Taking care of small children is the most difficult because you have to be taken care of every second, there are some tips for you by which you will be able to take care of Home Remedies for a Kid’s Cough or Cold.
A cold is a viral infection involving the nose, throat and sinuses, which can seriously affect your baby’s health. At the same time, a blocked and runny nose is the main sign of a cold. Children are more susceptible to colds, as they are often around other people.
Children can get the infection of cold through family members or those who meet them. In addition, their immune system is weak and they are surrounded by more than 100 cold viruses.
Children may catch a cold eight to ten times in the first year by the time they are two years old. Below we discuss home remedies for a Kid’s Cough or Cold.
These symptoms of Cough or Cold
The first common symptoms of cough or cold in kids are-
1. Runny nose
2. Sneezing
3. Sore throat
4. Headache and more
Most of persons identify quickly these symptoms at home. And sure there is a cure available at home-is home remedies for cough or cold
What are the cause of cold in kids and young children?
As we mentioned, children are very susceptible to cold and they can fall prey to it soon. Know through the points given below, which reasons can cause cold in children.
Cold is a viral infection and it can affect your baby through some other means. If a member of the household and someone coming from outside has a cold, then this virus can enter the body of the baby from the infected person.
The cause of cold in kids are–
1. Children’s immune system is weak, so they can fall prey to cold very soon. More than 100 cold viruses can affect children.
2. Colds and colds are common in the winter season and during this time children are more prone to colds. Cold air can directly affect the baby’s nose and sinuses.
3. Sometimes children are taken by family members for outings. The outdoor contaminated environment can also cause cold and cold in children.
4. If the object used by a person infected with a cold comes in contact with the child, then it also increases the risk of cold in the child.
Following the various causes of cold in children, know how cold affects children.
How does a cold affect the baby?
A cold is not a serious problem, but it can have a bad effect on the health of children.
Find out below how a cold can affect children.
1. Children suffer from the problem of runny and blocked noses due to cold and cold. They may also have cough, sore throat and intermittent sneezing.
2. Some children do not like to eat during winter. They may have a headache or feel more tired than usual.
3. A cold can sometimes cause a fever, but the fever is usually not very high.
4. Cold and flu can bother the baby for up to two weeks.
5. Some respiratory viruses can cause more serious illness in children. These diseases include croup (hoarseness, coughing), bronchiolitis (wheezing, difficulty in breathing), sore throat and swollen neck glands.
How are colds treated in children?
As we mentioned earlier, babies can be more prone to colds because their immune system is weak in childhood. It’s not that it can’t be treated. Below we are telling some
Home Remedies for a Kid’s Cough or Cold and important precautions, which you can follow for your baby.
Things to keep in mind during a Kid’s Cough or Cold —
1. First of all, know that there is no immediate cure for the common cold. It usually gets better on its own. By taking care of some important things, you can make a child suffering from cold and cold feel comfortable.
Try not to make your child feel uncomfortable with anything in the house. If he doesn’t want to eat, don’t force him. During this, you should give him lukewarm water and feed him light nutritious food.
2. Do not give over-the-counter cold medicine (over the counter medicine) to children younger than three years old. At the same time, before giving over the counter medicine to children below 12 years of age, read and follow the necessary instructions on the pack carefully.
3. Children may also have a cough along with a cold. Although cough helps to remove the accumulated mucus inside the body, but if the cough is persistent, then a decongestant called ‘dextromethorphan’ can help reduce it.
4. If the baby is having trouble feeding because of a blocked nose, use a ‘Rubber Suction Bulb’ to clear the blocked nose. If the mucus is very thick, use saline nose drops or saline nose spray. The spray goes well into the nasal passages and can be more effective than nose drops. These are common Home Remedies for a Kid’s Cough or Cold.
Bear in mind Always – “Do not use nose spray and nose drops for children under 6 years of age”.
5. A humidifier can work to calm a choked nose in a child. A humidifier is an automated electric device that rises the humidity of the room. Clean and use the humidifier thoroughly to avoid bacteria. Keep in mind that do not give hot steam to children, doing so can burn the baby’s skin.
6. Fever can also come with cold and cold, so keep measuring the child’s body temperature. You can give children over 6 years old a medicine called acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol, Tempra and Panadol), also known as paracetamol, to reduce pain and fever during a cold.
Consult a doctor for dosage and timing of medication. In case of fever with cold and cold, children should be given maximum rest at home.
Home Remedies for a Kid’s Cough or Cold
There are many home remedies for a Kid’s Cough or Cold, but when it comes to babies, not all of these remedies can be considered accurate. Nevertheless, below are some selected home remedies, using which you can cure your little one’s cold and cold to some extent-
1. Warm water bath –
You can bathe children with lukewarm water during cold and cold. The warmth of the lukewarm water will give a lot of relief to the baby. Be careful that the water is not too hot. First, check the hotness of the water, only then give the baby a bath.
