The FDA has issued a public health advisory regarding the use of over-the-counter cold medicines. A committee is going to get together in October to discuss this issue and I won't be surprised if it leads to much more serious (and clear) warnings on the boxes of drugs with multiple ingredients or possibly even the withdrawal of some medicines.

The issue is not a new one. Problems arise when parents don't realize that Concoction A has the same or similar ingredients as Concoction B, a decongestant for example. This can lead to medical problems and even death. Other complications occur when parents don't accurately measure medicine, say, by using a spoon. When you're talking about what the dose would be for a baby -- a quarter of a teaspoon perhaps -- there's less room for error than there would be for an adult. Giving too much is just too easy.

I think the real deal for me, though, isn't with the comparatively few and far between issues like those I just mentioned. It's with the much more likely scenario that these medicines aren't really helping your child. I know it's the most difficult thing to see your baby struggle with a stuffy nose. It's the saddest thing to try to feed a baby and listen to the frustrated cry as they have to pull off the breast or bottle just to get a breath. In my personal experience, the best medicine for those times wasn't Pediacare or Infant's Tylenol Plus Cold or any of that. It was some saline drops and the good old bulb syringe. It was making sure my son was in a comfortable upright position. It was a lot of loving touch.

So, talk to your doctor about whether your baby or toddler really needs over-the-counter cold medicine before you give it. Chances are he's better off without it.

More:

• Infant Cold and Cough Medicines
• Before You Buy Cold and Cough Medicine
• Before You Call the Doctor