Home Remedies for Cold and Cough in Kids

Home Remedies for Cold and Cough in Kids

Cold and cough is a very common problem to kids and it is really frustrating for them as they can’t even explain their uneasiness. We can observe different coughs in children but home remedies for them are almost same. The main causes of cold and cough are common cold, infection, sinusitis, and asthma. We often feel uncomfortable to give antibiotics to kids and try to follow different home remedies given by our elders. Also, using antibiotics for children for common cold and cough is not advisable and one has to consult a doctor only the condition of kid is serious.

There are several ingredients in your kitchen that can cure a cold and cough and natural remedies for a cough can help your kid to feel better and become active like just before. No mother can see the pain of her toddler when he is suffering with a cough or cold and if the weather has changed, the problem will become more serious. Below 2-year babies feel irritated and cry for the discomfort and if your kid is above 3, he can ask you for help, but are you ready to solve his/her problem?

As a mother, you must be careful with your loving kids and you have to understand that they can catch infections very easily particularly when the weather has changed. Though there are many things around which are easily available, they were overlooked by us which makes our kids suffer. So, here I am explaining you about the symptoms of a cough before telling you some amazing home remedies for a cold and cough so that you can understand the situation of your toddler better.

Cold and Cough Symptoms in Kids:

Common cold, cough, and fever symptoms are often confused by parents as they look same and leave you in a situation that you can’t do anything for your kid but giving wrong medication. The very difference between cold and fever is fever is more severe. It shows high temperature and your kid also suffers with body pains. But common cold is a normal thing which can be seen many times in almost all kids. You can observe low temperature and some discomfort and of course cough is bonus disadvantage as it follows many times with cold. Here I am giving some best home remedies for a cough and common cold as well which helps you treat your kid at home. Check it.

Causes of Cold and Cough in Kids:

It’s shocking to know there are hundreds of viruses that cause cold and your child may be affected by any one of them. Rhinoviruses are the most common and after infected by this virus, your baby feels weak and lazy. As there are a lot of viruses that affect kids, there are several types of colds too.

If it is a common cold and cough, it affects your baby’s mouth, nose, and ears too. The most common cause of getting cold is air and when someone who is suffering with cold sneezes, coughs, or talks, your kid may catch a cold by the spread of the virus from that person.

If someone who has a cold touches your baby often or if they kiss your baby, she/he might be infected by the virus. If your baby touches contaminated surface, it will also cause cold and cough.

Home Remedies for Cough and Cold:

Here is the good news! Many of these natural home remedies for a cough and cold can also work for elders. So if you are also suffering from a cold and cough along with your child, we don’t stop you from following the same home remedies. But here I am giving the remedies according to the age groups which make you more clear about which remedies can you use for your kids. Here we go!

Breast Milk for Cough and Cold:

Once I went to my friend Amita to see her first baby with lots of excitement, but my reaction was totally different after seeing the poor baby suffering with cold and cough. The 4-week baby girl is suffering a lot with a cough and cold but my friend is unaware of what to do and even me too. Then I remembered my grandma who always use some home remedies when I used to suffer from fever, headache, or cold. I called her and asked her for the advice and the remedy said by her really surprised me.

It is breast milk which can cure a cold and cough of a baby. I know breast milk is good for the baby but till now I don’t know breast milk can cure any common illness of a baby under 6-months. I feel happy and shared this remedy with my friend and within 2 days, the baby became normal. My grandma doesn’t know the science behind why breast milk is so good for the baby. But I realized that breast milk has antibodies which help to boost baby’s immune system by destroying any type of bacteria, germs, and viruses.

Honey for Cough and Cold:

Honey is a natural cough suppressant and is much more effective than other cough syrups. Though there are many benefits of Honey for health and beauty, it is well-known to relieve a cold and cough since ages. The heat producing in your body when you consume honey improves the immunity and helps you to get rid of cold. Honey is a soothing agent that calms a cough and cold and also clears your throat.

Honey also has Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties and along with these properties, there are many more properties which boost the immune system and helps to reduce the cold and cough. Honey can also be given to newborns and that makes them much more comfortable and clears their throat. Not only for kids, honey also helps elders to get rid of a cough if they consume it regularly. While giving honey to kids, one should be careful as over consumption can cause botulism to them.

   Ginger for Cough and Cold:

 Ginger has antiviral properties which fight against bacteria that cause cold and cough. Ginger also helps boost up your immune system because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger is one of the best home remedies which remove rhinoviruses and it also reduces low fever which comes with cold and cough. Ginger can be used in many ways to reduce cold and cough. You can crush some ginger and consume ginger juice or you can also add honey to it. If you mix both ginger and honey, it would be more effective and reduces the cold and cough easily.