2. Consumption of honey –
Honey is known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. During cold and cough, you can give ginger juice with honey to children above one year(after 12 month) of age at night. The World Health Organization also recommends the consumption of honey to cure cold and cough in children.
3. Oil Massage –
As a tradition Indian mother have been doing oil massages for babies regularly. You can also do oil massage to give relief to children from cold and flu. Mustard oil will be effective for this.
4. Keep baby hydrated –
It is very important to keep children hydrated during cold and cold. In between, keep giving lukewarm water to the children.
5. Turmeric milk –
You can also give turmeric milk to your baby during cold and cold. For this, add a pinch of turmeric, a few basil leaves and as needed sugar candy in half a cup of milk, heat it for 5 minutes and filter it.
Now add one-fourth of a teaspoon of ginger crushed in milk and heat it for a minute. Filter the milk and cool it a little, so that the child can drink the milk easily. Turmeric is rich in anti-inflammatory properties. It also works to fight viruses and bacteria.
6. Rub some nutmeg –
Nutmeg should be rubbed and given to children after lukewarm it a little.
7. Grind 2-3 leaves of basil and give it to the child –
Grind 2-3 basil leaves. Add some water to the grounded leaves and heat it a little. And filter the mixture and give it to the child. The following home remedies can help treat a cough or cold in children.
Complications if children’s colds are not treated properly
In the absence of proper treatment, children may have to go through the following complications during a cold:
1. ear infection
2. sinus infection
3. pneumonia
4. Throat infection
When should I talk to the doctor if my baby has a cold?
If you tried these Home Remedies for a Kid’s Cough or Cold and your kid is not feeling good in the following conditions of cold and cold, the child should be taken to the doctor immediately –
1. If a newborn under three months of age is having trouble breathing and drinking milk.
2. If the child has a fever or vomiting during a cold.
The conditions mentioned below can be serious during cold and cold –
3. Persistent cough
4. If the baby’s lips look blue
5. Symptoms like vomiting with cough
These symptoms may be of pneumonia or bronchiolitis.
A child can also pass on a middle ear infection during a cold.
Know about the signs of a middle ear infection below–
1. high fever
2. pain in ear
3. Vomiting
5. ear discharge etc.
How to prevent your child from getting sick(Kid’s Cough or Cold)
You can follow these Home Remedies for a Kid’s Cough or Cold below to keep your baby safe from cold and flu.
1. Keep your baby away from people who are suffering from cold and flu. As we mentioned earlier, cold is a contagious disease and it can affect from person to person.
2. Make sure your child has had all the vaccines. Although those vaccines do not protect against colds, they will help prevent some complications, such as bacterial infections of the ear or lungs.
3. After cleaning the baby’s nose, clean the child’s and your own hands thoroughly. For the baby, you use baby hand wash.
4. Teach children things in school like covering nose and mouth with a handkerchief/tissue during cold and cold and washing hands after wiping nose.
5. Do not give other children’s toys to your children, as children often take toys into their mouths.
6. Take special care of children going to day care. If children have a severe cold, do not send them to day care for a few days.
Conclusion:
Treat your little ones to a warm and inviting environment with this delightful home remedy for colds, coughs.
To ease the symptoms of a cold or cough, try some of these home remedies. They work quickly and naturally.
Extra Home Remedies for a Kid’s Cough or Cold
1. One teaspoon of honey
One teaspoon (16 mL), of honey half an hour before you go to bed can help you sleep better and ease your cough.
2. Can teach to gargle
To relieve sore throats, you can teach children aged six and above to gargle with salt water (a teaspoon of table Salt dissolved in a cup warm water).
3. Sponge bath
A sponge bath in lukewarm, with Tylenol, or Advil, will bring down a fever faster than any medication.
4. Add a pillows
To elevate your child’s head, and to help with overcrowding, add an extra pillow.
Most frequently asked questions by parents –
1. Is it normal for children to get frequent colds?
Ans. Frequent colds are common in children, as children have a weak immune system in childhood, so they are more vulnerable to any infection. Let us tell you that children are surrounded by more than 100 cold viruses and by the time they are two years old, they can get cold and cold eight to ten times in a year.
2. How long can a cold last for a child?
Ans. Usually, a cold in children lasts only for a week, but it can bother the child for up to 2 weeks.
3. If I have a cold, can breastfeeding pass the infection to my baby?
Ans. No, the study done in this regard does not deny the association between breastfeeding and cold. It is normal to have a cold in children, for this you do not need to panic much. If your child catches a cold, follow the remedies and precautions mentioned in the article. Do not be careless in taking care of the child.
As we have mentioned in the article that some symptoms of a cold can indicate a serious illness, so if you see symptoms like vomiting and fever, contact the doctor immediately.
The more aware you are, the better you will be able to take care of the baby. At the last, I must say you have tried firstly all these Home Remedies for a Kid’s Cough or Cold, sure your baby feeling better.