Meds, Creams and Other Aids

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Meds, Creams and Other Aids For Young Children 

1. Panadol (Paracetamol) and Neurofen (Ibuprofen) 

These are syrups for children when they have a fever. Panadol is used for 

mild fevers, and Neurofen is used only for high fevers above 38.5 deg Celsius. Do 

note that Neurofen is not recommended for babies under 6 months old. 

Panadol is given every 4 hourly, and Neurofen can only be given every 6 

hourly. But these two can be used together, at least 2 hours apart, because they 

are made up of different chemical composition. This is especially helpful when 

the child is running a very high temperature above 38.5 deg, and the fever 

doesn't seem to subside even after administering either of the medication. 

For example: 

10am - panadol 

12nn - neurofen (temp above 38.5 deg; 2 hours apart from panadol) 

2pm - panadol (4 hours from the last panadol dose, and 2 hours apart from 

neurofen) 

6pm - neurofen (if temp is still above 38.5 deg; 6 hours from the last neurofen 

dose) 

It is very important to note down the times and type of medication 

administered so that you don't run a risk of over-dosing your 

child. Influenza virus tends to bring about fevers higher than 39 deg. The 

MMRV (mumps, measles, rubella, varicella) vaccination also has a nasty 

reputation of causing high fevers 5-7 days after the injection. This injection 

only takes place after the child turns 1, so neurofen can be administered by then. 

It also means you should plan ahead for the vaccination and not have any trips 

made within 2 weeks after the MMRV vaccination. 

Note: Always check the correct dosage of each medication for your 

child. Dosage instructions that come along with the medications are usually 

stated according to age, but it's more accurate to calculate the dosage 

according to your child's weight. 

Tip: Time the medications and the milk feeds for your baby. Always 

administer the medication to your baby with an empty stomach, right before the 

next milk feed. It greatly reduces the chances of the baby gagging and throwing 

up the medicine. 

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2. Syringes 

Syringes are very useful in administering small doses of medication for the baby. 

They can be found in pharmacies. Most commonly used ones are the 3ml and 

5ml sizes. 

Tip: Insert the syringe into the corner of baby's mouth so prevent gagging 

and spitting. 

3. Suppositories for Fever 

Trying to soothe a baby who is unwell can be very heartbreaking. It's even 

tougher to be the one to administer the medication to the child, and watch her 

struggle or gag at the taste of the medicine. I've learnt to request for 

suppositories from my pediatrician because these can be administered even 

when the baby is asleep. 

There are paracetamol and ibuprofen equivalent in the form of 

suppositories, so different type of suppositories can be given for mild fever 

and high fever. 

Note: Suppositories need to be kept in the fridge. 

Tip: Before you insert the suppository, warm it by rubbing it with your 

fingers or running it under tap water for several seconds. This will smooth 

out the edges so it's easier to insert the suppository up the baby's butt. It's also 

easier when the baby is lying on her side with the legs bent. Simply push the 

suppository in, with the tip pointing towards the baby's belly button. 

4. Cold / Hot Pack with Towel 

Packs are used hot by immersing in boiling water for 5-10 minutes, or can be 

warmed up in the microwave oven. For use as cold packs, simply place them in 

the freezer. It's a good idea to just leave the cold pack in the freezer. Trust me, I 

use it very often. 

Use the cold packs for cold compress on bruises and swelling when the child 

falls down. Compress for about 15-20 minutes right after the fall for best 

results. Continue to cold compress 2-3 times in the day over the next few 

days for faster recovery of the bruise or swelling. 

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Use the cold pack (preferably a large sized one) and place it inside the 

shirt/romper of your child's back when the child is having a fever. Very 

useful when it takes time for effects of fever meds to kick in. 

5. Fever Patches 

Fever patches are very easy to use. Simply peel off the back and stick it to your 

baby's forehead! It will keep the area cool for 4-8 hours, which makes it useful at 

night when child is asleep, and even in the day when child is active. These are 

also one of my must-bring items when we travel with the children. 

6. Thermometer 

It's essential to have a trusty thermometer to monitor the child's temperature 

when he's having a fever, because different medications can be given for varying 

temperatures. 

I highly recommend Braun's In-Ear Thermometer. It takes less than 3 

seconds to record the temperature reading, and shows the reading with either a 

green, yellow or red light to indicate normal, fever or high fever. It also allows 

you to select the age of the child for 0-3 months, 3-36 months, and over 36 

months, for a more accurate diagnosis of whether the child is indeed having a 

fever. You can also choose to see the reading either in Celsius or Fahrenheit. 

