Children getting sick is exhausting for parents. Moms and dads try to do everything they possibly can to ensure the quick recovery of their little ones, even for a simple cold and cough.
But, the little ones don’t make it easy. Even when they know that doing something would be good for them, most of them fight and protest. For example, with taking their medicine, most young children would whine about it first. Some would even unleash the waterworks just to avoid taking a single spoonful of cough syrup before bed.
Don’t worry, though; all is not lost. There are strategies to make children’s recovery from a cough and cold faster. The best thing about these strategies is the little ones do not protest against them so much, unlike when they are taking their cough medicine. So, if you need supplemental tactics to put an end to your child’s cough and colds, here are seven of them.
1. Treat your child to honey pops.
Children will never say no to candy, so give your sick child honey pops. These treats will give the tyke something to be happy about because the pops are sweet and yummy.
You just put honey in a candy mold, add a stick to it, and place it in the freezer. If you want, you can add a bit of cinnamon to boost the disinfecting power of the honey. Whenever your child is whining because of their itchy and sore throat, give them a pop to feel better.
2. Give your little one a spa bath.
Turn your bathroom into a spa for your little one’s bath time. Use a eucalyptus bath bomb and other bath products. The eucalyptus will help in decongesting your child’s nose and throat. Plus, the warm water will bring relaxation to your child’s body.
As you bathe your child, massage their head gently to release some heat. Also, lightly knead the spot behind their ears and down the sides of their neck to improve lymph drainage. Afterward, let the young one soak and play in the warm water. For sure, they will have an easier time sleeping after.
3. Rub your child’s chest and back using a vapor rub.
Before tucking your little one in, give them a rub down. Apply vapor rub on their chest and back, which will warm them up and provide them with instant relief. This will also help them sleep better.
It’s worth mentioning as well that if your child has a fever, the rubdown can induce sweating and help normalize their body temperature.
4. Use a humidifier.
Using a humidifier in their bedroom will help keep their nasal passage and throat moisturized. This can ease the discomforts in the nose and throat and also reduce the urge to cough.
To boost the effects of using a humidifier, scent up their room with aromatherapy oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, orange, peppermint, or frankincense.
5. Make them drink pineapple juice.
Pineapple juice is rich in vitamin C, but it also has a substance called bromelain. This is an enzyme that has anti-inflammatory effects and can bring cough relief.
Fresh pineapple juice also has disinfecting properties to expedite recovery from a bad cold and cough. Your child can drink this juice cold (not ice-cold, though) a few times a day.
6. Give your child a foot massage.
Warm up some oil (peppermint, lavender, rosemary, eucalyptus, or even plain VCO) and massage your child’s feet. The cold usually enters the body through the feet, so keeping these warm can really help in alleviating cold symptoms.
If you want the foot massage to be more effective, target the pressure points. To ease congestion or a chesty cough, make sure to knead the top balls of the bottom of your child’s feet, as well as their toes. Pinch the toes slightly to clear the sinuses.
Afterward, cover their feet with socks to lock in the heat. This heat will travel up their body and improve body temperature, as well as breathing.
7. Focus on preparing soup meals for your kid.
Children can quickly lose their appetite when they are not feeling well. Do not force meals upon them to avoid aggravating their disposition. Instead, make meals light yet nutritious.
Clear soups such as chicken or beef broth with aromatics are always a good idea. And, try adding a tolerable amount of spice (a dash of cayenne pepper) to the soups because this can boost the immune system and also ease congestion.
When your young one’s appetite gets better over time, add rice and finely chopped vegetables to soups for a light porridge and better nutrition. Or, puree vegetables, herbs, and spices for an easy to consume savory and thick vegetable soup.
These cough and cold remedies are the easiest to carry out because the little ones enjoy them. Hopefully, they work for you in ensuring your child’s speedy recovery.