Ginger also helps you remove the toxins in your body when you are suffering from cold and cough. Ginger can also be used for inhaling purpose and here is the procedure. Just add some ginger juice or ginger oil to the steaming water and inhale. This process clears your sore throat and removes any kind of infections. Ginger tea will also help you get rid of cold and cough easily. Just add some ginger juice to the boiling water and consume it. This home remedy can be used for the kids above 2 years and elders.

Carom Seeds (Ajwain) for Cough and Cold:

Carom seeds which are also known as Ajwain are found in every kitchen and it is the best home remedy for many health issues including a cough and cold. This home remedy helps kids and elders who are suffering from cold and cough and it is proved that carom seeds are more effective on kids and these seeds also solve different respiratory problems. Ajwain tea helps your kids to feel comfortable and relaxed from the irritation and throat infection.

Add a few carom seeds to a cup of water and boil it and now strain it and give it to your kid. Within a short time, his/her throat will be cleared and cold and cough will also be reduced. For the babies below 1 year, one teaspoon twice in a day after food is recommended and doing the same for three days will give the best results. You can find this carom seeds water or tea outside in the market too but making it at your home is very easy and it saves your money too. Also, the homemade carom seeds tea will give you good results than a purchased one.

Garlic for Cough and Cold:

Garlic is an antioxidant with antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibiotic properties which help you get rid of cold and cough easily. Garlic not only helps kids to reduce a cough and cold but also works on elders. Vitamin C and minerals like sulphur and selenium help reducing throat infection and cold. Though there is no perfect explanation and proof for garlic playing role in reducing cold and cough, it has vitamins and minerals which have the properties that reduce or completely remove a cough and cold.

Eating raw garlic will help you to get rid of cold and cough easily but it is hard for the kids to eat raw garlic so take 2 garlic pods and steep them in a small cup of water for 10 minutes. Let it cool and give one teaspoon to your kid for every 3 to 4 hours every day till the cold and cough reduces. The problem will be solved within 2 or 3 days easily and this home remedy can only be used for the kids who are above 4 years.

Cinnamon for Cold and Cough:

Cinnamon is an antioxidant which has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties which works as the best home remedy for cold and cough. Cinnamon can be used in different ways to treat a cough and cold and the more popular one is using it with honey. Add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to 1 tbsp of honey and give it to your child.

You can also make cinnamon tea using cinnamon, honey, lemon, and a cup of water. Just boil all these ingredients in water to make a cinnamon tea which helps your kid get rid of cold and cough easily. The anti-bacterial property in cinnamon and honey removes the throat infection and your kid feels much better than before. You can give this tea to your kid twice a day to get fast results. Cinnamon can also be taken with the combination of lemon and honey to get more effective results. Natural home remedies using cinnamon can be given to the kids older than 1 year.

Camphor and Coconut Oil for Cold and Cough:

Camphor is well-known for its benefits and it has antifungal properties that reduce cold and cough. Coconut oil has antiviral and antibacterial properties that treat a cough and cold and the combination of camphor and coconut oil works wonderful on kids and elders as well. Along with a cough and cold, this mixture also reduces congestion in kids so that your baby will have a good sleep.

Heat some coconut oil and add a little powdered camphor to it. After the oil has cooled, take a considerable amount of oil into your hands and rub it on your kid’s chest. You should take care while using camphor to your kid as it irritates baby’s skin if you take it in large amounts (a pinch is enough). Camphor oil can be used twice or thrice a day till your kid feels better.

Turmeric for Cold and Cough:

Turmeric has many health benefits for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory properties which help reducing a cough and cold. The compound curcumin in turmeric has the medicinal properties which help reducing many problems including a cough and cold. Take dried turmeric and burn it and allow your kid to inhale the smoke that comes from burning turmeric for a minute. This helps your infant to clear his nose and respiratory system as well. The throat infection can also be reduced with this smoke inhale. Following this home remedy once a day is advisable.

Turmeric milk is also one of the best home remedies which work well for infants and elders. Just add a pinch of turmeric to a cup of milk and give it to your kid. Drinking this turmeric milk will help your kid to get rid of cold and cough in two days. You can give turmeric milk to your kid only if he is above 2.