7. Hydrocortisone Cream 1% 

This is a steroidal cream used for rashes, itch, skin allergies and even insect 

bites. I've used it on my first child when he was several months old at the 

recommendation of the pediatrician because he has sensitive skin and rash 

appeared on his face rather frequently. You can also get the Hydrocortisone 

Cream directly from the Pharmacist. Do note that the pharmacist would not 

recommend use for children under 3 because the child's rash condition 

should be monitored for use of a steroid cream. It's important to only apply 

a thin layer of the cream on the affected area, once or twice a day, for not 

more than 2 weeks. The cream may cause discolouration and thin the skin over 

frequent usage. Note also to avoid the eyes or any open wound. 

When my baby has very bad diaper rash, I would apply some Hydrocortisone on 

the affected area, before applying diaper cream. 

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8. Physiogel AI Cream 

Physiogel is known for its various creams and body lotions for sensitive 

skin. The Physiogel AI cream was recommended for young children by my 

pediatrician for my son's mild eczema condition when he was only a few 

months old. It is a very effective moisturiser in soothing or preventing any 

redness or irritation on the skin. 

9. Zyrtec (Cetirizine) and Chlorpheniramine 

These are anti-histamines for allergies, sneezing, itching and runny 

nose. The Zyrtec syrup comes in banana flavour for kids, but I personally find the 

smell unbearable. It was a nightmare giving it to my daughter when she had to 

take it at around 6 months. She totally disliked the taste. After giving feedback to 

my pediatrician, she gave us Chlorpheniramine instead, which my daughter took 

well. 

Chlorpheniramine tends to cause more drowsiness as compared to Zyrtec. But I 

actually prefer that my children take meds that will make them drowsy so they 

can nap more when they are unwell. 

10. Dimetapp 

Dimetapp consists of brompheniramine and phenylephrine, which is an 

antihistamine and a decongestant respectively. It can be used for common 

cold, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose. It's supposed to be a stronger med as 

compared to Zyrtec and Chlorpheniramine, which is why my pediatrician 

recommended these for my boys, but not for my daughter under 2. Dimetapp 

can be purchased directly from the Pharmacist. 

11. Rhinathiol Promethazine 

This consists of carbocisteine which is a mucolytic that helps to reduce viscosity 

of sputum, and promethazine hydrochloride which is an antihistamine. 

So Rhinathiol Promethazine can be used for coughs and to reduce phlegm. 

When my boys suffer from cough and runny nose, I would give them both 

dimetapp and rhinathiol promethazine. Note that these two meds are not 

recommended for children under 2 years. 

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Note: The antihistamines in the meds may cause drowsiness, which affect 

different children to different extent, so it's also important to monitor your 

children when they are given sedative medications. 

12. Abrilar / Prospan 

Abrilar is a cough syrup made from ivy leaves dry extract. It's very safe for 

even babies under 1 year, pregnant mums and nursing mums. It has a pleasant 

taste too, which was well-approved by my daughter. This is an OTC (over-thecounter) 

medicine. 

13. Nebuliser 

Well, the nebuliser is not exactly an aid to keep at home. It is largely used for 

children who suffer from severe asthma. However, when my daughter suffered 

bronchiolitis when she was 6 months old, after her first dip in the pool, she 

had fever then developed a very nasty cough over two weeks,and didn't 

take the medicines well. The pediatrician hence suggested I rent home the 

nebuliser for her. Basically the nebuliser converts liquid medicines into gas, so 

you just have to bring the small face mask close to your child's nose for her to 

breathe in the gas. It's odourless, so you don't have to worry about any bad 

smell putting off your child. However, the young child might be bothered by the 

whirring sound of the nebuliser when it's switched on. Also, the medications are 

definitely more expensive than the typical oral meds, and you would also have to 

pay a rental fee to bring the machine home over a few days. The nebuliser 

worked well for us, and the medication course is much more effective and only 

required three days, as compared to her probably having to take the oral meds 

for a week. 

Knowing your options for different types of medicines and different 

ways of administering the meds will help you in deciding, along with 

your physician, the best method to treat your child, in the least 

unpleasant manner. 

Disclaimer: My suggestions here are based on personal experience on how I care for my 3 

children at home, which you might also find useful. If you have any doubts, you should always 

consult a medical professional. 

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Meds, Creams and Other Aids

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