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Medicating Baby's First Illness

Caution Required!

By Carma Haley Shoemaker

Many products have an expiration date to let us know when it is no longer wise to consume them. These expiration dates can be found on milk and juice containers, egg cartons, soup and soda cans and even cereals.

Dr. Salerno says that the expiration dates on medication should be followed just as closely. "You wouldn't drink milk after its expiration date, would you?" she says. "The same rules should be followed with medications. Medications are combinations of different chemicals mixed together to act in a certain way. These expiration dates tell us when the combination no longer acts as we wish it to and when it may become dangerous for consumption. Not only is there a risk of dangerous side effects, but more than likely, the medication won't work anyway."

Chewable medications are designed for children who have begun to eat table food, but who are not yet old enough to swallow adult-style medications. "Chewable medication is usually a higher dose of medication than the liquid form," says Dr. Salerno. "It may be too much medication for a baby, leading to a massive – and perhaps fatal – accidental overdose. In addition, babies cannot chew these 'chewable' medications, so the choking hazard is very high."

"One night our son was really sick, and we'd run out of Tylenol," says *Harriet Eden, a stay-at-home mom of three from Fort Dodge, Iowa. "In the middle of the night, my husband went to buy more. As soon as he got home, I gave our son what I thought was the regular dose. In just a few minutes he was shaking and throwing up." Eden took another look at the medication and realized she'd overmedicated her son. "The medication was designed for older kids, and I called the doctor right away. Luckily our son wasn't hurt, but it really taught us to double-check for age-appropriate medication," she says.

Want to see more?

• Newborn Worries: Your Top 10 Questions – Answered!
• Prenatal Screening: The Pros and Cons of Enhanced AFP
• Operating Instructions
• A Prescription Primer: A Guide to Commonly Prescribed Medications for Children
• Talk about it!

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