Basil/Tulsi Leaves for Cold and Cough:

Basil has many medicinal properties which cure many health problems and in a similar way, it also helps your kid to get rid of cold and cough. The cold will stay for a long time if your kid has low immunity and then Basil is the best medicine for him. Basil boosts the immune system and removes the infection and helps to reduce the cold. Just crush some basil leaves and extract juice from it. Add some tulsi drops to the water and give it to your kid every day.

You can also make Tulsi tea which is very healthy and reduces many other throat problems along with cold and cough. Add some tulsi leaves to a cup of water and boil them for 5 minutes. Strain it and give one teaspoon for every 3 hours to your kid.  This Tulsi tea makes the throat infection-free and helps get rid of cold and cough easily.

You can also prepare tulsi milk by adding some tulsi leaves to boiling milk. You can also add powdered cardamom for added benefits. Give this milk to your kid before sleeping every day to reduce cold and cough easily.

Ladies Finger (Okra) for Cold and Cough:

Do you know Ladies finger can help your kid to get rid of cold and cough easily? The mucilaginous nature of okra shows a probiotic effect on your kid’s body and reduces inflammation and throat infection. Take a ladies finger and cut it into pieces. Take a cup of water and add okra pieces to it and boil for 10 minutes. Now strain it and let it cool. You can give some sips to the baby for every 3 or 4 hours. You can also use dried okra in powdered form instead of okra.

Mustard Oil for Cold and Cough:

Mustard oil has many health benefits for kids. Massage with mustard oil to your baby keeps his body warm and opens the skin pores which helps reducing the cold. Mustard oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties that help to get rid of a cough and cold. Take 2 to 3 tbsp of mustard oil and add crushed garlic to it. Heat it for 2 minutes and let it cool and now apply it on your kid’s chest and do some massage.

Rub slowly and deep into his chest and mustard oil with ajwain seeds will also work well on kids. It really pains seeing your infant suffering with cold and cough but if you follow this home remedy for 2 to 3 days, the cold and cough will be reduced and your kid feels much better which in turn makes you peaceful.

Ghee for Cold and Cough:

Ghee is widely used among Indians since ages as they know the amazing benefits of it. It helps digestion and makes you strong by boosting your immune system. Especially, your kids need this very much and ghee has to be used by mom for their kids for easy digestion, taste, and some strength and here is one more interesting health benefit and you may never heard of it before. Ghee helps reducing cold and cough with its immunity developing the property.

You can add some ghee to the rice before feeding your little one or you can add some garlic to the ghee and give it to him to make him feel better. Ghee is also rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K which helps your baby to grow well. So give some ghee to your baby which has many health benefits and keep your baby strong.

Gargle Therapy for Cold and Cough:

This is a very old therapy which gives immediate results. Take a cup of hot water and add some salt to it. Now make your kid gargle but be careful check the water is not too hot as your kid can’t bear that hot water. You can also add a pinch of turmeric powder to the salt water which has antibacterial properties that fight infection and reduces cold and cough. Make your kid do this process once in a day till his throat infection, cold, and cough gets reduced.

Spicy Tea for Cold and Cough:

The healthy spicy tea has many properties which can help your kid to get rid of a cough and cold. Take tulsi leaves, ginger, and black pepper and add them to boiling water. Let it boil for a few minutes and strain it. Give this hot spicy tea to your child if he is only above 4 years.

Carrot Soup for Cold and Cough:

Do you know carrot helps reducing a cold and cough? The hot carrot soup can make your kid feel much better and let him get rid of a cough and cold easily. Take a carrot and make into small pieces and add the pieces to 2 cups of water. Let it boil until the water comes to 1 cup and then strain it and serve it hot to your kid. Phlegm in the throat will come out easily and your kid’s throat will be cleared and also reduces a cough and cold.

Amla for Cold and Cough:

Amla has many health benefits and one of them is reducing the cough and cold. Yes, amla will help your kid to get rid of a cough, cold and throat infection too. Amla can be combined with different items which help your kid to feel relaxed. Add ½ tsp of amla powder to 1 tbsp of honey and give it to your kid. This can fight with the virus and removes throat infections by letting all the phlegm to come out and then your kid will be super active. You can use instant amla juice for better and fast results and if you follow this home remedy for two or three days, the cold and cough will be cured completely.

When to Consult a Doctor:

1. If you observe unusual tiredness in your kid
2. If he is coughing heavy mucus
3. Unable to consume liquid or soft food.
4. Severe throat pain
5. If breathing becomes hard
6. Swollen glands in neck
7. Stomach pain

If your kid is suffering hard with any of the above problems, it is better to consult a doctor and take required medication.