As parents we are always looking out for better, more natural ways to help relieve our children’s cold.
We know that over-the-counter medications aren’t always a good option for our children especially when they are younger than the age of 2.
The average cold or flu will usually last up to ten days, so it’s important to find more natural ways to help them during that time.
Here are 3 natural ways to help relieve your child’s cold, which are easy, safe, effective and can be done at home.
1. Help Them Get Plenty of Rest
No matter what age your child is, it’s vitally important to provide a quiet place for them to rest, away from all the noise and distractions. Make the first day your child is sick, a slow day. Stay home the first 24 hours, turn the lights down and maintain a calm, quiet, peaceful environment.
Spend some time on the the couch together and watch their favorite movie or in bed while you read to them or help them with a puzzle. Before no time they will be drifting off to sleep and getting the rest their body needs to heal and get well.
2. Use Steam to Help Relieve Congestion
Have a cool mist humidifier running in your child’s room while their are sleeping, resting or playing quietly. This helps loosen the mucus. Another way to use steam is to give your child a warm bath in a steamy bathroom several times if necessary, by letting the hot water in the shower run for a few minutes. You’ll find that giving your child a warm bath can also be relaxing for them, promoting more rest.
When using a humidifier, make sure to clean it often as it could accumulate mold over time. Read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to best clean it when it’s not in use.
3. Use a Bulb Syringe to Remove the Boogies
By using a bulb syringe with saline drops you can help relieve your child’s congestion allowing them to breath better. BoogieBulb® Cleanable also makes it easier for parents to clean it more effectively, insuring that it is bacteria free before each use.
Making your own saline nose drops is easy to do and can save you tons of money. Here’s a homemade Saline Nasal Drops recipe we found at LiveStrong.com:
1. Fill a small sauce pan with either tap or distilled water and bring it to a boil. Boil the water for 10 minutes to eliminate any bacterial impurities.
2. Measure 1/4 tsp. of non-iodized or Kosher salt and 1/8 tsp. of baking soda and add them to 1 cup of the warm water. It is important to use the right amount of salt, baking soda and water because if the solution is too salty it can be irritating, according to the Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics website.
3. Stir the salt and the baking soda into the water. Continue stirring until they completely dissolve. The saline solution can be stored for up to 24 hours in a clean container.
4. Fill a clean, sanitized bulb syringe with a small amount of warm saline solution. According to MayoClinic.com, the water should be about the same as body temperature. If the water is too warm, it can cause more irritation.
5. Add one to two drops of saline solution to each of your infant’s nostrils. According to the Children’s Mercy Hospitals & Clinics, you should wait about 10 to 15 seconds before you clean the mucus from the infant’s nose with the bulb syringe.
Always make sure to wash and dry the dropper each time you use the nasal drops and never share the droppers with others.
If you are short on time, you can also use the bulb syringe without saline to help remove mucus. To see how the BoogieBulb works and for directions on how to use it, see the Baby Nasal Aspirator Review.
Children need to be allowed to be sick and it isn’t always a bad thing. As adults we need to slow down too, allowing us to spend that additional bonding time with our loved ones and insuring that they are well cared for. Before long, you’re child will be feeling better and back to their happy and playful self.
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