Dosages

[Jayne]

I am watching a newborn. well..she is 8 weeks. They said she has a cold and sent Tylenol..I didn't ask anything more when they said Tylenol because it usually is infant and I know the dosages for it. they just said they last gave it to her at 5am and it was for every 4 hours.

SO I pulled it out. It is Decongestant..it says concentrated but the dosage says 2 and under consault a doctor. They didn't tell me what dosage to give her.

It is Concentrated Infant Tylenol Cold Decongestant...I don't know what to give her. they sent her asperator so I suctioned her out before giving her her bottle and it was somewhat bloody. I am guessing that maybe it is because it is so dry here. I don't want to give her anything at this point.

SO do you know the dosage??? Do you agree I shouldn't give her any of it? What should I tell the mom? Should I just call her at work?

Jayne

[marcy]

Definately call her at work.

[Brandi]

We always go to www.askdrsears.com and go to the dosage charts there. Here's the link: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T089900.asp

I couldn't find the exact name you are looking for, but it sounded like this: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T089304.asp

I would call the mom at work to double check the dosage. Why is it that you don't want to give it to her? because of the dosage? I wouldn't give it to her unless you can find out the correct dosage. If you can't get a hold of the mom, I wouldn't give it to her. Hopefully Dr. Sears can help you out.

[Jayne]

Brandi, she is 8 weeks old. I was always told that children shouldn't have anything other then infant Tylenol before 6mo. old unless perscribed by a doctor. So because they didn't give me a dosage with this meds I feel really uneasy giving it to her.

[Nichole]

I use the Dr. Sears site for dosages too, but like you I'd feel uneasy giving her something like that. :nod: I think if I were you, I'd stick to saline drops and the snot sucker, just to be on the safe side.

[Jayne]

SO I called the mom. She is only giving her .4 so that is good to know. I told her about the bloody nose and she didn't seem concerned at all. She really seemed bothered that I called her at all but I just didn't feel comfortable not calling her and giving her meds. She is only 8 weeks old. I just worry about those types of things I guess.

[Jayne]

I use the Dr. Sears site for dosages too, but like you I'd feel uneasy giving her something like that. :nod: I think if I were you, I'd stick to saline drops and the snot sucker, just to be on the safe side.

And that is what I did. I am glad I am not the only one who would feel uneasy. It is just not something I would feel comfortable doing with my own child let alone someone elses.

[Melissa]

Jayne, I absolutely agree with you. IMHO, that is much too early to give medications like that unless they are recommended by a pediatrian. I thought it was 4 months for somethings and then 6 months for others. I think you did the right thing.

[Brandi]

OH MY! I missed the 8 week old part (don't know how - it was clear in your post). YEAH - I wouldn't be giving her that medicine either! EEK! And I can't believe she was irritated that you called her at work - HELLO! You are trying to do your best taking care of her child and you had a concern. GEESH! I think you did the right thing.

[Brandi]

OH, we gave Carter some Tylenol cold and cough the other day and my husband said that seizures were a known side effect. EEK! So, needless to say, we won't be using it again if we don't absolutely have to - and NEVER for our daughter! We avoid medicine if at all possible anyway.

[Karri]

We use the askdrsears site as well. And IIRC, infants that young shouldn't be receiving decongestant. Even in small doses.

[Anne]

I don't blame you for being concerned. This reminded me of an article I read recently. I am not sure if this is the exact article but it is based on the same information.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/1500AP_Cold_Medicine_Infants.html

[Karly]

Jayne, you did the right thing by calling the mom. I agree with the others - this baby is too young for medicine like that. Sure, they get stuffy occasionally, but that's what the saline drops and nose sucker thing are for.

[Jayne]

Thank you for confirming my feelings. I did not give her any meds and I am glad even if the mother wanted me to. I did the drops and asperator and that is all of it.

[stass]

I would totally exchange that bottle with a bottle of tylenol so she couldn't give it to her either!

[Jayne]

The thought crossed my mind but I didn't have any infant tylenol here. :lol:

[Kara]

Did she say anything when she picked her up?

Doesn't she work with K.S? I wouldn't think they would mind if you called about her child???

[rebbyd]

I also agree. That is much to young for meds. The saline spray (Little Noses) works great and the aspirator. A humidifier at night worked great also for my little girl when she got her first cold! I also propped her mattress up at an angle to help her congestion when she was sleeping!

[Jayne]

They took her to the doctor. The doctor told her Only saline and aspirator and yet she said she gave her another dose of the tylenol. I did not. I could not and I will not do that. I put her in a room with a humidifier and did the saline and asperator and that is all I will do for her. I am not giving that child anything unless it has a doctor's perscription on it. I don't think this is working out. I have to decide what I want to do with this. I may just say that when school lets out I am done. Granted that is a few more months but it gives me the summer at least two days with my kids!

[pam]

I think you did the right thing. It sounds like an uncomfortable situation to be told to do something that you feel is the wrong thing. Good for you for standing your ground on what you will & will not do.

[Jayne]

you know I know that I should respect the parents wishes as their childs caregiver but when they could do harm to the child I just can't. I guess for me it has to be the best interest of the child...I just couldn't do that to that baby. She is far to young.

[Anne]

You can always request that in order to give medicine that they need to provide a doctor's note.

[pam]

you know I know that I should respect the parents wishes as their childs caregiver but when they could do harm to the child I just can't.

IMHO, you shouldn't feel like you have to blindly follow instructions that are given to you. Doing what other people tell you to do isn't always the right thing. I think it's important, though, to inform the parents when you don't feel comfortable doing something & to let them know why.

[Melissa in Italy]

I'm late chiming in, but I agree with everyone else. Our Ped said decongestants aren't effective in infants, so there's no reason to administer them. Our local CDC won't administer ANY medication, not even Tylenol. I don't think you'd be out of line to require a doctor's note or prescription. But to answer the original question I think .4 is the proper dosage for an 8-week old, at least of regular Infant Tylenol.