Home remedies to treat a child's cold

Best Home remedies to treat a child's cold

• Chicken soup 

Yes, your mother and your grandmother were right, chicken soup is a great remedy for cold. Boil a chicken, and make sure it has the bones as the benefits of bone broth are endless. Add any vegetables you have, a clove of garlic for an extra healing effect, and a little bit of fresh ginger, and give it to your child for treatment and comfort.

• Honey

Marry Poppins said a spoonful of sugar, when in fact it’s a spoonful of Honey! This priceless gift of nature has many antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Doctors recommend giving honey to suppress cough, you should never give it to a baby younger than one-year-old.

• Ginger

You might think this one is a tough medicine to swallow for a child, but you can add it to your child’s water, or tea with some honey. Ginger has immense anti-inflammatory benefits; it also eases cough and soothes a sore throat.

• Saline nose drops or sprays

To clear the little stuffed noses, there is nothing like the Saline nose drops or sprays that you can get from the pharmacy over the counter. It is just salt and water, but it works wonders in relieving stuffed noses during a cold.

• Rest

We know you want to see your child active again, but resting is the best remedy for a cold. Don’t send your child to school or nursery and have him or her all cozied up in their favorite blanket while watching a cartoon or reading a book.

• Humidifier

Put a humidifier in your child’s bedroom to keep the air moist. This will help to ease a cough, and congestion and will allow your child to breathe better and get the most needed good night's sleep.

• Plenty of fluids

Your child might not feel like eating much, but make sure he or she is getting enough fluids, keep a water bottle close by, and encourage frequent sips throughout the day. You can also offer warm herbal teas with honey, homemade lemonade, and orange juice.

• Turmeric milk

They call it golden milk! And it is golden, not just in color but also in value, turmeric has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, which makes it perfect to treat a viral infection like the cold and flu. Add a small teaspoon of turmeric powder to a warm glass of milk with a teaspoon of honey and give it to your sick child.

• Vitamin C

Whether in the form of orange wedges, a homemade lemonade, slices or sweet peppers, or an over-the-counter supplement, this old-time remedy works wonders in easing the symptoms of a cold and boosting your child’s immunity.

When to consult your doctor

• If your child has a fever.
• When the child is vomiting and not keeping anything down.
• If your child has trouble breathing.
• In case the symptoms persist for more than 10 days.