Baby Dies After His Aunt Gives Him Cough Medicine. What A Horrifying Story!

This is tragic. The boy’s aunt, Patricia, didn’t realize that you should never give any kind of decongestant to a child under two years old. Did you know that it’s toxic to tots?

A four-month-old Brooklyn boy died Thursday (December 2) after his aunt gave him over-the-counter cough medicine to help with his chest congestion. Daniel Richardson stopped breathing after his aunt, a woman only identified as Patricia, gave him some Robitussin. Paramedics rushed little Daniel to the hospital, but it was too late. Patricia, who was not charged with a crime, tearfully told the New York Daily News, “I can’t believe this happened. I didn’t do anything wrong. I gave the baby medicine.”

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What Patricia didn’t realize is that you should never give any kind of medicine to an infant, no matter what. “Never,” Dr. Peter Waldstein, a pediatrician in Los Angeles, tells HollyBaby.com. “It’s too strong. If a baby is congested, use a humidifier. But unless there is an infection and you need to administer antibiotics, you should never give any kind of medicine to an infant. Ever.”

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In 2007, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned parents not to give over-the-counter cold medicine to children younger than 2 without first asking a doctor, and it is clearly stated on the cough medicine’s label that it should not be given to very young children. There are currently no over-the-counter cough medicines on the market in the U.S. that are suitable for children younger than two.

-Roger Singer

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In the UK, we have calpol for babies upwards from 6 months, but I do not know the situation for other countries. To the person who said you shouldn’t give medication to children under 2, my brothers are asthmatic and have had to be on medication to stop them constantly wheezing since before there 2nd birthday. I hope the child rests in peace. I think the aunt simply did not know, and maybe the parents didn’t realize he as ill

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Umm… ok, so how did she decide how much of the stuff she was going to give to the baby? You have to read the bottle to know how many mls to take even for yourself and it would have said right on there that it wasn’t for children under a certain age. In Canada they don’t want you giving it to children under 6. Its just ridiculous that she wouldn’t have read the label before giving a BABY any kind of medicine no matter what it was. She probably read it and then gave it to the baby anyways thinking that it would be fine.

I’m sure the pharmaceutical company will be sued anyway, even though they made it blatantly clear that you aren’t supposed to give Robitussin to infants…

Rebecca,

You’re a judgmental one, aren’t you? This was tragic for the aunt, the child, the parents, and everyone else involved.

May that precious child rest in peace. He’s a little angel now.

I’ve never had kids before and I honestly didn’t know this and I’m so glad I read about this just in case I ever babysit a relative’s or friend’s child.

I also feel so sorry for the Auntie who probably loved this little boy and just wanted to ease his cough. The parents should have better educated her – ESPECIALLY KNOWING THEIR CHILD WAS SICK – about what to do and what not to do.