Natural Cold & Cough Remedies 1. Please make sure your child gets enough sleep. Rule of thumb: Toddlers- Preschoolers should be getting 12-14 hours of sleep, grade school: 10-11 hours of sleep. 2. Wash hands frequently. Use hand sanitizer if soap & water are not available. 3. Keep your home clean. Remember viruses can live on TV remotes, computer keyboards, video-game controllers, door handles, light switches & counter tops. Use a bleach solution or disinfectant wipe to clean surfaces. Use papercups in the bathrooms. Separate toothbrushes or cover them with travel covers so they do not touch each other. 4. Teach your children to cough/sneeze into the crook of their arm. COUGH & SORE THROAT Coughing helps your child clear the mucus from his/her airway. Don't use a cough suppressant unless your doctor orders it. Have your child drink extra fluids, use honey to sooth the throat and cough. Honey is safe for children older than 1 year old. Dark honeys, like buckwheat, may work best because they have higher antioxidant qualities. If it is too sweet,cut the sweetness with a small amount of lemon juice. Serve your child chicken soup. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Popsicles and crushed ice help soothe that scratchy throat. STUFFY or RUNNY NOSE: Mucus helps to wash out cold viruses from your child's nose and sinuses. Loosen up hard, clogged mucus with a spray of nasal saline solution. Steam in a bathroom from a hot shower will also help loosen hard mucus. Keep a cool mist humidifier running in your child's room to help with the stuffiness. Water in the humidifier needs to be changed EVERYDAY becasue bacteria and mold will grow in that environment. Provide extra pillows for your child so they will be propped up when he/she is sleeping. This will help the mucus to drain from the nose and not go down the back of his/her throat. Wedge type pillows work wonderfully. FEVERS: You want your child to run a fever. It assures you that your child's immune system is working to fight the cold or flu viruses. It is safe to let the fever run its course unless your child seems uncomfortable or it is above 102 degrees. Give your child a 5 minute sponge bath in LUKEWARM water. (NEVER USE COOL TO COLD WATER FOR THE SPONGE BATH) Ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used to help reduce a fever and make your child comfortable. Follow the package instructions for dosage and time intervals. NEVER USE ASPIRIN. Keep your child hydrated. It is a good idea to use an oral hydration solution such as Pedialyte. Keep a bottle on hand in your pantry for emergencies.
