Home Remedies for Colds and Coughs in Babies

Every year hundreds of infants and small children suffer from colds and coughs, mainly due to their weak immune systems. In fact, within the first year of life, most babies will have up to seven colds.

Children pick up the various infection-causing viruses through contact with an infected person or contaminated air or surfaces.

Some symptoms of colds and coughs in babies are a congested or runny nose, a low-grade fever of up to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, sneezing, coughing, loss of appetite, irritability and difficulty sleeping.

Dealing with a sick child can be really difficult for parents as well as caretakers.

As the American Academy of Pediatrics advises against giving cough and cold medications to children under 6 years old because of potentially fatal side effects, it is best to stick to natural methods. Home treatments will ease their symptoms and strengthen their immune systems.

However, be sure to call your doctor if your child has a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit and symptoms that last more than a week. Always consult your doctor if your baby is younger than 3 months old and has a fever.

Breast milk for Colds and Coughs in Babies:-

• Yes babies under 6 months do not need any other medication other than breast milk during cold and cough to fight off the virus and bacteria.
• The antibodies in BM helps the baby’s body to build immunity against all types of germs and aids in proper hydration required.

Nasal saline drops for Colds and Coughs in Babies:-

• I am sure your ped would have prescribed pediatric saline drops for infants .
• You can make saline drops at home too.
• Take a steel bowl , spoon and sterilize it well.
• Take 1/2 tsp of salt and dissolve in 8 tsp of warm filtered water.
• Once cooled , you can use it for your baby .
• But I suggest to go for the saline drops available in the market than the home-made ones as there is a risk of bacterial growth .
• Nasal aspirator is also a good option to decongest your baby’s blocked nose.

Garlic and Ajwain Potli (pouch) for Colds and Coughs in Babies:-

• Garlic and Ajwain (carrom seeds) are known for its anti bacterial and anti viral properties.
• Dry roast 2 big cloves of garlic and 1 tbsp of ajwain on a tawa and once cooled make it into a potli / tight pouch with a clean muslin cloth.
• Place this potli in the baby cot / cradle where baby sleeps.
• The garlicky ajwain smoke from the potli would help baby to open the blocked nose and relieve from congestion.

NOTE : Please don’t keep the potli near baby to avoid the chances of putting into mouth / choking  / breathing hazard in anyway. You can also dry rub the potli under baby’s feet .

Rest for Colds and Coughs in Babies:-

• • Sleep is truly a great medicine, keeping us healthy in good times and helping us heal when sick.
  • Released compounds boost the immune system, so encourage napping.

• Just don’t layer on too many covers, as that can overheat your child, which, in turn, can elevate his or her temperature.

Humidifier for Colds and Coughs in Babies:-

• A cool-mist humidifier goes a long way in relieving dry, stuffed up nasal passages by adding moisture to a room.
• G.K, a Philadelphia mom of two boys, five and seven, says, “I’ve got a humidifier in each of their rooms and turn them on at the first sign of a cold.
• Helps every time. I just have to remind myself to clean them after each use.
• ” She makes an important point, here.
• While a humidifier can help relieve congestion, mold and mildew can build up and be sprayed into the air if not cleaned properly each and every time.

Shower Steam or Warm Baths for Colds and Coughs in Babies:-

• As said, warm moist air is an effective symptom reliever, so in addition to using a humidifier, turn on the shower and let the hot water flow.
• The resulting warm air will help your child breathe more easily.
• If your kiddo prefer baths, immersing your child in a tub of very warm water works amazingly well in reducing a high temperature.

Garlic for Colds and Coughs in Babies:-

• Onion’s pungent cousin contains allicin, a compound which has been known to have anti-bacterial properties.
• The only problem you might face is getting your kids to eat it.
• Try mincing the garlic very finely and additing it to a light pasta sauce at dinner time to avoid its detection.

Lemon for Colds and Coughs in Babies:-

• Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties also help reduce symptoms, such as sore throat, runny nose and coughing.
• Being rich in vitamin C, lemon helps boost the immune system and assists the body in fighting colds and flu.
• Lemon is another good home remedy.
• Put the juice and peels from 4 lemons and 1 tablespoon of ginger slices in a pan.
• Add enough boiling water to cover the ingredients.
• Cover and let it steep for 10 minutes.
• Strain off the liquid.
• Dilute this liquid with an equal amount of warm water and add raw honey for taste.
• Give your child this hot lemonade to drink, a few times a day.

Note: For babies younger than 1 year, add sugar instead of honey for taste.

Warm Chicken Soup for Colds and Coughs in Babies:-

• • For children older than 1 year, warm chicken soup is a great option when suffering from a cold or cough.
  • It is light and nutritious and can help relieve congestion.

• The antioxidants in it speed up the healing process.
• In addition, chicken soup improves the function of protective cilia in the nasal cavity that prevent contagions from entering the body.
• A 2000 study published in the Chest journal suggests that chicken soup contains a number of substances with beneficial medicinal activity for upper respiratory tract infections.
• Serve your children homemade chicken soup using organic chicken and vegetables, such as carrots, beet root and spinach.
• You can feed babies chicken soup 2 or 3 times a day.