You may be aware that the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have issued new guidance about cough and cold medicines for children. The new advice recommends that parents and carers should no longer use over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines in children under 6 years. This is because the effectiveness of these medicines has not been proven in children under 6 years.

The following recommendations have been made to treat the symptoms of cough and cold in children under 6 years;

• Try raising the head of the bed, tickling the nose with a cotton bud to induce sneezing prior to a feed and increase fluid intake
• Fever or pain can be treated with ibuprofen or paracetamol
• Simple cough mixtures containing glycerol or honey and lemon can be used
• Vapour rubs, inhalants and saline drops can be used.

All of our products have been marked to indicate which age group they are suitable for.