Can I Give My Toddler Cough Drops?
Key takeaways:
You should avoid giving cough drops to infants and young children, as they present a choking hazard.
If your child swallows a cough drop whole, the first and most important step is to make sure they aren’t choking and can breathe freely. Then contact a healthcare professional for guidance. If possible, try to find out how many cough drops were consumed and what was in them
In most cases, extra fluids, a humidifier, and saline nasal spray are the preferred options for treating a cough in young kids. Over-the-counter cough medications, including cough drops, are generally considered safe for children age 4 and older. But it’s best to talk to your child’s pediatrician before trying an OTC medication.
Table of contents
As adults, when we have a cough, we often think nothing of unwrapping a cough drop and popping it in our mouth. But what about children? Can kids have cough drops? And what happens if my toddler finds a bag of cough drops and mistakes them for candy?
These questions raise some concerns about cough drops for kids. Let’s explore more about whether cough drops are safe for kids, what to do if your child swallows too many, and other options to treat a cough in children.
Are cough drops safe for children?
As with many health questions, the quick answer is: it depends.
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Cough drops, like any hard candy, are a choking hazard for little kids. They can easily slip down your child’s throat and block their airway. So you should use caution when giving young children cough drops — even if they don’t contain medication.
If you want to give your child something to soothe their throat, choose a non-medicated product that comes with an attached stick. This can help reduce the risk of choking. But you shouldn’t give any type of cough drop to infants or children under the age of 4.
When it comes to medicated cough drops, the FDA doesn’t recommend over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medications in children under 2 years old. Additionally, the Consumer Health Products Association (CHPA) states that these medications shouldn’t be given to children younger than 4. Because of these recommendations, most cold medicine manufacturers include a warning on their labels not to use their products in children under 4. We’ll review common cough drop ingredients and their risks in the next section.
What do I do if my toddler swallows a cough drop or throat lozenge?
The first and most important thing to do if your child swallows a cough drop whole is to make sure they aren’t choking. A clear airway is the first priority. If at any point your child has trouble breathing, dial 911 immediately.
Once you’ve determined your child isn’t choking, the next step is to see what kind of cough drop they swallowed and how many. If your child has eaten a large number of cough drops, contact your pediatrician or reach out to Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for next steps.
Cough drops have various ingredients that can affect a child differently. Knowing the type of cough drop swallowed is important. Your healthcare team or emergency services needs this information to determine the best course of action for your child.
OTC cold meds for kids: When your child gets sick, you’ll want to do everything to help them feel better fast. Here’s what to know before you reach for over-the-counter cold medications.
Natural cough remedies for kids: Cough medications aren’t recommended for children under 4. Try this natural remedy instead.
Treating kids with the flu: These pharmacist-backed tips can help you know what to do when your child has the flu.
Common cough drop ingredients include:
Pectin
Menthol
Dextromethorphan
Benzocaine
Check the package label for ingredient information. If you can’t find the package, look for a wrapper. Sometimes the name of the cough drop will give healthcare professionals a clue to the possible ingredients.
It’s also important to know how many cough drops were swallowed. If your child is old enough, they may be able to tell you how many cough drops they’ve had. Counting nearby wrappers is another option.
What can happen if my child eats cough drops containing pectin?
Pectin is found in many different fruits such as apples and oranges. It’s also a common cooking substance used to make jams and jellies.
Pectin is used in cough drops to coat the throat and reduce irritation. Side effects are rare with pectin cough drops. And eating too many pectin cough drops isn’t likely to cause a problem — unless your child has a pectin allergy.
What can happen if my child eats cough drops containing menthol?
Menthol is another common ingredient in cough drops. It works by mildly numbing the throat. The FDA considers menthol safe for OTC use and reports of overdose are rare.
That being said, ingesting too much menthol can cause a fast heart rate, dizziness, and breathing changes. But it’s more likely that a child will simply end up with a bellyache from eating too many menthol cough drops.
One case study states a fatal dose of menthol to be around 1 g per kilogram of body weight. That means a child weighing 36 pounds would need to ingest about 16 grams of menthol. The average cough drop contains around 3 mg to 10 mg of menthol. So a 16 kg (35 lb) child would need to eat over 1,600 cough drops in a short amount of time to reach a lethal dose.
What can happen if my child eats cough drops containing dextromethorphan?
Dextromethorphan (Delsym) is one of the most common OTC cough medications. Most people think of it as a cough syrup ingredient. But it comes in a variety of forms, including cough drops.
