I’d guess since my son was born five years ago, the dosing recommendations for children’s OTC medicines have changed at least 116 times. This may be an exaggeration. But it does seem like every time we go to the pediatrician, I get sent home with a new proper dosage instruction sheet. Generally, I panic so hard over not losing the paper and putting in a safe place that I end up stashing it somewhere so secure it can never again be found. This leads a lot of frustrated crying to my husband in the midst of managing middle-of-the-night fevers, “I thought YOU knew what the right amount was.”
He does not. Neither do I. Ever.
One easy way around this would be for us to simply read the label. The logic of parents in the wee hours of the morning cannot be denied.
The thing is, we’re not alone in battling making a mistake when giving medicines to our kids. In October, Pediatrics revealed the results of a study indicating that every eight minutes, a child under the age of 6 experiences a medication error outside of the doctor’s office or hospital. Most of the errors come from giving kids liquid medicine, giving them the wrong dosage amount or giving them medicines twice.
So what can we parents do to keep our kids safe? Educate.
Knowing that cold/cough and flu season is upon us, OTCsafety.org is sharing some other tips and information that will help you make sure you are medicating your children the right way:
- Always read and follow the label.
- Always give the recommended dose and use the correct measuring device. Never use longer than the label instructs or at higher doses, unless your doctor specifically tells you to do so.
- Only use the medicine that treats your child’s specific symptoms.
- Never give two medicines with any of the same active ingredients.
- Never use cough, cold, or allergy medicines to sedate your child.
- Never give aspirin-containing products to children and adolescents for cold or flu symptoms unless told to do so by a doctor.
- Do not use oral cough and cold medicines in children under four or give a medicine only intended for adults to a child.
- Stop use and contact your doctor immediately if your child develops any side effects or reactions that concern you.
- Keep all medicines — and vitamins, too — up and away and out of your child’s reach and sight.
- Teach your child about using medicines safely. Tell your children what medicine is and why you must be the one to give it to them. Never tell children medicine is candy to get them to take it, even if your child does not like to take his or her medicine.
This might seem like a lot of information, but read it over a few times, share with any adults who care for your children, print and post it inside your medicine cabinet if it helps–you need to be comfortable with safely medicating your child!
As for those blurry middle of the night efforts to squelch fevers or other nasty symptoms? My husband and I will always be a bit of fumbling mess, I’m sure, but when I was reading Meredith’s of From Meredith to Mommy essay in Motherhood May Cause Drowsiness, something she said struck me as brilliant. She mentioned pre-dosing her kids’ meds at night before she goes to bed if they are sick. Wow! Why had I never thought of that? What an easy, doable trick! Make the measurement before you are fumbling around in the middle of the night trying to soothe a fussy child. So simple, yet something we are definitely going to start doing in this house. Thanks, Meredith!
Do you have a great trick that helps in your home? Please share any ideas you have to avoid medication errors with kids with us below–we can all educate and help each other. And a huge thanks to OTCsafety for providing so many great tips to help us care for our children!
****I am compensated as an OTCsafety blogging ambassador for this post, but my opinion are my own.****
Image credit: depositphotos.com, ID:4648483, copyright: matka_Wariatka
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thedoseofreality says
Um, the pre-dosing is straight up genius. I, too, have never thought of that!! GAH! This is so helpful, though, especially because as you said the medicine recommendations are always changing. Great post!-Ashley
Meredith says
I know, right? A great trick!!
Janine Huldie says
Definitely need this more then ever with Emma having had pneumonia last week. Seriously, the dosing does change every time though when they are sick, so definitely some great tips here and so appreciate it, Meredith.
Meredith says
Here’s hoping we both get through this sick season as smoothly as possible, Janine! Godspeed 🙂
Kathy Radigan says
The pre-dosing is really brilliant. We give two of our children prescription meds, and each night my husband puts their morning dose in a container so that in the crazy haze of getting 3 kids out the door I don’t make mistakes. But I never thought of doing the same with OTC! Thanks for a great post!
Meredith says
Kathy, you are one smart mom! That’s a great idea too–getting everything together the night before so the morning rush doesn’t slay you! Savvy tip–thanks!
Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says
Oh my word! I need this pre-dosing medicine. Thanks for the info!
~ Ashley
Meredith says
Smart tip, huh? Love it!