What to Expect the Toddler Years (209 page)
Read What to Expect the Toddler Years Online
Authors: Heidi Murkoff
HERBAL REMEDIES
They’ve been used for centuries to relieve the symptoms of hundreds of ailments. They’re available without a prescription. They’re natural. But are herbal remedies truly effective and safe?
Unfortunately, we don’t know for sure. We
do
know that some herbs have a medicinal effect (some very powerful prescription drugs are actually derived from herbs), and that any substance that has a medicinal effect should be categorized as a drug. Thus the same cautions need to be taken with herbs as with other drugs. But there are additional concerns with herbal remedies: Herbs at the present time are not regulated by the federal government either for effectiveness or safety. So when you pick up an herbal remedy you may not get what you think you’re getting, and you may get ingredients or contaminants that you didn’t expect and that you certainly don’t want. So just as you wouldn’t give your toddler a medicine without the doctor’s approval, you shouldn’t give an herbal remedy without a medical okay either.
Also do not give your child folk remedies from the “old country.” They can often be extremely hazardous. For example,
azarcon
and
greta
(used in Mexico for treating digestive problems),
paylooah
(used to treat rash or fever in Southeast Asia),
surma
(an eye cosmetic from India used to improve eyesight), and an ayurvedic medicine from Tibet that is used to improve slow development, have all been linked to lead poisoning.
For safety’s sake, avoid anything medicinal that is not approved for your toddler’s use by the doctor.
IVING MEDICINE SAFELY
To be sure that your child gains the maximum benefit from medication, with the least risk, always observe these rules:
Do not give your child medication of any kind (over-the-counter, his or her own leftover prescription, or anyone else’s prescription) without explicit medical approval. In most cases, this will mean getting an okay to medicate each time your child is ill, except when the doctor has given standing orders (for example, whenever your child runs a temperature over 102°F, or 38.9°C, give acetaminophen; or when wheezing begins, use the asthma medicine).
Unless the doctor specifically instructs you otherwise, give a medication only for the indications listed on the label.
Never give a child a medication (not even in reduced dosages) which does not specifically say it can be given to children (again, unless the doctor so directs).
Do not give your child any product containing aspirin (or “salicylates” or “salicylamides”) unless the doctor prescribes it.
Do not give your toddler more than one medication at a time, unless you’ve checked with the doctor or pharmacist to be sure the combination is safe.
Always make sure the medicine you’re giving your child is fresh (see page 595).
Administer medications only according to the directions your child’s doctor (or the pharmacist) has given you, or according to label directions on over-the-counter products. (If directions on the label conflict with the doctor’s instructions, call the doctor or pharmacist to resolve the conflict before giving the medication.) Observe suggested precautions, including those related to timing, to food, and to beverages. Shake, if required.
Always reread the label before each dose, both to be sure you have the correct medication and to refresh your mind as to dosage, timing, and other instructions; don’t rely on your memory. Be particularly careful when administering medicine in the dark; check the label in the light first to make sure that you have the right bottle.
Measure medications meticulously. Use a calibrated medicine spoon, dropper, or cup (usually available at a pharmacy); kitchen spoons are variable and messier to handle. If you don’t have a medicine spoon, measure the medication in a measuring spoon, then transfer it to a larger spoon to reduce spillage. A spoon that is gently rounded rather than deep can more easily be licked clean by your child. (If it doesn’t come clean during the first pass, turn it over and pull it back over your child’s tongue to clean off the dregs.) And remember, more is not better (and less is not more). Never increase or decrease a dosage without your doctor’s explicit instructions.
If your child spits out part of a dose of pain relievers or vitamins, it is usually better to err on the side of safety and not give an additional amount—underdosing is less risky than overdosing. If you are administering antibiotics, however, check with the doctor about what to do if your child loses part of one or more doses.