A cold is a viral infection of the sinuses, throat, nose, and upper airways. This is a common health problem that many people have, especially when the climate changes. The babies get cold easier than the adults because their immune system is weaker. The most common signs of the cold are sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, cough, high temperature, headache, earache, muscle pain, loss of smell or taste, mild eye irritation, pressure on face and ears, etc. There are a lot of ways to reduce the cold in babies and in adults and you should take advantage of the natural treatments for safe. For this purpose, VKool.com will show you top 21 natural home remedies for baby cold.
Top 21 Natural Home Remedies For Baby Cold You Should Know
1. Breast Milk
Breast milk is a perfect source of nutrition for babies. It supplies a lot of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals for babies, especially when they are ill. The baby under six months should get breast milk entirely to improve the immune system. When babies get cold, the mothers should feed them the breast milk as the drug is limited to use at the age. Breast milk can help fight off the bacteria and viruses naturally and it also keeps hydrated very well. The mother should eat healthy foods and get enough nutrition in order to treat the cold in babies.
2. Have A Rest
Having a rest is one of the most natural home remedies for baby cold. This method will provide energy to fight infection and it can be applied for all ages. Actually, stress or overplaying might cause illness and the child or the babies can get cold because they have something pressured in school, family, friends, etc. The baby needs to rest in a comfortable place, he can watch a favorite program, sleep well, or play something light to forget the fatigue. If the weather is good enough, you can take him to go out and have a rest in a yard. If not, he should stay at the bed and take care of him well.
Learn more: The Book On Nasal Treatment
3. Steam
Steaming might loosen the mucus and a warm bath will relax your baby. You need to prepare a humidifier, a steamy bathroom or a cool-mist vaporizer. You can bring the humidifier into the bedroom or resting room when the child is sleeping. Likewise, you give the baby a warm bath in the steamy bathroom and you can add some drops of menthol to the bath water if the baby is more than 2. Make sure that you do not give him a long bath because he can get the cold again. This is a popular remedy and you can apply for the adults.
4. Saline Drops
Saline drops will clear out the nose as the baby is too young to blow the nose. It is very necessary if the baby is too little. What you need is the rubber bulb syringe, saline (you can buy in the drugstore or make your own saline). How to make it? 8 ounces of water should be dissolved about ½ teaspoon of salt. You can store in a clean jar about 24 hours. After that, you squeeze some drops of saline solution into the nose to loosen the mucus. Keep the head of the baby afterward about 30 seconds. Then you insert the rubber into the nose and release the bulb slowly to take the mucus. Then remove the syringe and wipe the nose. You can repeat this treatment during the day if necessary. However, do not addict the saline drops because it can dry the nose and make the problem worse. Warning! You should not use the nasal decongestant sprays for the baby.
5. Vapor Rubs
Vapor rubs are effective for night sleep, particularly when they suffer from cold. You can buy a vapor rub product for the babies and they have a lot of types including the ingredients essential oils, beeswax, oils, herbs, aloe, etc. After having the vapor rub, you should massage it into the back, neck, and chest of the baby. Nevertheless, you should put the vapor rub on the sensitive skin or broken skin and avoid the nose, mouth, eyes, or face.
6. Fluids
When having a cold, your baby will have dehydration and drinking fluids is a very necessary thing you have to do. For baby under six months, you should feed him the breast milk. For baby more than six months, they can get more fluids to keep hydrated. Plain or fresh water is so great for the baby. Also, the baby can try to drink smoothies, healthy beverages. Newborns or young babies under six months do not need water as the breast milk can supply enough for them.
7. Chicken Soup and Warm Liquids
Like other home remedies for baby cold, chicken soup is perfect for treating the problem at home as it can reduce the congestion effectively. Chicken soups and warm liquids might relieve the cold symptoms such as fever, fatigue, aches. You can feed the baby the warm liquids, water, apple juice, tea, and chicken soup. A warm bowl of soup or liquid will reduce the inconvenience significantly.
8. Elevate The Head
It is difficult to breathe when the baby has a cold, so elevating the baby’s head can help him rest and breathe easily. You should raise the baby’s head on the pillows or you can put some towels under the head of the mattress if the baby sleeps in the crib. The adults can apply this solution to breathing and sleep better. But make sure that you raise the head average and do not overdo it.
9. Use Honey
Honey can be used for baby more than 12 months and it is also a common ingredient that many mothers use to treat the cold. Honey can soothe and coat the throat and help tame the cold very well. According to a study of Pennsylvania State University’s College of Medicine, parents of the child at age 2 to 18 said that honey is perfect to treat the cold and cough. You should use the pure honey, and if it is hard, you can microwave it with some water and have the baby drink it. You can mix honey with water and some drops of lemon to feed the baby.
