I very well understand that dealing with cold and cough in kids is too hard to witness. And we tend to visit the chemist or the doctor to let our kids have peaceful breathing & sleep. But you must know that over-the-counter (OTC) medications for colds & coughs in kids can have serious adverse effects on their health. I remember my pediatrician once told us that we should never give antibiotics to the younger kids unless it is really necessary.
Fortunately, you can treat young kids’ coughs and colds without these over-the-counter medications. Safe, affordable, and just as effective as OTC medications are effective home remedies. They can also be found in almost every house. By reading the article below, you will know how to treat your child’s symptoms at home instead of using prescription medication.
I have also shared about one syrup in the end for immunity-building in kids. So, I request you all to go through the full article for some information on curing a cold and cough in kids. Now let’s check out these home remedies, which are extremely effective and work for us. We tried almost every remedy with Hitarth whenever he suffered from a cold & cough.
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Home Remedies To Cure Cold and Cough In Kids
It’s awful to see your young child in discomfort when they’re sick. Use these natural home remedies for children’s colds & coughing to make them feel better.
Hydration
Nothing to mention because we all know that regular water consumption will help prevent the common cold and cough in kids and adults by decreasing throat inflammation and washing out the infection.
A well-known hydrating remedy for soothing Cold and Cough In Kids is tomato soup. It is a known fact that the more liquids you consume, such as water and soup, the quicker the cold will pass. Children or toddlers are not exempt from this. A steaming bowl of tomato soup, which is high in vitamin C, is excellent for curing a cold and cough In Kids. Also, tomatoes are a great source of immune-boosting antioxidants.
Massage
For 2 year-old cough and runny nose no fever, the kids’ might respond best to massages. Massage your baby’s chest, back, and neck area using a mixture of mustard oil and garlic. To provide immediate relief, apply oil to the baby’s feet and palms as well. Although baby Vicks can also be applied to the kids’ feet, but to keep it all-natural, try using this homemade oil to cure a cold and cough in kids.
Carrom Seeds/Ajwain Potli
This is a wonderful treatment that all infants, children, and adults can try. We do this every time Hitarth (my 3yo) suffers from a cold or cough. Ajwain should be dry roasted on a tawa and then transferred to a clean cotton cloth once the aroma begins to release. Make a potli with it and put it on your child’s chest. Make sure the potli is not too hot, though. Doing this every day twice will help in reducing nasal and chest congestion. Here are the reasons why ajwain is a must have on your kitchen shelf.
Gargling With Salt Water
If your child is old enough to gargle, this could be one of the excellent remedies to soothe a sore throat. Mix a glass of hot water with a teaspoon of salt & ask your child to gargle with it twice daily. The pain also will be relieved by the saline water.
Steam
Warm, humid air can clear congestion, calm coughs, and unclog stuffy noses. It is an extremely effective remedy to cure a cold and cough in kids. By turning on a hot shower and locking the door, you can transform your bathroom into a steam room. Spend about 15 minutes in the room with your child & wrap him/her once you come out of the bathroom to avoid chills. You can also get this steamer from amazon; it works well for colds & coughs too.
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Use Saline Nose Sprays
A saline solution, such as a nasal spray or mist, can help thin nasal mucus. If your child is young, use a suction bulb or have them blow their nose frequently to stop drainage. After using saline nasal sprays or drops to soften the dried mucus, blow your nose or suction it. Warm water will do the trick if these things are not readily available.
Also read, Is Your Kid Vulnerable To Temper Tantrums? Could It Be Childhood Insomnia?
Turmeric Milk
Due to its antiseptic qualities, turmeric is well known for treating viral infections like the common cold and cough. Make your child drink warm milk with turmeric powder every night before bed. It instantly soothes a sore throat and a runny nose. Milk gives your child energy because it is a good source of calcium. You can also add 3 to 4 drops of pure ghee in the milk to keep the throat moistened.
