It's COLD SEASON

[favorite kitty]

my son just started sniffling this morning :( i was hoping that you guys had some tried and true home remedies to help our children feel better. i give him an herbal flu and cold remedy and he has been drinking tea. what do you guys do?

[Percy]

Make him drink a very hot soup before going to bed! But the soup must be drunk in the bed (plain soup) (if possible)

Next morning everything will be gone (squeeze a lemon also, and add it to the soup)

[bethanie]

soup, juices (this is the one time i keep juice on hand...preferably grapefruit and orange), and I like those 'soothers' there a vitamin/lozenge...contain zinc, echinacea and vitamin c. Other than that, just wait it out. My own daughter is actually down with a cold this weekend.

B

[Thalia]

I like to use a humidifier to relieve some symptoms. For me, it prevents dried throat and sinuses which can lead to secondary infection. Of course fluids and rest.

But as for curing it, you can try to treat it for 7 days, or wait a week and let it go away by itself.

[missbelgium]

My mum used to cut an onion in half and put it next to my bed on a saucer. I now use essential oils with my daughter (same idea but smells better LOL): a few drops on a handkerchief next to her pillow at night already give lots of relief. The brand I use is German and is called OLBAS oil, it contains eucalyptus and menthol I think, with other stuff. Never use anything containing these oils (eucalyptus and menthol) for kids under 2 years of age please...

I have used a steam-humidifier in the past with other kinds of essential oils (pine extracts & such) but the steam can make the plaster come off your walls... be careful !

RAVENSARA oil works wonders too with congestion and/or coughing, just mix a few drops with some baby oil and rub into kid's back. This one can be used with small babies as well.

For runny noses thru humid weather, homeopathic granules DULCAMARA 4K, 3 granules every 3 hours or so can work pretty well.

[frenchie]

Since my son is a picky 4 year old, he won't drink soup or tea. However, I give him eucalyptus baths before bed. I try to use natural remedies first, which usually work well. However, if he has chest congestion I break down and buy Mucinex. It works!

[Tame]

A little Jack Daniels in the sippy cup.

[FafaFrappy]

:lol: Sorry, I clicked on this thread only to see what Tame said.

But honestly? Isabel was really sick and I just did everything I could to keep her comfortable. She would always nap soundly after a warm bath. :)

[tearhsong2]

Offer plenty of fluids (water, juice, tea, soups). Using a humidifier helps, too. If he has a really bad headache or is achy maybe give him some acetaminophen (like Tylenol or a store brand). If he's super congested maybe give him a decongestant before bedtime. Rubbing something like VapoRub on his chest might help, too. Before you give him medication, make sure to call his pediatrician to make sure you're giving him the proper dosage (yeah, it's common sense, but some people skip this step and end up giving their kids too much).

Otherwise, just wait it out. If it gets worse and doesn't seem to be getting better after 7-10 days or so, take him to a doctor.

[danakscully64]

Cold Season? Oh no! Everyone pull out their "bubbles." :p

Seriously though... I think the best way to prevent illness is to teach a child to wash their hands often. My neighbor is a 2nd grade teacher and in her class before lunch, she has the kids line up to get a drop of hand sanitizer :) I carry around hand wipes and sanitizer... I'm prepared for any emergency! :) While I have no children, when I get sick with a cold (can't usually tell anyway), I take hot showers often and drink tons of water/tea (more than usual).

And even if I lived in a bubble, I'd still suffer from severe allergies. Arg!

[Libellula]

I live with my boyfriend and no matter how careful we are, we end up sharing most of our colds and stomach bugs. I just do my best to keep my hands clean and cover my face when coughing or sneezing. That goodnight kiss gets us everytime tho.

Once sick, i drink a lot of hot fluids, like herbal teas and broth-based soups.

[danakscully64]

Walk around with lysol and spray each other in the face :p Okay, not really. My boyfriend and I do the same because we're with each other A LOT. It just happens.

[Libellula]

It's probably that we are breathing on each other in our sleep..

[MissGarbo]

I've got a cold right now! yay.

Propping the head up with two pillows instead of one can keep nasal passages clearer when sleeping.

[danakscully64]

I understand :( I've been suffering from allergies for more than a month now. It's horrible. I can't sleep well at all. :(

[kingsnorkie]

I understand :( I've been suffering from allergies for more than a month now. It's horrible. I can't sleep well at all. :(

:yes: My allergies are terrible too. We got snow last week here which would have helped, but now its 60, sunny, and windy, so my allergies have flared back up. My head's so stuffed up that I fear it may just explode.

[danakscully64]

:yes: My allergies are terrible too. We got snow last week here which would have helped, but now its 60, sunny, and windy, so my allergies have flared back up. My head's so stuffed up that I fear it may just explode.

:hug: We don't get snow here... well, we have twice is the last 10 years, but it was never more than 10 minutes worth and they were baby snowflakes falling at a slow rate :D

I hate weather changes. Everytime a new semester starts at school, my allergies start up. Not a great way to start new classes. I think my allergies have been so bad because of the mix of fires and weather change. Have you tried allergy shots before? It's the only thing I haven't tried. I just want a good night's sleep... just 1 and I'll be content. I keep waking up at 5:45 coughing, sneezing, and with a runny nose. I tried cleaning the room from top to bottom (put in an air purifier too) and it didn't work :(

[neut]

in my family we put garlic on the bottom of their feet and give hot oatmeal baths along with some goldenseal tea and an extra dose of vitamin C...cures EVERYTHING.

[danakscully64]

Be careful with the Vitamin C... it can have some bad side effects if taken in high doses.
Excessive doses of vitamin C can cause diarrhea and high intake of vitamin C (more than 1500 mg) may decrease the absorption of copper in the intestine.