Preparing Your Medicine Cabinet For A New Baby

information for parents and carers
Preparing your medicine cabinet

for a new baby
• Expectant parents have many new things to think about Antihistamine medicine or cream
and to learn, so it is helpful to be prepared before your
baby arrives. It is good to plan ahead and have some • This can be helpful if your child is stung or bitten by
key medicines ready at home, should your baby need an insect.
any treatment for minor illnesses and pain.
• It will help to relieve any swelling, redness, and itching
• This information been prepared by Medicines for
Children for the National Childbirth Trust (NCT). General advice about medicines for babies
• Only give liquid medicines to babies; do not give tablets
Medicines to keep in your medicine cabinet or capsules as they may choke.
• Liquid paracetamol • Make sure that medicines you buy are suitable for
babies – age guidelines are shown on the packaging.
• Liquid ibuprofen
• Saline nose drops • Do not give your baby medicines that are intended for
adults, as these are too strong and could do harm.
• Liquid medicine for colic
• Do not give aspirin to babies, as it can cause a rare but
• Antihistamine medicine or cream (e.g. Piriton) serious reaction.
• Check the “use by” dates on medicines you keep
at home.
Liquid paracetamol • Read the instructions carefully to make sure you give
the right amount.
Paracetamol should not be given to children less than
2 months old, unless you have been specifically told to • Use a medicine spoon or oral syringe to give liquid
by a healthcare professional. medicine. You can get these from your pharmacist.
Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as this will not give the
• It is used to reduce fever and pain. right amount.
• Several brands are available; shops’ own brands are • Advice on how to give liquid medicines using a syringe
usually cheaper. can be found here.
Liquid ibuprofen
• You may want to practise using an oral syringe so that
you can do it quickly and easily if you need to.
Ibuprofen should not be given to children less than • Keep a note of how much medicine you have given your
3 months old, unless you have been specifically told to baby and when you gave it, to make sure you don’t give
by a healthcare professional. too much. This is particularly important if more than one
person is caring for a baby.
• It is used to reduce fever, pain and inflammation.
• Several brands are available; shops’ own brands are • If you think the medicine is not helping, get advice from
usually cheaper. your family doctor or pharmacist. Do not give extra
medicine, as this may do harm.
Saline nose drops

Where should I keep medicines?
• These are used to help clear a blocked nose. This
• Keep medicines in a cupboard, away from heat and
is important in young babies because they breathe
through their nose rather than their mouth. direct sunlight. Most medicines do not need to be kept
in the fridge.
• You can use a dropper to suck out nasal mucus to help
• Make sure that children cannot see or reach
your child breathe.
the medicine.
Liquid medicine for colic • Keep the medicine in the packaging or container that
it came in.
• Colic (stomach pain and wind) is common in
young babies.
• Liquid medicine containing simethicone can help to
relieve colic.
Where can I get advice about medicines
for babies?
Your baby’s doctor, pharmacist or nurse can give advice
about medicines for minor illnesses in babies.
You can also get information from the NHS:
England: NHS 111
Tel 111
www.nhs.uk
Scotland: NHS 24
Tel 111
www.nhs24.com
Wales: NHS 111 Wales
Tel 111
www.111.wales.nhs.uk
Northern Ireland: NI Direct
www.nidirect.gov.uk
About Medicines for Children

The Medicines for Children website provides information
about more than 220 medicines used for babies and children.
It also provides general advice about, for example, how to
give different types of medicines, and regular news stories.
www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk
RCPCH
Royal College of
Paediatrics and Child Health
Leading the way in Children’s Health
Version 1, September 2023 © NPPG, RCPCH and WellChild 2018, all rights reserved. Review by June 2025.
The primary information source for this leaflet is the British National Formulary for Children. Details on other sources used can be found on www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk.
We take great care to make sure that the information in this leaflet is correct and up to date. However, medicines can be used in different ways for different patients.
It is important that you ask the advice of your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about something. This leaflet is about the use of these medicines in the UK, and may not
apply to other countries. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group, WellChild and the contributors and editors cannot be
held responsible for the accuracy of information, omissions of information, or any actions that may be taken as a consequence of reading this leaflet.

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information for parents and carers

Preparing your medicine cabinet

Saline nose drops

About Medicines for Children

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