Five Ways to Treat a Child's Cold Without Medication

re: Five Ways to Treat a Child's Cold Without Medication

Korean Mama — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:46:44 GMT

This is an old folk remedy that my mom gave us for a persistent cough. Take an Asian pear and create a hole by digging out the core with a knife. Try to leave the rest of the pear as in tact as possible, and fill the hole with honey. Place the pear with honey in a slow cooker for 3-4 hours or until the pear becomes mushy and the honey is no longer thick. Eat the mushy pear and honey. It is insanely sweet, but if you can get over the taste, it will knock the cough right out of you. Of course, this is not for any kiddos under one.

re: Five Ways to Treat a Child's Cold Without Medication

Shannon LC Cate — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:01:14 GMT

HL4HAND,

There's a lot out there these days about milk and mucus. Some doctors say that while milk doesn't create mucus, it makes existing mucus thicker and more irritating. Either way it should be avoided when you have a sinus/respiratory condition that produces phlegm.

Lately, some have suggested that people with chronic sinus infections cut out dairy entirely. Here's a good example Andrew Weil's website:

www.drweil.com/.../QAA236836

I have noticed milk causing mucus problems for me personally, my whole life. Every singing teacher I ever had told me not to consume dairy 24 hours before a vocal performance.

That said, my kids drink a lot of milk too. When they are ill, they let me cut their milk with water. If yours will stand for that (some kids are pickier than others, I know), it's a good way to go.

re: Five Ways to Treat a Child's Cold Without Medication

HL4HAND — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 11:56:18 GMT

Can you site your source regarding milk and phlegm? I was just wondering because at not quite two, whole milk is the major source of calories in our toddler's life. Otherwise he exists on air.

re: Five Ways to Treat a Child's Cold Without Medication

Lori — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:18:29 GMT

Chicken Noodle Soup.

Vapor Baths (Johnson`s used to make one)

TLC and rest

re: Five Ways to Treat a Child's Cold Without Medication

MomofBeans — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:35:44 GMT

My German mother-in-law swears by Chamomille tea - just warmed a bit and put in a bottle. It really seemed to relax my daughter's body when she was coughing and congested. Other than that, I swear by breastmilk. I try to nurse her as much as possible when she's sick. And I probably shouldn't admit this, but I've staved off pinkeye on a number of occasions(for both of us) by putting breastmilk in our eyes.

re: Five Ways to Treat a Child's Cold Without Medication

La Rêveuse — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:45:37 GMT

We raise the end of the whole crib by putting books under the legs of one side. Harry Potter 3 and 4, I believe, are about the same size and work well. Also easier than getting all the junk out of her crib to lift the mattress.

We also love the saline drops--I do them during a diaper change and she actually likes it. (But her dad and I are neti-pot addicts, so maybe it's genetic.)

re: Five Ways to Treat a Child's Cold Without Medication

JeanneSager — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 02:49:49 GMT

If you're worried about hot steam, try a humidifier rather than a vaporizer. As a bonus, the cool mist is usually safer around kids than the hot steam.