Headbands and babies – what is safe?
October 5, 2021
No Comments
If you dress your little one up with hair accessories, this one is a must read.
Over the counter cough medicines are not recommended for babies and children.
For little ones over 12 months, honey is your safest and most effective helper, and backed by evidence (reference list below).
At CPR Kids, we’re here to help you feel informed, confident, and calm – especially during those long winter nights. You’ve got this.
It’s one of the most common questions we hear from parents during the colder months:
“What can I give my child for their cough?”
And one of the biggest myths is that cough medicines are the solution.
It’s tough watching your little one struggle with coughing fits, especially when they’re not sleeping well (and neither are you). But when it comes to treating coughs in babies and young children, there’s a lot of confusion and some persistent myths.
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne fact sheet on coughs says:
In Australia, over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are not recommended for children under 6 years old. That’s a recommendation from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the national body that regulates medicines and treatments.
Why?
Because there’s no evidence they work in young children, and some cough medicines contain ingredients that have a sedative action which can cause serious side effects. Read more from the TGA here: https://www.tga.gov.au/news/safety-updates/first-generation-oral-sedating-antihistamines-do-not-use-children
Current Australian guidelines state that:
If your little one is over 12 months of age, the number 1 evidence-based advice for dealing with coughs is something you likely already have in the pantry…
Honey.
Yep. Simple, everyday honey has been shown in studies to:
Try offering 1-2 teaspoons of honey 30 minutes before bed.
🛑 Important: Never give honey to babies under 12 months due to the risk of infant botulism, a rare but serious illness.
Alongside honey, here are a few other tips to ease your child’s cough:
Most coughs in kids are caused by viruses and will resolve on their own, but there are some red flags to watch for. Below is a fantastic breakdown from the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne Cough Fact Sheet;
Call an ambulance (000) if:
Your child has trouble breathing.
Your child turns blue or looks very pale.
Your child is drowsy or does not respond.
Your child is choking.
Go to a hospital if:
Your child has a history of choking on food or an object before the cough started.
See a doctor or health professional if:
The treatment you are giving your child is not working as you expect.
Your child looks unwell or is lethargic (low energy).
Your child’s cough has been present for more than four weeks.
Your child’s cough is not getting better, it is getting worse, or it is interfering with daytime activities and/or sleep.
Look after your child at home if:
Their cough is not causing them distress.
They do not have any other symptoms.
You can always call Healthdirect (1800 022 222) or the NSW Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) for more advice, or speak to your GP.
References
Goldman RD. Honey for treatment of cough in children. Can Fam Physician. 2014 Dec;60(12):1107-8, 1110. PMID: 25642485; PMCID: PMC4264806.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/botulism.aspx
https://www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/consult-labelling-cough-cold-091022-review.pdf
If you dress your little one up with hair accessories, this one is a must read.
Let’s talk about what you see (or don’t see) under the water here – and why it is so important.
Knowing what to do when your child sustains a dental injury, has a huge impact on the severity of the injury, and the recovery.