Baby 411 & Toddler 411 Blog

Vick's Vaporub: Placebo Effect?

A study that was published in this month's medical journal, Chest, took a look at the common practice of rubbing Vick's on a child in hopes of clearing the nasal passages. We all remember how our moms used to do this and how the darn stuff smelled. Parents today have resorted to putting Vick's on again--sometimes on the feet instead of the chest--because there just aren't too many options out there now that cough and cold medications for children under the age of two have been taken off the shelves.

To cut to the chase, the study found that although people claim a sensation of opened nasal passages, their congestion actually INCREASES! The ferrets who were studied for the experiment responded the same way as humans--their nasal passages became more congested with Vick's. The cool sensation of the vapors is what makes people perceive they can breathe better.

So, as we approach cold and flu season, we remind you that the best remedy for a cold is time and TLC.

Cough and Cold Meds, again

As you may recall, the Food and Drug Administration already banned the sale of cough and cold medications intended for children under age two. At the same time, concern was raised about using these products for children under age six--but no action was taken on that.

In response to these concerns, manufacturers of over the counter cough and cold medications are changing their product labels--we view this as a step in the right direction! The labels used to say, "for children under age six, consult your doctor." Now the labels will say that the product is not intended for use in children under four years of age. (Okay, not perfect, but it's progress.)

The labels will also specifically call out the active ingredients in the medication to reduce the chance of overdoses. Using single symptom products (antihistamine only, for example) are ok. Using single symptom products at the same time as using combination products (that contain antihistamines, decongestants, and cough suppressants) can be a recipe for an overdose.

Here is a way to know what you are actually taking/giving your child:
Common antihistamines: chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine, loratidine, cetirizine, diphenhydramine
Common decongestants: pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine
Common cough meds: dextromethorphan, guaifenisin

Personally, I have never been a huge fan of these products. None of them work very well, and some can give you unwanted side effects--like insomnia! I'd rather have a snotty sleeping baby than a snotty awake one. I prefer to use saline nose drops (can't overdose on those), a humidifier, and maybe some chicken soup. And of course, lots of TLC.