To take the questions in reverse order. You asked "Is any medicine safe?" It's important to consider safety and effectiveness together. Medications make sense when the benefit outweighs the risk. By this standard, there are many medications that make sense to use for a wide range of medical problems. For over the counter cough and cold medications and young children, however, there is no proven benefit. And there are known risks, including allergic reaction and unintentional overdosage. That's why so many senior pediatricians recommend against using these medicines in young children. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended, "caregivers might consider clearing nasal congestion in infants with a rubber suction bulb; secretions can be softened with saline nose drops or a cool-mist humidifier." And I should also mention that if you are worried about your child, it always is the right decision to call your doctor or nurse.