What are the Safest Cold and Cough Treatments for Young Children and Infants?

With a dwindling number of cough and cold treatment options available to parents, nasal washing with a saline solution - recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics - has emerged as a primary weapon in fighting congestion and sinus pain.

Should you choose to detail for parents what they can do to help their children this cold and flu season, please keep in mind the benefits of nasal irrigation (with a saline solution) as one of the few safe and proven effective treatments available. 

But with so many products out there - drops, aerosol, sprays - what’s the safest option for young children and especially infants?

• Some products contain Benzalkonium Chloride, a preservative, which can damage the sensitive lining of children’s noses
• Squeeze bottles or aerosols can exert too much pressure for small noses and sinuses
• Some products do not have an anti-backwash valve, which can lead to contamination of the saline solution
• No product should require that a nozzle be inserted into a nose.  This can be dangerous, especially with very young children or infants who can squirm

If you would you be willing to review the leading products - and take a look at which represent the best buy - please consider SinuCleanse® Kids Mist™ (www.sinucleanse.com), developed by a pediatric ENT specifically for use with infants and young children.

Kids Mist features an easy-to-aim nozzle that that dispenses a fine mist of a pre-measured dose of saline solution and does not need to be inserted into the nostril. It also has and anti-backwash valve to prevent contamination and is dishwasher safe so that it can be thoroughly cleaned. Kids Mist comes with pre-measured doses of 100% natural, preservative free saline solution containing no Benzalkonium Chloride.

SinuCleanse® Kids Mist™ (SRP $11.99) includes a three week supply of saline solution  and is available at leading drug stores and health food retailers nationwide or online at www.sinucleanse.com.

Additionally, if you are interested in how nasal irrigation can aid parents with pediatric cough and cold treatment options dwindling, I’d be happy to have you speak with Diane G. Heatley, M.D., Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison, WI, where she has an active clinical practice in pediatric otolaryngology.

Dr. Heatley is a recognized authority on the topic.  She is the author of numerous studies relating to otolaryngology, including “Nasal Irrigation for the Alleviation of SinoNasal Symptoms” (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2001 Jul; 125(1):44-8).

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions. 

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