Honey For Cold and Cough In Kids
When it comes to treating coughs and promoting better sleep in sick children, honey is superior to medication. Honey is safe for kids 1 and older, and because it tastes good, kids enjoy taking it. (However, there are exceptions, like my son, who never takes it.)
Owing to honey’s strong antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can be very effective in reducing sore throat discomfort, it is the best remedy. Give a half teaspoon to the children between the ages of 1 and 5 and one teaspoons between the ages of 6 and 11. If your child won’t consume honey on its own, try mixing it with warm milk, herbal tea, or warm water.
Ginger Tea
One of the most efficient and affordable remedies for the common cold and cough in kids is ginger & the tea made from it. Ginger, a natural antiviral, lowers body temperature and encourages sweating. Additionally, ginger tea works as a decongestant to help with cold symptoms. You can give the grated ginger juice added with honey to the kids for faster relief.
Also, read My Real Journey – How I Saved My Toddler From This Virus.
Night Cold and Cough In Kids – Elevate Child’s Head
When your child goes to bed, mucus doesn’t stop and can continue to build up in the back of the throat, especially if they have a stuffy nose. Your child’s head should be raised with an additional pillow at night to encourage mucus movement in order to lessen symptoms and to cough & allow mucus to drain.
We always do this with Hitarth as the night cough makes it very hard for him to sleep. It helps soothe him and lets him sleep peacefully. (However, avoid it if you have younger kids & for older kids also, talk to the pediatrician before following this.)
Rest Is the Key
Most coughs and colds are best treated by letting your child rest at home so their immune system can combat the virus. Spending time in bed, especially if your child has a fever, helps the body fight infection. A sick child doesn’t need to be kept inside for days; being awake and moving around the house is fine. However, try to maintain calm and forbid running or other strenuous activities.
Help Your Baby Sleep Through The Night – Few Tips & Tricks
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does a cold last in kids?
Most colds heal in 5 to 7 days, but in young children, it can take up to two weeks. The aforementioned remedies can help cure it faster.
When should you worry about a kids cough?
Coughs caused by viral colds can last weeks, especially if a child contracts multiple colds consecutively. Asthma, allergies, or a chronic sinus or airway infection may also cause persistent coughs. Call your doctor if your child still has a cough after 3 weeks.
What is the best medicine for child cold?
If the cough and cold in kids are due to the viruses or flu, you should give medicine only consulting with pediatrician. If it is due to weak immunity, one can try immunity building syrups after consulting the doctor. I have also shared one ayurvedic syrup below which helped us a lot in building the immunity of our 3 year old.
How to Get Rid of a Child’s Cold Quickly?
The above mentioned remedies help in getting rid of cold quickly, but the key is hydration. Keep the kids hydrated.
Important TIP
Keep the nose and mouth region moisturized using petrolium jelly or boroline or simple ghee to avoid rawness and rashes around which is very common in colds.
When treating cold and cough in kids, home remedies may be more effective than prescription medications, especially allopathic medicines, which we all know have many side effects. When Hitarth caught frequent colds after joining his school, I got a hand on this ayurvedic syrup (suggested by many Moms in my area). I never gave any medicine to him without consulting the doctors, and the same is with this ayurvedic syrup. So, I checked with the doctors and started it only after their YES to this.
Note: I am not promoting this syrup, its a genuine recommendation that worked for us.
The syrup’s name is Septilin by Himalaya. Its an Ayurvedic syrup that definitely has no side effects and is extremely effective in building immunity & curing a cold and cough in kids. I have tried this syrup, and I must say, it worked really well in our case. I gave this to Hitarth for two consistent months, and with god’s grace, he is doing fine afterward. Touchwood! Below is the link to the syrup; it’s avalable on Amazon.
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So, if, in any case, no home remedy works for you, try this syrup after consulting with your pediatrician before going for the allopathic medicines. I sincerely hope this post was useful to all new mothers as well as those who have experienced or may experience issues with colds and coughs in kids.
