How to Treat a Kid's Cold Without Medication

I am always "praning" every time my daughter sneezes. For me, that is an early sign for colds. Well, do you know how to treat a kid's cold? Now that medications for cold and cough have been taken off the market for children under 4 ( I am talking about the US market, which says we do not need to give any medication) treating your kid's cold may become a little more difficult... I research a lot of natural remedies and here are tried and tested tips on treating your kid's cold without cold medications.

USE SALINE SPRAY

I love this BABY SIMPLY SALINE- specially made for Babies - NATURAL without any medications :)

One of the safest and most effective ways to treat a kid's cold is to use nasal saline spray. Saline drops or spray can be used for children and adults of all ages -- even newborns. Saline contains no medication; it is simply a saltwater solution, and it helps to loosen and thin secretions in the nose, making it easier to breathe.You can even make this by yourself, but I prefer to buy saline sprays for the convenience of it when we need it fast and ASAP.

If you are using saline drops in an infant or young child, place a couple of drops in one nostril, suction the nostril using a bulb syringe, then repeat on the other side. Do this judiciously, though -- overly aggressive suctioning in infants can lead to inflammation and even slight bleeding. If you are using the drops or spray in an older child or adult, follow the instructions on the bottle.

RUN A HUMIDIFIER

Aren't they just cute for the nursery?

In unpredictable weather like ours, when most people tend to get colds, the air is dry because humidity is lower outside. Using a humidifier in your child's room when he is sleeping will help put moisture in the air, moistening the nasal passages and helping to loosen secretions.
Cool mist humidifiers are recommended for use in children's rooms because they do not cause burns like warm mist humidifiers can. However, you have to be sure to clean the humidifier well every day to prevent mold and mildew growth.And yes, humidifiers now come in colorful and cute animals made by Crane.

REST

 

Rest is one of the most important ways we help our bodies recover when we are sick. This is also important for kids, and they are much better at listening to their bodies than we adults are. Children usually won't play if they don't feel like it. While it's important to make sure your child has adequate rest time when he is sick, you don't have to force him to stay in bed. Keeping him home from school or activities if he has a fever or is contagious is usually enough.

DRINK UP

Staying hydrated is always important, but even more so when you (or your child) are sick. I have always trained my kiddos to drink lots of water (TIP: When they were young, I made sure they were thirsty and gave me them no choice but to drink water instead of milk, just so they get trained to drink up) Make sure your child drinks plenty, but avoid offering sodas. The best choices are water, juice or electrolyte-rich drinks, such as Gatorade or Pedialyte. If your child doesn't feel like eating when she is sick, don't worry about it. Unless she is an infant, it won't hurt her to not eat for a day or two as long as she is still drinking and stays hydrated.

A cold is usually pretty minor and doesn't require a visit to the doctor, but it can turn into something more serious. When do you know that your child's illness is more severe than just a common cold?
My doctor said to start by looking at his breathing. If he seems to be having any difficulty breathing, you need to have him seen. Also, if he has a cough that worsens or doesn't go away after about a week, has persistent fever, fatigue or signs of dehydration (decreased urine), he should be seen. Any time cold symptoms last for more than about 10 days, then better visit your doctor.

Stay Healthy!

Mommy Leaf