8 Medicines NOT To Give Your Child

Never give your toddler medications containing aspirin.

Aspirin can make children susceptible to Reye's syndrome -

a rare but potentially fatal illness.

Don't assume that the children's medicines you find in the store

will be aspirin-free.

Read the label carefully to make sure.

Aspirin is sometimes referred to as

'salicylate' or 'acetylsalicylic acid'.

Ask your pediatrician or pharmacist

if you're not sure whether a product is safe.

Anti-nausea medications

Don't give your child any anti-nausea medications

(prescription or over-the-counter)

unless your pediatrician recommends them.

Children will often vomit only a couple of times

before whatever is bothering them

works its way out of their system -

throwing up can be the body's way

of ridding itself of things it doesn't need.

If your toddler begins to get dehydrated, though,

contact his pediatrician for advice on what to do next.

Giving your child a smaller dose of medicine

you bought for yourself is dangerous.

If the label doesn't indicate

an appropriate dose for a child,

don't give your child that medication.

Leftover antibiotics the pediatrician prescribed

for an ear infection

won't be effective on your child's next cold.

Prescription medicines intended for other people or

to treat other illnesses may be ineffective or

even dangerous when given to your toddler.

Give him only medicine meant just

for him and his specific malady.

Toss out medicines, prescription and over the counter (OTC) alike,

as soon as they expire.

After the use-by date,

they won't be effective and may even be harmful.

Don't flush old drugs down the toilet,

since they can contaminate groundwater

and end up in the drinking water supply.

Instead

make sure they're sealed in a childproof container

and toss them out with the trash.

Many OTC cold and cough medicines contain acetaminophen

to help ease fever and pain,

so be careful not to give your child extra painkillers on top of that.

If you're not sure what's in a particular medicine,

don't be afraid to ask your pharmacist or pediatrician.

Ibuprofen if your child is vomiting

If your toddler is dehydrated or vomiting continuously,

don't give him ibuprofen,

which can irritate the stomach.

Certain chemicals, including drugs,

can also trigger the brain's "vomit" button,

so it's best to avoid most medicines when your child is vomiting.

Don't give chewable medications to a child under 3 years old

because the tablets are a choking hazard.

- Adapted from BabyCenter