Hello mommies, Welcome to Mom Kid Be Healthy blog. In this article, I will share some information on home remedies for common cold and cough for kids below 1 year of age. Kids can easily catch viruses which can ultimately effect their immune system and they get suffer from cold and coughs. I will share my own experience with you all so that I can help others also with the home remedies and tricks which help me a lot in my motherhood journey. I am a mother of two kids. I started my Motherhood in 2015. When I became a mother for the first time I did not know any remedies or anything. I started giving my son antibiotics and medicines and ultimately, these medicines had a negative effect on the immunity system of my baby. Then I started doing research and when I became a mother for the second time I didn’t go for the medicine. Most of the time I used the home remedies for cold and cough for my son and it always worked wonders.
Common cold and flu in babies under one year can be a concern for parents. These tiny tots have delicate immune systems, making them more susceptible to respiratory illnesses. Symptoms such as sniffles, fever, and fussiness can be distressing for both the child and their caregivers. Since babies can’t express their discomfort well, parents need to be vigilant. By using the simple home remedies, cold and cough and be controlled in the first stage. You need to be positive when using these home remedies for cold and cough on your child and I’m sure, you will see the positive results for sure.
Important Points to be considered:
Along with the home remedies for cold and cough, you should also make changes to your daily routine as well so that the bacteria do not harm the kids.
- Whenever there are seasonal changes happen, make changes in the clothing of the kids accordingly.
- After bath, switch off the fan or A.C. to maintain he temperatures of your washroom and the living room.
- Use one cap of antiseptic(Dettol liquid) to wash the clothes of the kids.
- Keep the blankets or A.C. sheets, mattresses and pillows under the sun for the whole day. It will remove the moisture from the things and make them germs/bacteria free. It is important because your baby to get a sound sleep in bed or in cot.
- Keep your room dust free.
- Massage with warm oil (coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil etc.) by keeping the fan off of the room.
Ingredients and Their Values – Used In The Making Of Home Remedies For Cold and Cough :
Below are the mentioned magic ingredients which will be used in the Home remedies for cold and coughs. You should know their value first. Always keep in mind, whatever you are giving to your child, you have to have its complete knowledge first and you have to be positive about it. Do not just read and feed to your baby. Ultimately, your positive vibrations works like magic.
Breast milk: The foremost thing is the mother milk for kids of 0-6 months of age. Breast milk provides essential nutrients and antibodies that help protect the baby’s fragile immune system, providing custom-made defense against the illness. Additionally, breastfeeding offers comfort and hydration to the baby, easing symptoms like cold and cough. The warmth and closeness of breastfeeding can also provide emotional comfort, making the baby feel more secure during an illness. Therefore, continuing to breastfeed during a cold is crucial, as it supports the infant’s overall well-being and helps them recover more swiftly.
Carom seeds: Carom seeds have traditionally been used in many cultures to alleviate symptoms of congestion and respiratory discomfort. When applied safely and in the right way, carom seeds can help relieve congestion and provide relief to a baby with a stuffy nose. There are many home remedies for cold and cough which can be prepared with carom seeds.
Garlic cloves: It may provide some relief from cold symptoms, thanks to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Garlic helps a lot when used in the home remedies for cold and cough.
Mustard oil: Mustard oil can be beneficial during a cold for infants aged 0-12 months when used externally. Gently massaging the baby’s chest and back with warm mustard oil can help alleviate congestion and provide comfort. The warmth of the oil can also ease muscle discomfort and promote relaxation, aiding in a better night’s sleep.
Honey: Honey has an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial agent. Honey can be used in the home remedies for cold and cough for kids of 1+ years of age.
Turmeric: Turmeric, and its active ingredient curcumin, may have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and other benefits.
Basil/ Tulsi leaves: It is an immunity booster. Tulsi leaves has Antimicrobial (including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antimalarial, anthelmintic),anti-oxidant, anti-cataract, anti-inflammatory properties.
