Seven medicines you shouldn't give your baby
Approved by the Medical Advisory Board
Reviewed by Nancy Showen, M.D.
Last updated: April 2006
By the BabyCenter editorial staff
Aspirin
Anti-nausea medications
Adult medications
Any medication prescribed for someone else or for another reason
Anything expired
Extra acetaminophen
Chewables
A cautionary note
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Babies and children are much more likely than adults to have adverse drug reactions, so giving your baby prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication is serious business. (In fact, until your baby reaches her half birthday, consult her doctor before giving her any medication at all, other than a carefully measured baby dose of acetaminophen once she's more than 3 months old.)
Here are seven medicines you shouldn't give your baby:
Aspirin
Never give your baby aspirin or any medication containing aspirin. Aspirin can make a child susceptible to Reye's syndrome a rare but potentially fatal illness. Don't assume that the children's medicines found in drugstores will be aspirin-free. Aspirin is sometimes referred to as "salicylate" or "acetylsalicylic acid." Read labels carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist if you're not sure whether a product is aspirin-free.
Anti-nausea medications
Don't give your baby an anti-nausea medication (prescription or OTC) unless her doctor specifically recommends it. Most bouts of vomiting are pretty short-lived, and babies and children usually handle them just fine without any medication. In addition, anti-nausea medications have risks and possible complications. (If your baby is vomiting and begins to get dehydrated, contact her doctor for advice on what to do.)
Adult medications
Giving your baby a smaller dose of medicine meant for an adult is dangerous. If the label doesn't indicate an appropriate dose for a baby her size, don't give that medication to your baby.
Any medication prescribed for someone else or for another reason
Prescription drugs intended for other people (like a sibling) or to treat other illnesses may be ineffective or even dangerous when given to your baby. Give her only medicine prescribed for her and her specific condition.
Anything expired
Toss out medicines, prescription and OTC alike, as soon as they expire. Also throw away discolored or crumbly medicines basically anything that doesn't look the way it did when you first bought it. After the use-by date, medications may no longer be effective and can even be harmful. Don't flush old drugs down the toilet, as they can contaminate groundwater and end up in the drinking water supply. Instead, seal them in a childproof container and toss them out with the trash.
Extra acetaminophen
Many OTC cough and cold medicines contain acetaminophen to help ease fever and pain, so be careful not to give your baby a separate dose of acetaminophen. If you're not sure what's in a particular cough or cold medicine, ask the pharmacist or your baby's doctor. And if your baby's already taking a prescription medicine, don't give her acetaminophen or ibuprofen until you've first checked with her doctor or the pharmacist to make sure it's okay.
Chewables
Chewable tablets are a choking hazard for babies. If your baby's eating solids and you want to use a chewable tablet, crush it first, then put it in a spoonful of soft food, like yogurt or applesauce. (Of course, you need to make sure your baby eats the entire spoonful in order to get the complete dose.)
A cautionary note
The next two types of medications aren't 100 percent off-limits, but you should carefully consider whether or not to give them to your baby:
Some herbal remedies
Many herbal remedies are gentle and safe, but just because something is natural, or derived from a plant, don't assume that it's safe for your baby. Herbal products can cause allergic reactions, liver damage, and high blood pressure. In certain doses, and/or when combined with the wrong medications, they can be fatal. Check with your baby's doctor or an alternative medicine practitioner before giving your baby any herbal products. And always let the doctor know about any herbal remedies your baby's taking before she prescribes a medication.
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines
Coughing helps clear your baby's lungs, so a cough suppressant is often counterproductive. And cough and cold medicines, including decongestants, won't help your baby get better. At best, they'll only temporarily relieve some of her symptoms. And they may have unwanted side effects, like anxiety and sleeplessness. Some of these products also tend to become less effective, or even cause the initial symptoms to worsen, over time. So if your baby's miserable with a cold, first try other options, like a humidifier and plenty of liquids. Then talk with her doctor before you grab an OTC cough or cold remedy.
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