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Alternative Cold Remedies for Toddlers

Natural Choices to Help Reduce Cold Symptoms in Young Children

Oct 8, 2008

Alternative Cold Remedies for Toddlers, Karen Plumley

Now that cold medicines are considered unsafe for children less than four years old, parents might try treating common URI symptoms with time-honored alternatives.

“Remember: If you treat a cold it will be gone in a week. If you don’t treat it, it will last 7 days,” acknowledged Barton D. Schmitt, M.D. in Your Child’s Health [Bantam Books, 1991]. A cold is an upper respiratory viral infection of the nose and throat that needs to run its course. Regardless, symptoms in young children can be alarming to parents who may inevitably reach for their medicine cabinets.

In fact, Gardiner Harris writes in the October 7, 2008 New York Times article entitled “Child Warning Added to Cold Remedies” that 39 percent of households use cold medicines for children even though there are no real benefits other than sedation. Suggestions have even been made to ban cold and cough medicines for toddlers altogether. So, what should parents do to minimize the suffering for their little ones? Some traditional solutions may be helpful.

Sore Throat Relief

Oftentimes the first symptom of an impending cold will be a sore throat. Toddlers who cannot describe their plight in words may act cranky and cry easily, or even develop a little fever. Try offering these remedies to ease the pain:

Lollipops and popsicles – The coldness of a frozen treat may be comforting, and a lollipop will keep the throat moist. Especially soothing might be one with a mint flavor.
Warm liquids – Mild sweetened tea (decaffeinated) or warm chicken broth will provide temporary relief.
Salt water gargles – If the child is old enough to gargle, this can be immensely helpful.

Clearing Nasal Congestion

A small child may have trouble breathing, eating, and drinking if he is congested. Any of these safe remedies may help to clear out nasal passages.

Bulb syringe – Try placing two or three drops of warm water in each nostril to loosen phlegm before suctioning.
Humidifier – To help with breathing difficulties, run a cool mist humidifier in the child’s bedroom at night. In fact, keeping one running throughout the winter months will moisten dry sinus membranes that are more susceptible to infection.
Warm bath or shower – The steam from a shower acts like a humidifier, and a warm bath provides soothing relief and a pleasant distraction.
Saline nasal spray – This is another product that can add moisture to nasal passages and help loosen mucus.
Vapor rubs – The benefits of vapor rubs are many and they are now available for babies over three months old. They help open up blocked sinuses and also give parents an opportunity to comfort their children through massage.

Natural Cough Syrup

After age one, children can safely ingest a teaspoon of corn syrup or honey to help calm a cough. Warm liquids and the humidifier or steam shower are also beneficial for coughing, relaxing constricted airways, and loosening up secretions.

Lots of Liquids and Rest

Included in all sound medical advice for treating the common cold is the recommendation to increase both fluid intake and rest. These are the true basics of home care for any ailing infant or toddler. Additional water and other clear liquids will help keep respiratory passages from getting too dry and strengthen the ability of white blood cells to fight infection. Rest will give the body a chance to focus its efforts on battling invading germs.

It is hard for parents to watch as their little ones suffer with a cold. Although there is yet to be a genuine cure, relief for stuffy noses, coughs, and sore throats can be found using tried and true alternatives. Also, a little extra attention and lots of hugs will make even the sickest toddler feel better, and lend significance to the phrase “healing touch”.

Disclaimer: In the matter of children's health, parents and caregivers should always consult a physician before administering medicines or other remedies.

The copyright of the article Alternative Cold Remedies for Toddlers in Infant & Toddler Health is owned by Karen Plumley. Permission to republish Alternative Cold Remedies for Toddlers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.