How To Remedy Cold and Flu Symptoms in Kids
At the first sign of a cold or flu, the instinct of most parents is to rush to the nearest drugstore to buy medicine. Over-the-counter cough and cold medications, regardless whether they are bought in US or Canada Drug online pharmacies, are harmful for kids under 6 and dangerous for toddlers under 2. There are safe and effective ways to relieve the ymptoms of your child’s cold or flu. While these remedies won’t shorten the week-long course of a cold or flu, they will certainly lessen the discomfort of their illness.
1. A sick child needs a lot of rest as resting can speed up the healing process. To encourage your child to stay in bed, make them as comfortable as possible with their favorite playthings to keep them occupied.
2. Inhaling moist air can help a child breathe a lot easier. A humidifier or a mist vaporizer will be ideal in your child’s bedroom to help clear their nasal passage. Likewise, a warm bath can make them feel more relaxed.
3. A bulb syringe can clear the stuffy nose of infants who are too young to blow their nose. This procedure can also apply for older toddlers as long as they don’t mind this particular remedy. Never use nasal decongestant sprays to relieve your child’s stuffy nose as they can eventually worsen nasal decongestion.
4. Honey helps relieve the discomfort of cough by soothing the throat. Research showed that honey is more effective in treating kid’s nighttime coughs than cough syrup. This remedy should be used on children who are at least a year old.
5. Keep your kid’s head raised while they rest to help them breathe easier. Use towels or pillows to elevate the head of your baby’s mattress, or pillows to elevate the head of older children.
6. Give your child plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and to promote and thin mucus secretion. Giving them warm liquids to drink can help relieve nasal and chest congestion, and make them feel more comfortable. Warm chicken soup is known to relieve flu and cold symptoms such as fever, congestion, weakness, and body pain. While water is helpful, fruit juices or other healthful beverages will encourage a child to drink more fluids.
7. Relieve your child’s sore throat by making them gargle with salt water. This time-tested home remedy helps dissolve the sticky mucus from the throat as well.
8. Keeping your child’s nose clear of mucus can make them feel more comfortable, help them breathe easier, and promote a more healthful sleep.
