Treating Children’s Cold at Home

A child suffering from cold is a common sight in most homes during winters and when weather changes. Once children start to attend a playgroup or creche, there is even more chance of them contracting infections from other children. Cold unfortunately has no cure but some common home treatments can help your child recover and make her suffer less. If it does not get better in about a week or if symptoms seem to be worsening, you must consult a doctor.

Ginger and honey

This age-old tried and tested remedy can help to soothe the itchiness in throat.Mix together ¼ teaspoon of ginger juice and 1 teaspoon of honey and give to child 2-3 times a day.

Honey and lemon

Honey soothes an itchy throat and lemon gives a shot of 

This is an easy cough syrup that can be made in a jiffy and helps relieve cough in kids. Mix together one teaspoon of honey and lemon juice each and give twice a day or if your kid has a bout of bad cough.

Holy basil or tulasi

Tulasi is well-known for its immunity improving properties. You can give tulasi boiled in water or tulasi juice with honey.

Vitamin C rich fruits

Vitamin C helps in fighting colds and is found in abundance in a lot of child-pleasing fruits and vegetables. So, give plenty of oranges,tomatoes , amlas (gooseberries) etc. which are rich in vitamin C to improve your child’s immunity against cold and flu.

Lots of fluids

Fluids are necessary to counter cold. Give plenty of water and other fluids while your child is suffering from cold. You can give soups, citrus fruit juices etc. Warm water also helps to soothe itchiness in throat. If your baby is still breastfeeding, continue to breastfeed on demand.

Chicken soup

Chicken soup is known to help relieve cold. It is also comforting to have a bowl of hot soup when one is suffering from cold.

Herbal teas or Kadha

Age-old Indian remedy to soothe a really bad itchy throat is to boil together ginger, cloves, black pepper corns, tulasi(Indian holy basil) with 1 glass of water till it becomes half. Add misri or honey for sweetness. This is tried and tested tip to improve immunity against cold and cough.

Non-food tips

 

Steam

If your child is up to it, steam helps loosen up the muscus in nasal passages and makes breathing easier. If your baby is young, you could run a hot bath in bathroom and stand inside with your baby to let her breathe hot, humid air.

Saline water gargle

Age-old saline gargles work. If your kid is old enough to gargle, then you can add ½ teaspoon of salt in one glass of water and help your child gargle. Gargling helps to soothe itchy throat and also helps in reliving cough. It can be done many times a day without any side-effects.

In case of really bad throat, add a pinch of turmeric powder to saline water. Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and it can soothe really bad cases of itchy throat.

Saline spray

Commercially available saline sprays can help in dislodging and relieving a dry and stuffy nose.  

Eucalyptus oil

Take a little bit of eucalyptus oil in a cotton ball or a wash cloth and keep it near baby’s head in the crib. It will make breathing easier while sleeping. Eucalyptus oil is also an ingredient in most vapo-rubs and helps in easier breathing.

Rest

Lots of rest is necessary while recovering from cold, so let your child remain in bed and try to ensure.Let her catch up on her favorite videos, so that she does not overtire herself playing.