How to Treat Cold & Cough in Kids at Home?: Effective Home Remedies

Cold and cough are two of the most frequently occurring illnesses in kids. Whether caused by seasonal change, consuming cold foods or drinks, or low immunity, there are multiple reasons why your little one can become a victim of a pestering cold.

Giving medicines every time your child catches a cold is not a healthy choice. This is when home remedies can be a perfect companion for natural and effective relief from cold troubles. Are you curious about these cold remedies for toddlers and older kids?

In this article, you will discover some amazing cold and cough relief remedies you can use at home. You’ll also learn about cold and cough gummies that your kids will love. Let’s dig into our topic of discussion. 

Common symptoms of cold and cough in kids

Most kids experience similar symptoms that point toward a common cold infection. Some of these signs are as follows:

• Stuffy or runny nose
• Sore throat
• Mild fever
• Sneezing
• Chest congestion
• Dry or wet cough 

Triggered due to viral infections, these common cold symptoms generally last a few days to a week. Understanding and detecting these signs early can help you adopt home remedies at the right time for quick recovery.

Home Remedies for Cold and Cough in Kids

Below are some useful ways you can perform at home to bring natural relief to your kids suffering from a common cold.  

1. Drink Fluids

One of the easiest home remedies for colds and coughs in kids is to give them plenty of fluids. These beverages thin the mucus, ensuring easy clearance from the nose and chest. Moreover, drinking fluids moistens the throat, which reduces irritation caused by coughing.

Ensure you offer fluids in small quantities throughout the day, especially if your baby has a fever or congestion. You can give:

• Water to avoid dehydration
• Hot fluids like peppermint, ginger, or chamomile tea
• Drinks high in electrolytes, such as coconut water, oral rehydration solutions, etc. 
• Vegetable broths and soups

2. Honey 

Honey is a time-tested solution for comforting kids from common cold symptoms, especially cough and sore throat. When consumed, honey coats the cough receptors, reducing throat irritation. It is believed to thin the mucus and loosen the phlegm.

Studies show that honey is as effective as cough syrups in reducing cough frequency and intensity at night for a peaceful sleep. You can give 1-2 teaspoons of honey to ease coughing and promote better sleep.

Note: Honey must be given to children above 1 year of age.

3. Steam 

Another easy home remedy for treating colds in kids is to give them steam. Inhaling vapours loosens mucus in the respiratory tract, making clearance easy. This method is particularly effective in relieving chest congestion and a blocked nose.

Run a hot shower and sit with your child in the bathroom with the door closed. They can inhale the steam for a few minutes. You can also fill a bowl with hot water and let your child inhale the steam for the duration they feel comfortable. Ensure to cover their head with a towel while they take the steam. 

4. Gummies for Kids

Giving cold medicine to your child is challenging. Their complaints and tantrums are endless when it comes to syrups and tablets. Herbal cough relief gummies are a perfect solution to this forever problem.

Curated specifically for kids, cold and cough gummies are loaded with the goodness of natural ingredients like turmeric, honey, and ginger. For years, these ingredients have been a trusted cold relief solution for every Indian household.

The best thing about cold gummies for kids is their amazing sweet taste, extracted from natural sweeteners like honey. These bear-shaped cough gummies for kids are perfect for natural cold relief in little ones.  

5. Vaporizer

Vaporizers are devices that boil water to create steam, which makes a room warm and moist. The steam released relieves cold symptoms, congestion, and other respiratory problems. Add a few drops of essential oils like chamomile or lavender to reduce cold symptoms and relax a fussy child.

Besides vaporizers, you can also use a humidifier to increase the moisture content in dry air, which can lead to throat irritation and coughing. The device helps loosen mucus so your child can breathe comfortably, especially at night.

Note: Always clean your vaporizer and humidifier from time to time to avoid mold buildup. 

6. Gargle

You must have heard your parents tell you to gargle with hot or warm salt water for throat problems. Gargling with salt water helps reduce inflammation and pain caused by a sore throat. Salt has antibacterial properties and helps clean mucus from the throat.

Mix half a teaspoon or less salt in warm water to prepare a solution. Ask your little one to gargle with the lukewarm saltwater for around 30 seconds and then spit it out. Stay close to your child while they gargle to avoid choking.

7. Saline Nasal Spray or Drops

A stuffy nose can steal your child’s sleep. This is where a saline nasal spray or drops can help them. These saltwater solutions moisten the nasal tract, thinning mucus and removing irritants. They relieve congestion, irritation, and dryness in the nasal passage to ease discomfort in your child.

Make your child sit comfortably with their head tilted back slightly. Gently spray or apply saline nasal drops into their nostrils. Wait briefly to let the solution work, and then ask your kid to blow it out. Always supervise the child when using nasal sprays or drops. 

8. Ayurvedic Cold Relief Solutions

Ayurveda has multiple remedies for alleviating common cold symptoms. You can choose Sitopaladi Churna, an Ayurvedic classical medicine for dry cough, sore throat, and other respiratory problems. Made with natural herbs like Peppermint and Tvak, the Sitopaladi Ayurvedic Churna is mixed with an equal amount of honey to bring natural relief to kids.

Besides Sitopaladi Churna, you can use natural cold relief roll-on. These roll-ons contain essential oils like Eucalyptus, Tulsi, Chamomile, Wintergreen, etc. With a mess-free application, this product ensures quick comfort for your little one.

9. Warm Baths

Another easy cold remedy for toddlers is a warm bath. It helps relax your kid, mitigate cold symptoms, and comfort muscle and body pain. You can add essential oils to the water for relaxation and improved sleep. Do not overheat the water. 

10. Avoid irritants and pollutants

Maintain cleanliness and keep your little one away from pollutants and irritants, as they can aggravate the cold symptoms. Some common things you must avoid are dust, strong fragrance, smoke, etc. 

11. Head elevation

During colds and coughs, kids face chest congestion and stuffy noses, which deprive them of peaceful sleep. You can elevate their heads by keeping an extra pillow or a rolled towel under their mattress to bring comfort. This helps reduce nasal drips and allows easy breathing. Raising the head might be uncomfortable for some kids, so you must be considerate about it. 

When to seek an expert’s help?

Most seasonal cold symptoms can be subsided with the home remedies for cough in kids mentioned above. However, certain signs point towards a medical expert intervention. These signals are:

• Your child’s fever lasts more than 2-3 days.
• They face difficulty in breathing. 
• The chest congestion increases. 

Contact a pediatrician immediately when you notice cough and cold symptoms in newborns and toddlers.

Wrapping up

In Indian households, home remedies are a legacy passed down by our ancestors to nurture and nourish health naturally. This article highlights the various home remedies for cough and cold in kids that are easy to follow and effective. Combining these age-old practices with mindful care can give your child comfort and relief from colds and coughs at home. However, consult a healthcare expert if cold symptoms persist for 2-3 days, especially for newborns and toddlers.