Ask:
Ok it's cold and flu season and I'm trying to get my ducks in a row to have cold meds on hand when I need them instead of running around at midnight! Ds is almost 5.
For fever/headache alone I give Ibroprophen (sp?) or Tylenol for only slight aches and pains.
For sore throat I give Ibropropen and I just bought some Lemon Heads lemon candy. Lemon drops are about the only thing that help my sore throat so I bought some small ones for ds too.
For stuffy nose I bought some Triaminic thin stips for stuffy nose. It has Phenlephrine so I hope it doesn't make him sleepy. A lot of times he just has a stuffy nose but no other symptoms and I send him to school but don't want him sleepy at school. I'll have to look into that.
For general cold symptoms (all of the above at the same time) I've been giving Pediacare infant (even though he is almost 5) because it doesn't have anything in it to make him sleepy for the same reason as above.
For nighttime stuffiness I just bought one of those 'waterless' vaporizers that has menthol pads in it that you plug in the wall.
Am I covered? What do you buy for your preschool kids?
Answer:
I am not really much on giving meds for colds. I like to let it run its course. Of course for fever I give ibueprophen (sp?) or acetametaphin (sp?). If their throats are sore or ears hurt, I take them to the dr. If it is just a really bad cold, I may give a dose or two of Dimetapp.
Answer:
Robitussin for cough, Aspirator bulb and saline drops for stuffy nose. Warm mist and cool mist humidifiers, Vicks VapoRub. I didn't know this: if the cough is mucusy, don't use the warm mist vaporiser - it will make it worse. It will help with stuffy nose - just don't overuse because mold will start to form in the room. Cool mist is if the nose is dry but stuffy.
Also, vapor bath to pour in the tub.
Answer:
I also hardly ever give cold meds...if they have a fever and are really uncomfortable, I use ibuprofen. I hardly ever use acetaminaphen (it's actually been years since I have). Sore throats we use hot tea, gargles etc
When they were smaller, if they were really stuffy, I'd use that product "Little Noses", which worked well for us.
Answer:
Zicam and Esberitox are staples in our house! We start them as soon as the 1st symptoms start and boy do they work!!! I also like the use the Hyland's cold tablets for my kids.