Children's Medicines

Over the counter medicines to stop diarrhoea are usually suitable for children aged 12 and over, and should not be given to young children or infants.

If your child or baby has diarrhoea, we recommend speaking to your doctor for advice and a suitable treatment.

It’s important to make sure that your child doesn’t become dehydrated if they have diarrhoea, so make sure to give them sips of water, an energy drink, or an ORS drink often until their symptoms pass.

Most children can take ibuprofen, but it’s important to consider their age when deciding the formula to take.

From the age of 3 months your child can take ibuprofen in a liquid form; tablets, capsules and chewables are suitable from the age of 7, and granules from the age of 12.

Ibuprofen isn’t suitable for all children, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving ibuprofen to your child.

If other treatments haven’t worked, you can give your child a travel sickness tablet to make travelling more comfortable.

An over-the-counter drowsy antihistamine like children’s Benadryl or Kwells may be effective at relieving your child’s sickness.

But not all travel sickness medication will be suitable for children, so always speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice before giving it to your child.

Keeping your child hydrated is vital when they have a cough as water helps the body to fight illness and keeps their airways clear.

When they’re sleeping, elevate their head to relieve nasal congestion, and introduce a humidifier to prevent their throat from becoming dry and irritated.

You may wish to apply a vapour rub to their skin to help clear their airways or administer cough medicine.

Always speak to a doctor or pharmacist beforehand so they can advise which type of cough your child has and if it’s safe to use at their age.