Home Remedies for Colds in Infants and Kids
When a baby gets sick, there are a lot of things to worry about. Are they going to be able to fight the infection? With they be able to get enough sleep? Is this infection going to make you lose your mind?
While most mothers will run to the doctor right away when their child gets sick, it is not necessary. While it may be good to take the infant to the doctor for something serious, if they simply have a cold, there are a number of safe and effective home remedies to deal with it.
Honey Cold Remedy for Infants
Fill the child’s bottle with milk and add about 1/2 teaspoon of honey. Given twice a day, this can help a child keep the symptoms to a minimum while also fighting off the cold. However, this is not recommended for children under one year old because it contains botulinum spores that can be dangerous.
Steam Remedies an Infant’s Cold
Steaming different rooms in the home can help the child breathe better. The steam will unblock the phlegm in the throat as well as lessen the throat irritation from the cold.
Saline Drops Cleanse Nasal Passages
Slowly adding a few saline drops to a child’s nose can remove the trapped and hardened mucus on the nose. This should only be done up to four times a day since it can have the reverse effect of drying out the nose if used too often.
Ginger Fights Colds
Babies do not always need to see the doctor when they are sick with a cold. Sometimes all it takes are some home remedies to clear the mucus and fight cold.
Ginger can help a child fight a cold because it has been shown to increase the circulation in the blood and it also warms up the blood, two characteristics that make it great for expelling phlegm from the body.
The best way to get your child to eat the ginger is by add five grams of ginger to a cup of boiling water. Steep for about 10 minutes and then add a teaspoon of honey. When everything cools down, let the baby drink the mixture.
Eucalyptus Oil Cures Colds
What can’t eucalyptus oil cure? All the baby needs to do is inhale some of the oil to help clear the nasal passages.
Vapo Rub to Clear Chest Congestion
If the child has severe chest congestion, try rubbing some Vapo Rub on the child’s chest. Although it does not remove any phlegm, it does offer some cooling effects.
Be cautious when buying Vapo Rub. Only buy a product without camphor or menthol since both of those have been shown to have adverse side effects on children under the age of 2.
Garlic Fights Infant Colds
Another great foods for fighting colds is garlic. This antibacterial agent helps destroy bad bacteria in the body. Simply steep the garlic for about 10 minutes in hot water and after the water cools, allow the child to sip on it throughout the day.
Lady Fingers Remove Mucus, Bacteria from Children
Lady Fingers have a probiotic effect on children. It helps their bodies remove bacteria, remove mucus and it helps fight throat irritation and inflammation. The most effective way to use the ladyfingers is by steeping one lady finger in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes and then feeding it to the child.
Turmeric Cures Colds in Babies
Turmeric can be added to a juice box or to water for the baby. The anti-inflammatory properties of the turmeric help the child fight the cold.
Lemon and Honey for Baby Colds
Adding half a lemon to a glass of water with a teaspoon of honey will help the child fight the cold.
Chamomile Helps Infant Fight Cold
Chamomile tea boiled with two cups of water is perfect for a small child. It will help sooth their throats as well as relieve much of the inflammation.
Chicken Noodle Soup for Babies Six Months or Older
The good ol’ chicken soup remedy works for children over six months old. It has been shown to reduce inflammation, reduce fever and relieve the symptoms of a cold.
Humidifier for Sleeping
Like steaming the rooms above, a humidifier will add moisture to the add making it easier for the child to breathe. Just make sure the water is cold.
Wedge for Sleeping, Curing Child’s Cold
If your child is having a hard time sleeping, build a sort of wedge out of pillows to keep the child sleeping at an angle. This lets gravity do its job and drain the mucus from the nose.
Jessica says
What are lady fingers?