Home Remedies for Cold and coughs:
a. Carom Seeds Potli:
This potli is really a miracle one. Whenever you see that your baby has started sneezing and his/her behavior is different from the normal routine, it means she is going to be sick. What you need to do is:
Ingredients:
1. One spoon of carom seeds
2. Garlic cloves (3-4)
3. Thin cotton cloth or mulmul cloth.
Steps to do:
Heat the tawa and put carom seeds and chopped garlic cloves on tawa. Shake it little for 2-3 min and when it starts releasing its beautiful aroma, turn off the flame and put this in one mulmul/ cotton cloth and make a potli. Seal it with a rubber band. keep this potli near the nose area of your baby while he/she is sleeping. It works wonders. You keep it at night, and its smell removes all the bacterias as carom seeds has antibacterial properties.
b. Carom seeds water/tea:
I believe that if potli can heal the cold symptoms by just inhaling it, then it should also be consumed as carom seeds has antibacterial properties. Here is the home remedy for cold and cough using carom seeds.
Ingredients:
1. Half a spoon of carom seeds
2. Half a spoon of fennel seeds.
3. Half a spoon of honey (above 1 year of age)
4. One glass of water.
Steps to do:
Boil water in a pan and put carom seeds and fennel seeds in it. Bring it to boil for 5 min. Turn off the flame and let it come to lukewarm temperature. Give 4-5 teaspoons three times in a day to 0-12 months old child. For more 1+ year kids, you can add honey to it and give 10-15 tea spoons three time times in day. You will see the magic in a day.
c. Mustard oil:
Massaging the baby gives relief and calm sleep it her.
Ingredients you need:
1. Spoons mustard oil
2. Chopped garlic cloves (2-3)
3. A pinch of carom seeds
Steps to do:
Heat the oil in pan and put other ingredients in it. Heat for 2 more min and turn off the flame. Let it come to the normal temperature. Massage this oil on feet, hands and chest of the baby at night keeping the fans, A.C. off. It will loosen the mucus collected on chest and will get out through her stool.
Word of Caution:
Do a patch test if your child’s skin is sensitive and allergic to carom seeds or garlic.
d. Tulsi and Turmeric milk:
When you observe the starting symptoms like sneezing, add a pinch of turmeric to the lukewarm cow milk. If your child is not taking cow milk, Mother milk is the best .
The other remedy is put 2 basil (tulsi) leaves in milk and let it boil for 2-3 minutes. When it gets lukewarm, give it to your child. You can also boil the basil leaves in water and give it to your child.
e. Saline water:
If the stiff mucus has collected in child’s nose, you can buy saline water drops form the chemist and put 2-2 drops in each nostrill turn by turn. It will give relief to the child and she/he can sleep calmly.
f. Steam:
Keep your room humid. Put a humidifier in your room. Or buy one steamer and give steam to the baby. As per my view, steaming the baby while sleeping is the best time. Child inhales regularly during sleeping and hence, steam does it job properly. You can also give steam during bath time.
A word of caution:
Keep the steamer at least 1-2 feet away from the baby. If you cannot cover during steaming, it is absolutely ok. What important is you child should inhale the steam.
Things to remember:
* Use potli for 1-2 days till you are getting the fragrance out from it.
* Do not burn the carom seeds on tawa. Just roast it.
* Make Ajwain and saunf water for 3 doses (one day). Next day, make the fresh one.
* You can make oil for about a week and when you have to use, make it a little warm.
* Always make fresh turmeric milk and tulsi one.
Conclusion
These home remedies for cold and coughs really works wonders for me. So I shared my experience with you. Comment me if it really helps you. But first take care of your child. Home remedies for cold and cough gives you good results when you start using it from the minor symptoms and it stops expanding the bacteria to major level. But if you see the child has chest congestion and cannot breathe sound while sleeping, then you should consult the doctor.
FAQ:
Ques-1. What is the fastest way to cure a cold and cough for kids?
You can give the ajwain and saunf water 3-4 times in a day. Use ajwain potli also. Use these two remedies alltogether to get instant results.
Ques-2. How can I reduce my child’s cold naturally?
Give steam along with the nasal drops and give ajwain – saunf water 3-4 times in a day.
Ques-3. Can honey cure cough?
Yes, Honey is very helpful as it has many antibacterial properties. BUt it is advisable for the age of 1+ years.
Ques-4. Does Vicks rub help with cough?
Yes, apply baby vicks rub on chest, feet and hands. Never use it on the nose, near the nose area or forehead.
Ques-5. How can I stop my child coughing at night?
You can use nasal drops, steaming , use humidifier and keep the head of the child inclined(on the pillow) as it will allow the mucus to move down instead of stucking in the throat. Give lukewarm water with honey also to 1+ year age kids. For less than 1 year kids, mother milk is the best.
Very genuine information
Great useful points