In 2008, manufacturers of cough and cold products for infants and children less than 2 years of age removed them from the market due to safety concerns. These safety concerns included many reports of harm, and even death in children who consumed improper doses of common over-the-counter cough and cold products. Most of those reports were in children less than 2 years of age.
If your child is less than 2 years old, consider some safe alternatives to cough and cold medications, including the use of a cool mist humidifier, saline nasal drops and a nasal suction device. If you are looking to use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help relieve your child's fever and aches associated with the common cold, be sure to check with your pharmacist or child's healthcare provider for proper dosing instructions. – Michelle Simonsen, Clinical Pharmacist