Kids Cold Home Remedies

The famous cold in a child. There are many home remedies that can help with a kids cold including some essential oils. Using these different methods can help your child’s cold move out faster to help everyone get the sleep they need.

What is a cold?

A cold is typically an upper respiratory infection which can be bacterial or viral and infects the lining of the breathing passages, nose, sinuses, ears, throat and bronchi. The lining reacts by swelling and making mucous, and germs start spreading down the breathing tunnels. Same inflamation happens there.

The body starts to react by sneezing and coughing to get the mucous out. In a few days the baby or child wins the fight. Other times the germs do not leave and the battle continues. White blood cells come in which produces snot causing congestion. This snot may sometimes turn green or thick, which is a red flag that something bigger is happening. Fever may start to develop if there is bigger fight for the body. At this point the illness may escalate or it may leave. (1)

Catching a Cold

There are many different theories about how to prevent colds from being caught. Sometimes during the winter months you will hear mothers say to their children to wear mittens or hats to prevent a cold from forming.

Cold germs travel in air droplets. They are caught by someone sneezing and being inhaled by others. Rubbing hands on a nose, then touching and object is another way. If a child touches their nose and then touches your hand is another way. (2)

Natural Cold Remedies

Hose the Nose

The best thing to do is to keep that mucous moving and not have it form into another problem. Hosing the nose, for example, by using a nose bulb or a baby nose hose can be very useful. Salt water rinses also help with this, and you can make your own salt water solution. All you need to do is mix 1/4 tsp of salt per 8oz of water and use the appropriate amount according to your child’s age in the nose. Salt helps to keep the mucous and lining moist, making it easier to hose the nose if you choose to.

Humidifiers

Humidifiers are a great way to keep the mucous moving. Especially at night when colds seem to be at their worst. There are warm air humidifiers and cool air humidifiers which can be bough online or at your local drugstore. Humidifiers add moisture to the air and with children it is recommended to use a cool air humidifier. (3)

Essential Oils

When looking at which essential oils to use the first thing to consider is your child’s age and stage. For a breakdown of safe oils according to age get your free list here. A lot of oils have anti-inflammatory therapeutic properties so there are many safe options for children. Some oils that help relieve inflammation are: lavender, rosalina, lemon, spearmint and tea tree.

Essential oils can be diffused in increments as well to again help cleanse the air and support the child’s recovery. These oils can be used in a bath with the proper dilution, as well as a salt steam inhalation if your child does not mind sitting still.

Chest rubs can be made for nighttime using coconut oil can help a cough. For a dry cough lavender, marjoram and fir needle are great. A wet, mucous cough, tea tree, rosalina and lavender are good combinations.

Not Just a Cold

There are situations where it is more than just a cold. If the cold is not getting better or effecting the child’s behavior might mean something else is going on. What is coming out of the child’s nose will give a good indication of what you are dealing with. Looking at the eyes and seeing if there is discharge accompanied by a cold might mean a sinus or ear infection.

Other situations may start off as a cough but end up completely different such as viral infections like croup, whooping cough, or RSV. This is where observation is important and do not hesitate to take your child to the pediatrician if you suspect something else is going on.

Patience can go a long way during a cold for a mother and child. Giving those extra cuddles and attention may do wonders in recovery. One day at a time and one step at a time, along with observation will support the recovery.

If you need more help as you make a plan to battle your child’s health with using essential oils, click here to get a child friendly cold and flu blends.

There is no rush to get your child better, just letting nature take it’s course sometimes is best. Doing something on the first onset of a cold can help stop it from progressing further.

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