when your little one gets a bad cold ... you want nothing more than to make them feel better.
but new research shows many parents are giving their young kids medicines they shouldn't.
according to a university of michigan poll, 40-percent of parents have given children under age four over the counter cough and cold medications.
a quarter gave those children decongestants.
this is despite recommendations by the FDA and the manufacturers of these medications that they not be used in infants or children under 4.
that's because cold medicines have not been proven effective for young children and may cause serious side effects ... especially when there are dosing mistakes.
doctors say parents need to be extremely careful about reading directions and should always call their child's pediatrician with any dosing questions.