

Each drug has been specifically prescribed to treat certain conditions. Do not give drugs that have been prescribed by a doctor before when Little was sick, even though now the symptoms are similar. We recommend that you do the consultation again with your doctor to get a drug that is in accordance with the condition and age of your child at this time.

4. Cough medicines and over-the-counter cold medicines

In addition to being not necessarily effective in relieving symptoms of cough and flu in infants, these medicines can actually be dangerous if taken in excessive doses. Possible side effects are upset stomach, skin rash, increased heart rate, and seizures. Medications included in this group are decongestants, expectorants and antihistamines. Parents need to be more careful in giving medicines to children under five. Make sure Mother has consulted a doctor and asked whether or not the drug is safe to be given to your child. In addition, give medication according to the dosage and rules of use recommended by the doctor, so that treatment is effective and does not cause side effects. Don't forget, first check the expiration date on the medicine packaging.