8 Home Remedies For Cold & Cough In Kids
Having to see your sick child suffer is the worst part.
Let's make them feel better with these common cold home remedies and prepare them to play, shout, and laugh again!
Cold and cough are frequent among children, particularly as the weather changes, especially during the winter. Coughing can be uncomfortable and keep the child awake at night, and it can be caused due to common cold, asthma, a respiratory infection, or sinusitis.
A common cold can be dangerous if left undiagnosed and untreated for a prolonged time. Parents should look for common cold symptoms, such as runny noses, blocked nose, congestion, breathing issues, weakness, fever, and body aches. Various home cures are safe and beneficial for the child. To treat the illness and boost the child's immunity, try some of these cold and cough home remedies:
How to treat a child's cough at home?
- Steam: Get the child to take steam if they have a cold and are having difficulty breathing. Heat water in a large bowl and make the child inhale the hot fumes for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Honey: Honey is very effective at relieving coughs and assisting a sick child in sleeping. Dark honey, such as buckwheat honey, may work better because it contains more antioxidant properties, which can help soothe a sore throat.
- Carom Seeds: Boiling water with carom seeds (ajwain) and tulsi leaves can help relieve coughing. It also helps in the relief of chest congestion.
- Massage: Massages are most effective for children under two years of age. Massage the baby's chest, back, and neck with mustard oil and garlic. Cover the baby's palms and feet with the oil for immediate comfort.
- Keep the kid hydrated: When the child is sneezing and coughing, they must remain hydrated. Drinking water regularly will help battle the common cold, minimize throat inflammation, and wash out the infection. Other fluids, such as warm soup or fresh juice, might help replenish the body's lost energy.
- Salt gargling: To soothe a sore throat, ask the child to gargle with lukewarm salt water twice daily. The saline water gives instant relief from pain and throat infection. But gargling isn't recommended for children below six years of age as they can't gargle properly.
- Turmeric milk: Turmeric is known to treat viral infections such as cough and cold due to its antiseptic properties. Make a glass of warm milk with turmeric powder and give it to the child every night. It relieves a sore throat and a runny nose right away. Milk provides energy to the child since it is high in calcium.
- Chicken noodle soup: Anti-inflammatory qualities of chicken soup at warm temperature can relieve sore throats and act as a vaporizer, loosening mucus in the nasal passages and alleviating stuffy noses. The warm soup will open the nasal passages to help clear them out and stop coughing.
The magic in the soup keeps the body hydrated, while the protein and carbohydrates keep you balanced, making this a fantastic healthy food for anyone feeling sick. It's no surprise that a bowl of chicken soup feels like a warm hug.
Remember that a child may need a few weeks to recover from a cold. However, if the child's cough continues and is accompanied by symptoms like a high fever or breathing difficulties, or if you are concerned that it may be an indication of a more severe illness (see other typical reasons for coughs in kids), consult with a pediatrician as soon as you can.
For child health-related queries, book an appointment with a pediatrician at Medicover Hospitals.
