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Home › Articles › Baby Bonds › Here's Another Dose

Here's Another Dose

Are We Over-medicating Our Babies?

By Teri Brown

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What Can Parents Do?

First off it is important that parents always know what is being prescribed, why it is being prescribed, how long will it take to work, what are some of the more common adverse effects to the drug and if there are alternatives to using a prescription.

Dr. Bob Sears, pediatrician and author of The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child (Little, Brown and Co., 2007), says that parents need to be watchful, but patient.

"Don't be too quick to jump on the antibiotic bandwagon," Dr. Sears says. "Parents should understand that the typical cough and cold lasts for two to three weeks, usually accompanied by a few days of fever on and off, as well as some yellow or green runny nose and junky cough. Your doctor can tell you if your child has a bacterial complication of the cold, such as a severe ear infection, lung infection or sinus infection that may require an antibiotic. As for cold and cough medicine, it's better to let the nose run and let your child cough during the day if at home. This helps get all the germs and infected mucous out."

There are times when your child obviously needs medicine and other times when it isn't so clear. Knowing what your child is being prescribed and why is important, but it is just as important to be patient when your doctor doesn't think your child needs medication. If you doubt your doctor, get a second opinion.

Non-medication Management for GERD in Infants
  • Thicken the formula with rice cereal (1 tablespoonful per ounce).
  • Feed just a small amount at a time because overfeeding will worsen reflux.
  • Position baby upright (on the back at 30 to 60 degrees).
  • Avoid cigarette smoke.
  • One may also consider a trial of a hypoallergenic formula if the other measures do not provide relief.


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