10. Salt Water
This treatment is suitable for the baby more than 4 years old. Gargling salt water can soothe a sore throat and clear up the mucus from the throat. You just mix ½ teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water, stir well and gargle the mixture. The baby should gargle the salt water some times each day to get the quick result. If the baby does not know how to gargle, you can let him practice with plain water, it is safe if they drink.
11. Have A Good Hygiene
Poor hygiene can make your baby get cold and other health problems. To ensure that you use the soaps to wash hands, for your and for your baby. Keeping a good hygiene will help the baby prevent the diseases as well as the infections including cold. Actually, there are many parents forget this simple routine.
12. Massage
Massage is one of the best home remedies for baby cold. Normally, when the baby is not ill, you also can massage for him to relax and make him more comfortable. Simply, you take some warm mustard oil and massage on the neck, back, and chest area. This treatment will relieve the pain very well and help him sleep better at night.
13. Carom Seeds
Carom seeds are erect, tiny, and oval-shaped. They are penetrating and sharp that are used in the ancient time. The seeds are widely used in making drugs, especially for healing digestive problems. The seeds are very useful for counteracting spasmodic disorders. You can boil the carom seeds and have the baby eat it instantly.
14. Dress The Baby Properly
This is a common mistake that many parents make when the baby gets cold. Dressing the baby properly is a very important step and it is also one of the best home remedies for baby cold. Actually, you should dress the baby lightly and do not wrap him up with the heavy blankets or the thick clothes. Dressing too warm will raise the fever and the cold will be worse.
15. Onion
Among home remedies for baby cold, you should obtain the benefits of onion, which is very useful for healing fever, cold, and cough. The taste of onion might be difficult to eat and drink, and you can grind the onion and have the baby drink the juice. Also, you can use onion to cook delicious recipes for the baby.
16. Skin To Skin
Your baby will feel discomfort and it is very important to make him feel love and comfort. When the baby gets cold, do not ignore her, let keep her in your arms and give her skin to skin contact as much as possible. You can sing, play something with her to forget the tiredness or the fatigue. Instead of letting her lying on the bed alone, the baby will feel your love and your care through keeping her in arms.
17. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is not only a good ingredient for health, beauty, but it is also excellent for treating cold in baby. You can add coconut oil when cooking the soup or meals for the baby or use the coconut oil directly to treat the cold. You rub the coconut oil around the nostrils and avoid putting the solid coconut oil in her nose because it can inhibit breathe. Also, you can use coconut oil to massage over the baby’s body.
18. Quirt Breast Milk In Baby’s Eyes And Nose
Breast milk has the antimicrobial property that can help significantly treat the baby cold without taking drugs. You can squirt some breast milk into baby’s nose and baby’s eyes to clear up the infection.
Obviously, feeding the baby with breast milk is good from inside and outside.
19. Sinus Pressure Massage
Along with massage over the body with essential oils, you can pressure gently under the baby’s cheekbones to reduce sinus pressure. Sinus pressure massage is a useful technique that parents should know, particularly when you have babies. This technique is helpful in treating the congestion, sinus pressure and it will help alleviate the irritation soon. Massaging the tissues and sinuses around the sinuses can reduce the drain mucus and pressure effectually.
20. Ginger
To list the home remedies for baby cold, ginger is really helpful in soothing the cold and a cough. For the older baby, you can grate the ginger and add some honey to have the baby drink. This will soothe the cough and throat pain effectively. Make sure that your kitchen has ginger and other spices in the winter days. Be sure that the water is warm and drink immediately after making it.
21. Supply Enough Vitamins For Baby
Vitamin deficiency is also one of the most reasons that can cause baby cold. As the result, you should supply more vitamins that are necessary to improve your baby’s health, especially in the winter. Vital vitamins for your baby are vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, and Zinc. The best way to add natural vitamins is from the foods such as citrus fruits, vegetables, broccoli, kiwi, berries, tomatoes, spinach, avocados, fish, squash, pumpkin, etc. Especially, the baby needs bathing under the sun in the early morning to get a good source of vitamin D.
If you want to get more tips and tricks to take care of your health as well as your family members, you can visit the main page about home remedies. After reading the article about top 21 natural home remedies for baby cold, I hope that you have got something comprehensive to take care of your baby best. If you have any question, please leave your comments below.
Related article on cold:
How To Treat Runny Nose Naturally
Natural Solutions For Dry Cough
The Common Diseases In Childhood
How To Relieve Bronchitis Symptoms
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