Using cough syrup for babies is a crucial aspect during seasonal transitions. However, before administering it to infants, especially newborns, parents should seek pediatrician advice to ensure safety and efficacy, avoiding undesired side effects. Additionally, selecting appropriate, quality products is paramount, requiring careful consideration. Explore the top 5 cough syrups recommended by pediatricians and effective usage with Mytour Blog.
Should Newborns Use Cough Syrup? When Should Parents Administer Cough Syrup to Babies?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), cough syrups are not recommended for infants under 12 months old. Parents should consult pediatricians for detailed advice, avoiding self-medication that may lead to concerning health issues. When babies show signs of coughing, firstly, you should apply some simple and safe measures:
- Encourage your child to drink plenty of warm water to soothe the throat and alleviate dryness.
Nasal irrigation and nasal spray can help reduce nasal discharge.

Criteria for selecting standardized cough syrup for babies

Here are the top 5 types of cough syrup for babies recommended by doctors, ensuring safety and providing high treatment effectiveness:
Prospan Cough Syrup
Prospan Cough Syrup is a product of the famous pharmaceutical brand from Germany – Engeland. Its ingredients include ethanol and dried thyme leaf extract, providing effective and safe cough treatment recommended by doctors for babies.
Ingredients:
- Dried thyme leaf extract (Hederae helicis folii extractum siccum) 0.7 gram.
- Extracted with 30% ethanol, ratio (5 – 7.5): 1.
- Excipients such as purified water, potassium sorbate, citric acid, cherry flavor, sorbitol solution 70%,…
Indications:
- Supports the treatment of acute respiratory tract inflammation with accompanying cough symptoms.
- Treats symptoms of chronic bronchitis.
How to use:
- Infants and young children (under 6 years old) should take 2.5ml per dose, 3 times a day.
- Children aged 10 and above should take 5ml per dose, 3 times a day.
- Adults should take 5 – 7.5ml per dose, 3 times a day.
- Shake well before use.
User groups: Prospan Cough Syrup can be used for infants, children under 6 years old, and adults.

Ích Nhi Cough Syrup
Ích Nhi Cough Syrup is a cough syrup for children from the brand Nam Dược of Vietnam. The ingredients are extracted from nature, such as honey, lemon balm,… recommended by doctors for its safety and effectiveness.
Ingredients:
- Active ingredients: Lemon Balm 18g, quince 7.5g, brown sugar 7.5g, pure honey 7.5g, thyme 9g, licorice 18g, ginger extract 3g.
- Excipients: Sucrose, Potassium sorbate, water (90ml), Xanthan gum,…
Indications:
- Supports relieving cold, clearing phlegm.
- Reduces cough, sneezing, nasal congestion, and runny nose.
- Supports enhancing immunity for children.
How to use:
- Infants – 1 year old: 5ml per dose, 3 times a day.
- From 1 – 3 years old: 10ml per dose, 2 – 3 times a day.
- Over 3 years old: 15ml per dose, 3 times a day.
- Administer immediately upon signs of cold, nasal congestion, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, flu, cold, hoarseness.
- Can be used in case of fever.
- Can be used with antibiotics.
User groups: Children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women.

Astex Cough Syrup
Astex Cough Syrup is a trusted product from the long-standing pharmaceutical brand OPC. Its main ingredients include lemon balm, licorice,… helping improve the effectiveness of flu and cough symptoms in both children and adults.
Ingredients:
- Active ingredients: Lemon balm (Folium Plectranthi amboinici) 45g, Cortex Oroxyli 11.25g, Cineole (Cineolum) 83.7mg.
- Excipients: White sugar, sodium benzoate, polysorbate 80 to make up 90ml.
Indications:
- Reduces cough in cases of throat inflammation, bronchitis, tracheitis, etc.
How to use:
- Infants – under 2 years old: 2 – 5ml per dose or 1/2 – 1 sachet 5ml per dose, 3 times a day.
- Children from 2 to under 6 years old: Take 5 – 10ml per dose or 1 – 2 sachets 5ml, 3 times a day.
- Children 6 years old and above and adults: Take 15ml per dose or 3 sachets 5ml, 3 times a day.
User groups:
- Suitable for children, infants, toddlers, adults, including pregnant or breastfeeding women.
- Not suitable for people with diabetes, children with a history of seizures, convulsions due to high fever, or allergies to any component of the medicine.

Muhi Cough Syrup
Muhi Cough Syrup is a product designed to treat cough as recommended for babies aged 3 – 7 months. The product originates from Japan, with its main ingredients extracted from natural herbs, ensuring safety for infants.
Main ingredients: Chamomile, peppermint, eucalyptus,… (does not contain antibiotics).
Indications:
- Muhi Cough Syrup - Ocean Blue: Treats cough and chest congestion.
- Muhi Cough Syrup - Leaf Green: Improves symptoms after acute sinusitis, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis.
- Muhi Cough Syrup - Pink: Treats common cold symptoms like runny nose, nasal congestion, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, productive cough, chills, fever,...
- Muhi Cough Syrup - Red: Treats symptoms of productive cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, muscle aches, fever,...
User group: Children aged 3 – 7 years old.

Atussin Cough Syrup
Atussin Cough Syrup is a cough syrup for children from United International Pharma Co., Ltd., committed to meeting quality standards and recommended by doctors:
Ingredients:
- Dextromethorphan HBr 5mg, Chlorpheniramine Maleate 1.33mg, Sodium Citrate Dihydrate 133mg, Ammonium Chloride 50mg, Glyceryl Guaiacolate 50mg.
- Excipients like Sucrose, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Citric Acid anhydrous, Sodium Saccharin, D&C Red No. 33 82 – 92%, Artificial cherry flavor 2:1 WL – 515, Purified water.
Indications:
- Clears mucus in the throat, treats productive and dry cough.
- Treats nasal inflammation, nasal congestion.
- Soothes sore throat.
- Treats flu, bronchitis.
How to use:
- Infants: 1.25 – 2.5 ml per dose.
- Children 2 – 5 years old: 5ml per dose.
- Children 7 – 12 years old: 10ml per dose.
- Adults: 15ml per dose.
User groups:
- Suitable for both children and adults.
- Contraindicated for individuals with asthma, peptic ulcer, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, or sensitivity to any component of the medication.

Some notes when using Cough Syrup for children that parents must know
When using cough syrup for children, parents need to consider the following important notes:
