Doctors fear that common cold medicines may be too dangerous for young children. Parents should not give sniffling babies and toddlers over-the-counter cough and cold medicines as they are too risky for tots so small since serious and potentially life-threatening side effects may occur. Preschoolers might not have the adequate body defences to stand any side effect that appears after such drugs are taken. Scientific advisers voted that the drugs don't even work in small children and shouldn't be used in preschoolers either, particularly anyone under age 6. Recent studies suggest many parents don't believe over-the-counter cold remedies could pose a problem, especially if they've used them with an older child who seemed to get better. However, drugs prescribed by the doctor are preferable since they are experts better suited to make judgements on what is safe and unsafe for such kids. SOURCE: ABC