Natural Cold Remedies Your Child Will Love

When your children are feeling miserable from a nasty winter cold, the last thing they need is a reminder of how sick they are. They already know they're sick so lay off the talk of medicine and going to the doctor. If the thought of going to an overcrowded doctor's waiting room with other kids coughing and wheezing all while fighting over the only learning toy isn't very appealing, then here are some ideas to calm your child when the cold bug has a hold on them.

If your child's congested, try giving them a steamy shower. This will help loosen up nasal passages and sooth them in a fun and interesting way. By taking a shower they will feel more like a grown up which will take their minds off being sick. Kids usually want to emulate grown ups in many ways, so this is one way to grant their indulgences and help towards healing.

Pamper them with a favorite movie and have them watch it with an extra pillow to prop up their head. This will also help keep their heads less congested. Try to make them feel as cozy as possible. Resist the urge to lather them up with vapor rub creams. To this day, every time I smell one of those familiar creams it reminds me of being sick. And that stuff gets everywhere, on your bed and all over your clothes. It will trigger that sick feeling each time you smell it and make you curl up with your blanket.

There's a rush to over medicate children with over the counter drugs, but sometimes natural ingredients from your own pantry work just as well. Honey has been established to sooth a nasty cough. A study in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine rated honey as more effective in relieving coughs. If your child is above age 1, give them a teaspoon of honey and it will bring a smile to their face.

Keep children hydrated with plenty of fluids. One recommended way is to give your child pineapple juice. It has the same amount of vitamin C and is less acidic, making it more tolerable for their stomachs. To get them extra hydrated, dilute each glass of pineapple juice with a small amount of water. Prepare foods you know they like and are nutritious. These remedies will hopefully get your kids feeling better and doing what they do best, which is destroying your house.

Source:

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/161/12/1140