Typical side effects of dextromethorphan include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Drowsiness
A 2017 review found over 1,700 cases where dextromethorphan potentially caused at least one adverse event in children under 12. Most children experienced balance problems or a fast heart rate. No deaths occurred.
The amount of dextromethorphan it takes to cause serious side effects, such as a coma, is quite large (six times the maximum daily dose). And the amount found in cough drops is usually quite small.
What can happen if my child eats cough drops containing benzocaine?
Benzocaine is used to numb the throat to provide relief from coughing and sore throat. It can be the lone ingredient in cough drops or combined with others, such as menthol.
Possible side effects of benzocaine include dizziness, drowsiness, and low blood pressure. More serious side effects include convulsions and cardiac arrest.
The toxic level for benzocaine is between 22 mg and 40 mg per kilogram of body weight. A cough drop may contain between 7.5 mg to 15 mg of benzocaine. If we take the same 16 kg child from the earlier example, they’d need to eat about 24 benzocaine-containing cough drops to reach a toxic amount.
Good to know: Small children are more prone to a life-threatening benzocaine side effect called methemoglobinemia. Methemoglobinemia is a rare blood condition that prevents oxygen from traveling through the bloodstream properly. Symptoms include trouble breathing and cyanosis — a bluish color around the lips, fingertips, and toes. Because of this, the FDA recommends avoiding benzocaine products in children under 2 years old.
What is the best cough medication for children?
Before treating a cough, it’s important to understand what’s causing it. Coughs can be caused by a wide variety of conditions. Common examples include colds, the flu, and allergies. If your child’s cough continues for more than a few days, contact their pediatrician for further instruction.
That being said, let’s look at some of the best ways to treat a cough based on your child’s age. Children over age 12 typically follow the adult dosing for most OTC cough medications. But always double check with your pharmacist or pediatrician if you’re unsure what to give them.
Children under 4
As mentioned earlier, the FDA and CHPA don’t recommend OTC cough medications in children under the age of 4. It’s best to contact your child’s pediatrician for next steps before giving any cough medications.
A humidifier and saline nasal drops can help keep airways moist and loosen congestion to reduce coughing without medication. You can also make a natural cough remedy using lemon, honey or agave nectar, ginger, and water. Just don’t give honey to children under age 1.
Children ages 4 to 6
If non-medicated options aren’t effective, children ages 4 to 6 can take certain OTC cough medications. Common ingredients include:
Cough suppressants, such as dextromethorphan (Delsym)
Decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
Expectorants, such as guaifenesin (Mucinex)
Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Combination medications that contain more than one of the above ingredients
Liquid cough medications may be a better choice than tablets or cough drops to reduce the risk of choking in this age group. Be sure to follow the dosing instructions for your child’s age carefully. And use an appropriate medication cup, spoon, or syringe when measuring a liquid medication.
Children ages 6 to 12
Most OTC cough medications are considered safe for children ages 6 to 12, including cough drops. Non-medicated treatments are still typically the best place to start. If you do turn to OTC medications, be aware of their possible side effects. And talk to your child’s pediatrician if your child’s cough persists or worsens.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, keeping your child hydrated and using a humidifier and/or saline nasal spray can help reduce coughing. You can also make a natural cough remedy from ginger, lemon, agave nectar, and water. If your child is over the age of 1, you can substitute honey for the agave nectar. Other natural remedies, such as zinc and vitamin C, don’t have much evidence behind them when it comes to treating a cough.
It depends. Cough drops are considered an OTC medication. Many schools have specific regulations around both prescription and OTC medications that may prevent students from carrying cough drops with them. Often, these restrictions exist to help protect the safety of students. But they vary between states and school districts, so it’s best to check your local regulations before letting your child take cough drops to school.
The bottom line
You shouldn’t give cough drops to infants and children under age 4, as they pose a significant choking risk. If your child swallows a cough drop whole, the first step is to make sure they’re not choking. After that, contact a healthcare professional for guidance. Try your best to determine how many they swallowed and what ingredients the cough drop contained.
Non-medicated or natural remedies are typically a better option for treating coughs in young children. This includes hydration, a humidifier, and saline nasal spray. Over-the-counter cough medications are generally considered safe for children age 4 and older. But be sure to follow the dosing directions carefully and reach out to your child’s pediatrician if their cough persists or worsens.
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References
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