Babies and toddlers are impressively adept at spreading illness, especially during cold and flu season, so it’s understandable that you want to do everything you can to try and boost your immunity. Then you see an influencer touting elderberry as a miracle supplement and it’s natural to be curious. But can the drugstore actually help?

A number of parents on TikTok claim that elderberry supplements are helping their kids stay healthy, despite other kids catching whatever is going around. “When we get sick, it’s not as bad, it doesn’t last as long and it doesn’t affect everyone (in the family),” says the TikToker @blessedbyelderberries, who sells elderberry products and gives her children homemade elderberry syrup once or more a day—and sometimes every two hours if one of her children isn’t feeling well.

They also turn to pediatricians TikTok talk about elderberry, but cast doubt that it can improve your health. “Elder is not recommended for children”, Dr. Sami and Dr. Ana from @ThePediPals say in the video post.

So what’s the deal with the elderberry that pops up in tons of kids’ cold and cough remedies, and does it do anything? Doctors share what all parents should know.

What is elderberry?

Elderberry is the dark purple berry of the European or black elderberry, which grows in warmer parts of Europe, North America, Asia and North Africa, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).

Elderberry supplements have actually been used for centuries, with the ancient Greeks and Romans using the berry as both food and medicine. It was also described by Hippocrates in the pharmaceutical book, Materia Medica

Now elderberries are making a resurgence in drugstores across the country, appearing in a range of health supplements for children, including drops, syrups and gummies. In fact, several parents in BabyCenter Community they say they rely on elderberry syrup to keep their children healthy.

“The rise in popularity is very understandable, because we don’t have any effective medicine to stop the viral infection, and in recent years we have learned that it is not safe to give children (under 2 years old) the usual over-the-counter cold and cough medicines,” he says. Heather Lehman, MD, Opens a new windowpediatric allergist and immunologist in Buffalo, NY “Families are really looking for something to help.”

Can an Elderberry Supplement Really Keep Your Child Healthy?

Despite all the devotees online, there really isn’t enough evidence to support the use of elderberry for children’s health.

“Elder supplements are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and there is no evidence to show that they are beneficial in boosting the immune system or any other outcome,” says Chandani DeZure, MD, of California. pediatrician and member of the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board.

Herbal supplements like elderberry syrup “don’t pass rigorous tests,” says Dr. Leman. She points to some small studies of elderberry in adults and “rare studies” of the supplement’s effects on older children (ages 5 and up), noting that “the results, even in these small studies, are mixed.”

The big modern buzz about elderberry started after that two older studies from 2004 published in Journal of International Medical Research found that elderberry extract supplements shortened the duration of the flu by up to four days compared to people over 18 who took a placebo.

However, another small study of 87 patients over the age of 5 found something a little different: Children who tested positive for the flu and took 15 milliliters of elderberry extract twice a day for five days did not show a shorter recovery time than children who took a placebo. . In fact, children taking elderberry actually took an extra two days for their symptoms to improve compared to those taking a placebo. The researchers concluded that there is no evidence that elderberry affects the duration or severity of the flu.

“Without large clinical trials, we simply don’t know their effects,” Dr. Lehman says.

Elderberry supplements are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and there is no evidence to show that they are beneficial in boosting the immune system or any other outcome.

– Chandani DeZure, MD, pediatrician and BabyCenter Medical Advisor

Should you give elderberries to your children?

Ultimately, pediatricians do not recommend giving elderberry supplements to children under the age of 5 because they have not been clinically tested. “We don’t have great evidence of safety and efficacy for children, and children do no little adults,” he says Krupa Playforth, MDpediatrician in Virginia. “Their bodies process things differently, and many things that are considered safe in adults — for example: aspirin — are not safe in children.”

Any companies selling specific “child” or “baby” dosages have very little basis for their dosage information, she adds. “Not to mention, we don’t know how much would be considered an overdose.” Most of the products you see on the shelves that contain elderberry list the dosage for ages 2 and up, while others start at 4. Dr. Playforth adds that she doesn’t feel comfortable giving these supplements to her children because it’s too hard to say for sure whether they’re harmful or not, and we just don’t know what amount is safe.

“If someone feels strongly and clears it up with their pediatrician, they should choose a product that has been tested by an independent third party,” she says. To do this, look for a logo on the product or package that says something like “third-party tested,” or visit the company’s website to find out for sure. Your pediatrician can also help you determine what is safe and beneficial for your child.

In general, cough suppressants, decongestants or antihistamines for cold symptoms are not recommended for children younger than 6, says Dr. Playforth. If your child is coughing, if he is older than 1 year, you can give him honey every few hours (just remember to brush his teeth before bed). If they have a stuffy nose, saline nasal sprays can help clear their nose, and for fevers, over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol and Motrin are best, she adds.