How to Choose the Right Pain Relieving Medication for Kids

Every parent wants the best for their child, and those days when they are not feeling well can easily be the worst in your life. When your baby is in pain, you want to solve the problem quickly to restore the smile on their face. However, that’s easier said than done. You have to choose the right medication for your baby and follow the guidelines carefully. When it comes to the health of your baby, you can’t afford to take any chances. Remember, if you don’t use the medication correctly, there can be severe and sometimes life-threatening complications. As a parent, that’s the last thing you need. To avoid all that the following is a guide on choosing the right pain-relieving medication;

Read the drugs facts label thoroughly

So, your baby is experiencing some pain, and you’ve decided to get medicines for the same? The first thing you should do when the attendant at the chemist’s hands you any drug is to read through the facts label of the medicine. It will help you know the active ingredients, what the drug treats, how much of the drug to give to your child and how often, potential side effects, and when you should seek the help of a doctor, among others. Pain-relieving medications like paracetamol for children often work to good effect but only when used correctly.

Try non-prescription medicine

If your baby is experiencing mild to moderate pain or a fever, there’s no need to go to the hospital. You can use some pain-relieving non-prescription medicine like paracetamol for children, but make sure you give them at age-appropriate doses. Never give a 3-year old a dosage that’s meant for an eight-year-old as it could have unwanted complications. Also, it’s not every time you’ll need medicine to relieve mild pain. You can make your little one feel better by cuddling and reassurance, distraction with the TV, video games, or a story and use of heat or ice packs if possible.

Follow dosage instructions carefully

Administering pain-relieving medicine to young ones is a sensitive issue, and you can’t do it based on the knowledge you have. You must follow the instructions that the drug comes along with to avoid compromising the health of the baby. Most of us tend to use the weight of the child as a guide and others the age. Both are acceptable but always adhere to what the package says. If the medicine is prescribed according to age and you feel your baby is too light or too heavy for her age, then don’t hesitate to ask for the help of your child’s doctor. It’s the only way to be sure you are giving your baby the right amount of medicine.

Pain can offer undesired discomfort, and sometimes it can be even hard to know what’s wrong with your baby. Some of the common causes of pain in babies include earaches, fever, coughs, and sore throat, strains and sprains, headaches, teething, and toothaches, among others. If your baby is experiencing any pain, always administer the right medication to get them feeling better again.