You want your children to be naturally healthy but when they're sick, you want to help them feel better quickly. That's the tricky part. Many moms and dads dole out over-the-counter medications for their children to relieve symptoms even when they may not help.

The main point: Over-the-counter medications treat symptoms but don't cure illness. Is your child really miserable from a cold or just sniffling? Using common sense and some gut checks with your pediatrician can help you determine what's best for your kids.

Do kids need cold medicines?

Your child is coughing and sneezing, but if he's under the age of 2, don't give him over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a public health advisory stating that these medications can cause serious side effects that may be life threatening. To top it off, cold medicines are not effective in infants.

What about toddlers on up? The FDA is currently reviewing guidelines for their use in children between the ages of 2 and 11. In the meantime, be judicious. Remember that colds usually don't last very long. In many cases, it's best to just wait the cold out. Just be sure to talk to your pediatrician if your child's symptoms do not improve or get worse; it could be something more serious.