Are you looking for natural home remedies for child colds? If yes, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll share five home remedies for treating a child’s cold that actually work.
There are several ways to treat a cold. Some of them include taking over-the-counter medications. However, cold and cough medications are not recommended for young children. Not only are they ineffective, but the side effects can be dangerous for little ones.
There are several natural remedies for treating a child’s cold that actually work. These remedies are safe and affordable. They help your child to feel better while their immune system is doing the heavy lifting of fighting off the germ.
Honey
There are studies that show that a spoonful of honey before bed will reduce coughing and soothe sore throats that accompany the common cold. I recommend giving your child a tablespoon full of honey either straight off the spoon or mixed with a warm liquid before bed. Not only is honey soothing for coughs and cold symptoms, but it also has properties that help little bodies fight off the germs that are making them sick.
Just be sure to avoid giving babies under the age of one-year-old this home remedy as it puts them at risk for infant botulism.
Drink Fluids
Drinking plenty of fluids is the best way to treat a viral illness in a child. When your child is sick, they lose more fluid if they are breathing fast, mouth breathing, have a fever, or are vomiting. It is important to make sure that they are making up for these extra fluid losses by drinking. Taking in fluids by mouth is the best way to stay hydrated. Small sips of their favorite beverage on a frequent basis will ensure that they drink enough to urinate every few hours. Staying hydrated also helps to thin their secretions and helps to treat their congestion.
Chicken soup, popsicles, Pedialyte or Gatorade, or just plain water are all sources of fluids that most kids enjoy. While I do not recommend giving your child sugary drinks on a regular basis if a cup of juice or Gatorade is the only thing that they will drink, let them drink it.
Cool Mist Humidifier
Humidifying the air in your child’s room will help them to be able to sleep. Coughs occur due to congestion running down the back of your child’s throat as well as dry throats. Running a humidifier will keep your child’s nose and throat moist and decrease their need to cough.
I recommend cool mist because they are easier to clean than warm water humidifiers. Warmth also increases the likelihood of mold and mildew. Cool mist vaporizers help you to provide symptom relief for your child without causing new problems.
Cool or Lukewarm Sponge Bath
If fever is a symptom of your child’s respiratory tract infection, you can treat it by bathing them in cool water to get their temperature down. A warm bath can also help your child to feel better if they are sick during the cold winter months. Additionally, sponge baths can also help relieve your child’s aches and pains that they may have as one of their flu symptoms.
Bathing your child can also offer a much-needed distraction from their illness. Throw some of their favorite bath toys in the water to keep them entertained.
A warm bath can also help to open up their congested nasal passages and relieve their stuffy nose.
Clear their Nose
Nasal congestion and cough are generally the two main symptoms that keep kids from sleeping while they are sick. Clearing their nose by using a bulb syringe or saline nasal sprays can help temporarily. Nasal irrigation with nasal saline can also help an older child who can tolerate having warm salt water in their nose.
Additionally, if your child is old enough to have a pillow in their bed, propping their head up a little at night will help their nose to drain which will help them to sleep better. If your baby is too young for a pillow, clearing their nasal passages before they lay down for sleep can help them to get to sleep a little easier.
127 Pediatrics Can Help
At 127 Pediatrics, we offer direct access to our pediatricians. As a result, we are not quick to treat your child with prescription medications. We take the time to listen to you and treat your child with natural remedies if they are appropriate for their illness. So, give us a call today and get the care that you and your child deserve.
© 127 Pediatrics; January 2023
This article does not constitute medical advice.
Dr. Andrea Wadley is the owner, pediatrician, and breastfeeding medicine specialist for 127 Pediatrics. She has an established house calls-only pediatric practice in Colleyville, TX. Dr. Wadley sees patients all over Tarrant county for concierge breastfeeding medicine consults, lactation consults, fourth-trimester care, tongue tie clipping, and medical ear piercing.
