Now that over-the-counter (OTC) children's cold medications are changing their labeling to reflect the FDA's latest advice not to administer to children two to four (and sometimes even six) years old, we parents are left feeling even more helpless (and sleepless!) than usual when our little ones are miserable with symptoms. Never fear! I have combed Internet sources, the advice of old wives, young natural-medicine specialists and tested my own ideas and offer you the following natural tips just in time for flu season:
Steam/Saline/Fluids
These are often recommended for help with congestion. There are a few tricky details to consider, however. First of all, heat aggravates inflammation. My best friend, an acupuncturist in training, cautioned against hot steam when inflammation may be a cause of the problem. Maybe a little short-term steam from a shower in the bathroom, for example, might give some temporary relief, but too much much heat can hurt more than it helps.
Vaporizers are common and can produce hot or cold steam, but can also spread allergens like mold and dust mites, creating more irritation to the sinuses. If you use one, clean it carefully after each use, according to manufacturer's instructions. I try to always keep my house from getting uncomfortably dry in the winter by simmering pans of water on the stovetop, with some cloves and a cinnamon stick to make a yummy smell while I'm at it.
Saline spray or drops are said to be helpful with sinus congestion. But I have never used them on my children because they hate it worse than the snot-sucking bulb. It is simply not worth the messy fight. I myself find saline spray useful for keeping my own chronic sinus infections at bay however, so if you are up for it, give it a try on the baby.
Consuming fluids is probably the best way to "humidify" the body and clear out the yuckies. My children are good water drinkers and when they have truly terrible colds, I will cut their milk consumption by half, by cutting milk 50% with water. Milk is well known for creating more phlegm, which is your enemy when a child has a cold. And yet, at a certain age, milk is a staple of young children's diets, so withholding it entirely can be tricky. You may want to give your child juice, but you also don't want to tank them up on sugar when they're ill. Again, cutting orange juice 50% (or more, if your kid will let you) with water can help get the fluids down.
Ice
For painful sinus cavities or fevers, ice may help, if your child will let you hold it on her face or head. Again, heat can be an irritant, aggravating inflammation. Ice will have the opposite effect and works well to alleviate pain. Be sure not to put ice or an ice-pack directly onto skin, as this can cause frost bite. Rather, wrap the ice in a towel and place it on one spot for no more than 20 minutes at a time.
Gravity
Even with a back-sleeping, pillow-free newborn, gravity can be used to help alleviate congestion and uncomfortable breathing. Fold a towel and place it under the crib mattress to gently elevate one end of the bed and put baby's head at that end. My daughters both slept in baby hammocks as infants and these elevated the head a bit anyway. When they had colds, I adjusted them to elevate it a bit more.
Eucalyptus/Menthol/Products Containing Them
My favorite trick to relieve congestion and promote relaxation (and sleep!) is to put a drop of eucalyptus oil on baby's pajamas, just under her chin. I also invested in an aromatherapy device that plugs into an outlet and dispenses the oil throughout the room. Some people like to use chest rubs containing eucalyptus and/or menthol but I don't like the mess and find the pure oil to be just as effective and simpler.
Honey
First of all, never give honey to a child under 12 months. There is a danger of botulism from honey that newborns are simply not strong enough to fend off. But if your toddler age one or above is hacking away the nights making everyone miserable, honey really works. My own older daughter is extremely sensitive to sugar and we usually avoid it at all costs in all forms, but after the FDA declared cough medicines unfit for kids under six, I resorted to this traditional method and lo and behold, they were right: honey stopped the cough long enough to get my daughter to sleep. It's our family standby now, for both children and adults. I like to mix a strong brew of ginger tea (a cubic inch of gingerroot, sliced thin and boiled in 4 cups of water for 20 minutes), add two or three spoonfuls of honey, cool it and give a couple of ounces to my sick kiddos before bed. They think it's a great treat. But a teaspoon of honey will do the trick even better when the cough is really bad.
What are your favorite home remedies? Add them to the comments and let's all help each other make it through the winter!
See also: They Say: No Cold Medicine for Kids Under 4
