Children's cold remedies have been available for a long time as over the counter purchases. I know that growing up I commonly used these products. I definitely had some in my medicine cabinet for my sons as they grew up. Recently, I have kept them for my granddaughter and still have them in my medicine cabinet.

Recently these OTC medicines have come under fire for being potentially harmful to children under the age of five. Some doctors are even suggesting these Cold and cough medicines aren't safe or effective in slightly older children either. Food and Drug Administration experts are now meeting to consider a petition that argues the over-the-counter medicines shouldn't be used in children 5 and younger. The drug industry is taking the position that the widely used medicines are safe and work but can lead to overdoses when misused in infants.

Many cold drug makers have voluntarily pulled cold medicines targeted for babies and toddlers off the market . Parents and grandparents like me will need to find alternatives for hacking coughs and runny little noses. The move by over-the-counter drug manufacturers doesn't end concern about the safety of these remedies for youngsters. I guess some of those old time remedies that my grandparents used to use on me will have to be utilized. I guess the makers of natural cold remedies should see a boom in business if the FDA follows through on restrictions to these medicines. I wish my grandmother were still alive so she could tell me what to use. Stay tuned for further updates.