Cough and cold home remedies for children

Are your children down with the sniffles this cold season? Are you unsure of how safe over the counter remedies are for the little ones or just do not want to ply them with all sorts of medication for something as simple as a cough? These home remedies, which are safe even for tiny tots!

According to www.webmd.com, Children get six to 10 colds a year on average. The bad news for parents: No home remedies or cold medicines will make a cold go away faster; they usually run their course in seven to 10 days. At best, some medicines will relieve symptoms. But even that is in question, says Sheela R. Geraghty, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre in Ohio. She recommends fluids, reducing fever to make a child comfortable and keeping noses suctioned, so babies can eat comfortably.

Colds

Make sure children stay hydrated and give them what they’re accustomed to drinking. For babies, stick to breast milk or formula for those younger than 6 months. Don’t give straight water to babies younger than six months; their kidneys can’t process it correctly and an electrolyte imbalance may occur.

For children older than 12 months, try water, diluted juice and milk. Sometimes parents hear that they shouldn’t give milk because it promotes mucus building. That’s an old wives’ tale with no scientific evidence to back it up, Geraghty says. It’s especially important for babies to continue drinking breast milk or formula.

Smoke can irritate already inflamed airways. While children have colds, keep them away from smoke.

Coughing

Give a half-teaspoon of honey to children ages two to five; one teaspoon to children ages six to 11; and two teaspoons to those 12 and older, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. Do not give honey to babies younger than one because of the risk of infant botulism. If the coughing is so severe that it keeps a child from sleeping or if the cough lasts beyond 10 days, discuss it with a doctor.

Scratchy throat

Soft foods such as puddings, soup, gelatin desserts, and ice cream can feel good to a scratchy throat. If a child doesn’t feel like eating their usual diet, try some of these foods.

 

Congestion

Saline nasal drops can help relieve congestion, especially in an infant’s small nasal passages.

Place a few of the salt water drops in each nostril to thin mucus, wait at least 60 seconds, then use a blue bulb syringe to gently remove discharge. For infants, try this before feeding.

Resting with the head elevated might make children feel more comfortable by improving drainage. If you want to raise a baby’s head slightly, try placing a rolled-up towel underneath the crib mattress. Do not place any soft bedding or pillows on the mattress itself because of the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. For older children, place a folded towel between a mattress and box springs to elevate the head and chest. Choose a slight angle, so a child doesn’t slide down the mattress.—Www.webmd.com