Medicines for coughs and colds can be life-threatening for babies.

Another study raises questions about the dangers of giving cough and cold medications to babies. A "surprising" number of small children taken to the emergency room after they stop breathing or lose consciousness have over-the-counter cold medications in their systems, according to the authors of an article in Pediatrics.
Read article in USA Today

Cough syrups have killed some children

Child cough syrups removed in overdose scare

Extracts from the Telegraph:

"Six cough syrups for toddlers are being removed from general sale after five children died from overdoses.

The medicines regulator warned that children under the age of two should not be given powerful cough medicines. It ordered that the products be placed behind the counter and sold only under the supervision of a pharmacist until labels can be changed.

Five British children have died since 1981 after parents mistakenly gave them too much syrup or used several products with the same active ingredient, it said.

In addition to the six medicines being removed from general sale immediately, a range of more than 100 other products, not directly aimed at children under two, will have their labels altered.

The new labels will include warnings not to use the medicines for young children and to exercise extreme care when giving them to any child between two and six.

The change, ordered by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, follows similar moves in America where children have died.

Cough Medicines to be taken off the shelves:

The following products are currently licensed for use by children under two. They are to be taken off shelves and sold to parents (with children aged two or over) with appropriate dosage instructions.

Paediatric Cough Relief

Boots Night Time Cough Syrup 1 year plus

Tixylix Catarrh Syrup

Tixycolds Syrup

Bronalin Junior Linctus

Junior Meltus Night Time

Histalix Syrup

Dozal Oral Solution

Fedril Paediatric Elixir

Medised for Children

Kafalin Syrup

Ransoms Paediatric Diphenhydramine Linctus

Line Range Cough Relief For Children Syrup

Calcold

Calpol Night

Benylin Childrens Night Cough

Tixylix Cough and Cold Linctus

Paediatric Nirolex

Childrens Chesty Cough Syrup

Tixylix Chesty Cough Linctus

Optrex Expectorant Liquid 50mg/5ml

Robitussin Chesty Cough Medicine 100mg

Jnr Meltus Chesty Cough With Catarrh

Altons Junior Cough Mixture

Galloway's Cough Expectorant

Liqufruta Garlic Cough Medicine

Cupal Expectorant

Benylin Childrens Chesty Cough

Benylin Childrens Coughs and Colds

Otrivine Child Nasal Drops

Nasal Drops For Children

Iliadin Mini Paediatric

Children's Dry Cough 1 Year Plus

Tixylix Night Cough

Tixylix Dry Cough

Galen Pholcodine Linctus 5mg

Galen Paed Linctus 5mg

Rusco Pholcodine Linctus

Cough Relief For Children

Benylin Childrens Dry Cough

Pinewood Pholcodine Linctus

Crescent Pholcodine Linctus

Pavacol-D

Boots Alternatives Children's Cough Relief

Glycerin Lemon and Honey With Glucose and Ipecacuanha

Glycerin, Lemon and Honey

Glycerin, Lemon and Honey and Ipecac Syrup

Lemeze Cough Syrup

Cherry Cough Mixture

Childrens Blackcurrents Cough Syrup

Buttercup Infant Cough Syrup

Buttercup Syrup Honey and Lemon

Bell's Chesty Cough Compound of Glycerin, Lemon and Ipecacuanha

Glycerin, Lemon and Honey with Glucose and Ipecacuanha

Beehive Balsam

Children's Cough Expectorant

Anglian Pharma Troublesome Coughs

Hill's Balsam Chesty Cough Liquid for Children

Glycerin, Lemon, Honey and Ipecacuanha Linctus