Can I give this medicine to my tall 5yo?

[Anonymous]

Our DD has a little head cold. She's 5.5yo and tall for her age. We are out of her age appropriate cold medicine, but have the 6+ cold medicine her brother uses. Given her above average size, would it harm her to just go ahead and give her the dosage for a 6yo?

[Anonymous]

Please call your pediatrician. If she has a little head cold, give her plenty of water and let her rest.

[Anonymous]

It's by weight, not height. If she meets the minimum weight, I would give it to her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's by weight, not height. If she meets the minimum weight, I would give it to her.

It actually says "Children 2-5; Children 6-11" No mention of weight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please call your pediatrician. If she has a little head cold, give her plenty of water and let her rest.

Nobody at pediatrician, and nurse on call "can't advise". Tells us if it is an emergency to take her to hospital.

[Anonymous]

I think it will be ok to give her a small dose.

[Anonymous]

She'll survive a head cold. Don't give her cold medicine.

Warm steamy bath or shower, honey lemon tea, etc.

[Anonymous]

Sorry to hijack but I have a similar question. 5 yo DS who is 40 lbs but tall for his age. We're going out of town and I accidentally bought the chewable Advil instead of the chewable Tylenol. Chewable Tylenol gave dosage instructions according to weight below 48 lbs but chewable Advil doesn't. Box says for kids age 6-11. It says the dosage is 2 tablets for 48-59 lbs and under that to ask a doctor. Doctors office is closed. Hopefully we won't need it, but do you think I could give him 1 tablet if needed? He will not take liquid medicine, so options are limited.

[Anonymous]

Call your local pharmacy at CVS or Walgreens and ask to speak with a pharmacist. I've done that before and they were very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DD has a little head cold. She's 5.5yo and tall for her age. We are out of her age appropriate cold medicine, but have the 6+ cold medicine her brother uses. Given her above average size, would it harm her to just go ahead and give her the dosage for a 6yo?

Nothing magical is going to happen when she turns 6, and there are surely 6-year-olds who are smaller than she is. I would feel comfortable giving my child the dosage for a 6 yo. If I were on the fence and this medicine were my only option, I would give her 3/4 of the dosage.

-NOT a medical professional

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to hijack but I have a similar question. 5 yo DS who is 40 lbs but tall for his age. We're going out of town and I accidentally bought the chewable Advil instead of the chewable Tylenol. Chewable Tylenol gave dosage instructions according to weight below 48 lbs but chewable Advil doesn't. Box says for kids age 6-11. It says the dosage is 2 tablets for 48-59 lbs and under that to ask a doctor. Doctors office is closed. Hopefully we won't need it, but do you think I could give him 1 tablet if needed? He will not take liquid medicine, so options are limited.

This is what I would do--look at the dosage instructions for liquid Advil, calculate how much is recommended for his weight, and convert that to the number of tablets you need to deliver the equivalent amount of ibuprofen.

https://childrens.advil.com/childrens-advil-suspension

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DD has a little head cold. She's 5.5yo and tall for her age. We are out of her age appropriate cold medicine, but have the 6+ cold medicine her brother uses. Given her above average size, would it harm her to just go ahead and give her the dosage for a 6yo?

No, it won't harm her. Nothing magical happened at 6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's by weight, not height. If she meets the minimum weight, I would give it to her.

This my ped said I could give my 2 (now 3 year old) dimetapp (says for 6 and over). Just google the dosage by weight. For that med it's 5 ml for 24-35 lbs or something like that. Those recommendations are for people who are morons and don't know that you can't give multiple meds with the same ingredients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call your local pharmacy at CVS or Walgreens and ask to speak with a pharmacist. I've done that before and they were very helpful.

This. I've gotten really good advice from pharmacists before.

[Anonymous]

Head cold doesnt need medicine. Get her vicks, tissues, and a salt water gargle.