For nearly 100 years, Benadryl has been an antihistamine used to treat allergy symptoms in children such as rashes, hives, and itchy skin. but lately, doctors take to social networks to list the side effects of the medicine, especially in babies and young children.

While you can’t believe everything you see on social media, experts say there’s some truth to the claims that there are better options than Benadryl for babies.

“In the last 30 years, longer-acting antihistamines have been developed,” he says Inderpal Randhawa, MDmedical director of the Children’s Lung Institute at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach. “One of them is Zyrtec, which can last four times as long as Benadryl and often has fewer side effects.”

So does this mean it’s time to replace Benadryl with Zyrtec in our medicine cabinets, especially when introducing key allergens to babies? Here’s what pediatricians want you to know.

What is the difference between Benadryl and Zyrtec?

Benadryl and Zyrtec are both antihistamines, meaning they “block the release of histamine, a chemical involved in allergic reactions,” it says Susan J. Schuval, MD, chief of pediatric allergy/immunology at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital in New York

However, they use different active ingredients: Benadryl uses diphenhydramine, which was approved by the FDA in 1946 to treat allergies (you needed a prescription until the 1980s). Zyrtec’s active ingredient is cetirizine, which was introduced much later – in 1995 for prescription use and as an OTC option in 2007.

“Benadryl does not break down well in humans, so its effects are short-lived and cause drowsiness, dryness (of the mouth and nose), and constipation,” says Dr. Randhawa. “Zyrtec is metabolized in a better way. Lasts longer and doesn’t cause extreme drowsiness.”

The child should take the children’s version of Benadryl every six hours. On the other hand, one dose of Zyrtec for children would last for 24 hours.

Benadryl vs. Zyrtec: Which is Safer for Babies?

This time, social media got it right. Allergists and pediatricians prefer children’s Zyrtec over children’s Benadryl for babies when treating mild allergic reactions such as food allergies, says Jessica Hui, MD., a pediatric allergist and immunologist at National Jewish Health in Denver, who really emphasizes that word, treasure. You should still consult your family doctor before giving any medication, especially if your child is under 3 years old.

However, there are times when your doctor may recommend Benadryl for your baby, she adds.

“There are times when your doctor recommends Benadryl before a test or procedure (such as minor dental work),” says Dr. Hui. “It can be given with other medications to help with sedation,” she adds, because it works faster and causes drowsiness. However, it is important to note that Benadryl could actually have the opposite effect in some babies and make them hyperactive instead of sleepy.

You may have heard that Benadryl can be used before long car or plane rides to help your child with motion sickness. However, this is not the best choice, says dr. Randhawa. “It has some properties to dry out the inner ear organs responsible for motion sickness, but there are much better OTC choices like Dramamine (which is available for children as young as 2).” However, you can always ask your pediatrician what might be best for your child on a trip.

If your baby has a severe reaction, call 911 right away. They will need a medicine called epinephrine and will need to be monitored in the hospital.

– Susan J. Schuval, MD

When to give allergy medicine to babies – and when to seek emergency help for allergies

It is best to consult your doctor before giving your child any OTC allergy medicine. Zyrtec can relieve some symptoms such as rash, hives, cough and sneezing, says Dr. Schuval, so you can give it if you notice any of these symptoms in your baby (after consulting with your pediatrician).

However, OTC allergy medications cannot treat extreme allergic reactions, otherwise known as anaphylaxis (which can be fatal if not treated quickly). Signs of anaphylaxis include:

• Difficulty breathing

• Swelling of the lips, tongue or eyelids

• Vomiting

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• Diarrhea

• Low blood pressure and shock (in severe cases)

If your baby has a severe reaction, call 911 right away. They’ll need a medicine called epinephrine and will need to be monitored in the hospital, says Dr. Schuval. Once you know your child has a severe food allergy or other trigger, your doctor will prescribe an auto-injector (EpiPen) so you can always carry it with you.

Although severe allergies sound scary—and they are—experts don’t recommend giving your child antihistamines like Zyrtec before to the introduction of food allergies with the idea that they can prevent a severe allergic reaction (they can’t). Instead, it is best to safely and gradually introduce common allergens such as milk, eggs, peanuts and shellfish to children. Here’s how:

1. Introduce an allergen. Although introducing foods with common allergens like peanut butter can stress you out, Dr. Hui says the best thing you can do for your child is to introduce him. “We now have evidence that early feeding of food allergens, such as peanuts, is a great way to prevent food allergies,” she says. Introduce the allergen between 6 and 12 months after talking to your doctor about your child’s allergy risk factors.
2. Go slowly. Introduce one allergen at a time, Purvi Parikh, MDOpens a new window., an allergist with the Allergy & Asthma Network in New York, suggests. You can start with just a little food and then gradually add more as the days go by. She also recommends waiting four to five days to monitor reactions before introducing another common allergen—that way you’ll know which one caused the reaction. Also remember to introduce the food repeatedly, as some babies are exposed several times before developing an allergy.
3. Breathe. While you’re monitoring your child and introducing allergens, give yourself some grace and permission to enjoy the start of solid foods, says Dr. Hui. If you can have a partner with you the first time, that can help too.

If in doubt, talk to your pediatrician about possible allergies. And if you’re not sure whether a food reaction is mild or severe, the safest thing to do is to get emergency help for your child by calling 911.