Final answer:
Medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, and cough suppressants are not recommended for children under 2 with colds and coughs due to the lack of evidence for efficacy and potential for harm.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medications that are not recommended for children under 2 with colds and coughs include antihistamines, decongestants, and cough suppressants. These types of medications have either been found to be ineffective or could possibly cause harm to young children. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued against the use of codeine-containing cough medication in children due to the risk of breathing problems. Over-the-counter (OTC) cough medications have also been questioned for their efficacy, especially in children, and are not designed to treat more serious coughs such as whooping cough or coughs associated with pneumonia. Antihistamines should not be used as empirical therapy for non-specific coughs in very young children.