Vicks vapor rub can harm children under 2

@sudalunts (5523)
United States
January 13, 2009 7:27am CST
I just read this article, it may be of interest to someone who has small children: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090113/us_nm/us_vicks_children
3 people like this
7 responses
thebeaddoodler
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
13 Jan 09
My oldest child is nearly 50 years old. I was told this by doctors when she was a baby. Back then they said not to use it on babies at all. According to this article seems that only using it under the nose is harmful, but you shouldn't put anything like that under the nose of a child. You can rub it on the bottom of their feet and you'll be amazed at how well it works to clear up the air ways. I've never used Vicks because I don't like the smell of it. I prefer Mentholatum.
2 people like this
lilybug
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
13 Jan 09
I prefer the Mentholatum too. I have this cherry kids Mentholatum that smells like a cherry cough drop. My kids prefer it too. I have heard the foot thing before, but I have not tried it yet.
1 person likes this
thebeaddoodler
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
13 Jan 09
Yes, this is true. I'm a reflexologist now, but even long before I learned reflexology, I had a friend show me that. It works for colic too. This friend came to my house when my baby was just crying her little eyes out and nothing I did would soothe her. The friend picked up a jar of mentholatum and rubbed in on the bottoms of her feet especially in the arch and put her on her shoulder. She stopped crying in under a minute.
Ysabel
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
13 Jan 09
is this true? rubbing vicks at the bottom of feet and then putting the socks on? this will have a postivie effect, like getting rid of the cough?
1 person likes this
phatiasid
@phatiasid (57)
• Philippines
13 Jan 09
i dont think so. i have been using this ever since my cousins were stil infants..i think you read a wrong article.
1 person likes this
sudalunts
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
13 Jan 09
I am just providing information, read the link I provided
1 person likes this
lilybug
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
13 Jan 09
If you read the article it says that it is only when used improperly by applying it under the child's nose not using it in general. You also risk a child rubbing it in their eyes if you put it under their nose.
1 person likes this
clarity
@clarity (65)
• United States
13 Jan 09
Boy, that is an interesting article. Vicks has always been my favorite in helping the stuffiness of colds. I worried about giving my babies anything orally for sickness. Now, there is concern about Vicks? Maybe we need some more infomation from other medical sources.
1 person likes this
lilybug
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
13 Jan 09
According to the article it is only harmful if applied incorrectly.
1 person likes this
clarity
@clarity (65)
• United States
14 Jan 09
This topic was all over our news last night (every station). They really don't advise using Vicks on children under two and it is really believed that putting it under the nose in small children will worsen the mucus.
lilybug
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
13 Jan 09
Thanks for the link. I have only ever put it on my kids chests when they were under 2. Under the shirt it is not so bad. Plus you don't have the risk of them rubbing it in their eyes.
1 person likes this
Ysabel
@Ysabel (1201)
• Philippines
13 Jan 09
thanks for sharing the article. it is very interesting ang informative for me. =)
1 person likes this
dragon54u
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
13 Jan 09
Gee, I'm sorry! I just posted a discussion like this because when I searched for Vicks it didn't return any results. I thought nobody had posted such a discussion. What's wrong with the myLot search engine?! Vicks never hurt my children and it didn't hurt me, either, when I was a child. Maybe those children have an allergy with something in Vicks?