cough it up
Filed Under Stuff, Tips & Tricks | February 23, 2009
This year’s cold season show no signs of abating, and since Health Canada now recommends that kids under six don’t take cough and cold medicines how does a mama faced with a tot whose cough and stuffy nose are keeping them – and the rest of family – awake all night cope?
We have some tried and true ideas we’ve been testing at length on our cold-ridden crew that almost always do the trick for garden variety colds and there are no chemicals involved.
According to the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a dose of buckwheat honey just before bed is more effective than either doing nothing or an over-the-counter cough medicine. And what child would turn their nose up at honey before bed? Note: babies under one should not have honey.
And who knew that the soles of your kid’s feet may just be the secret to cutting down on coughing? That’s right, a little bit of Dimpleskins Naturals Sniffles rubbed onto their soles can help with cold symptoms, we’ve not idea why it’s more effective, but it is. Why Sniffles? It’s Menthol-free and menthol has actually been show to increase certain cold symptoms, like stuffiness. Just remember to put socks on their feet after application, it’ll save you from greasy sheets. Siniffles is also best for babes over one.
Other useful tips include lots and lots of hand washing, elevating the head of your child’s mattress by putting a pillow underneath it rather than on top – it’s safer that way, lots of clear fluids to keep them well-hydrated, and using a cool mist humidifier to ensure adequate humidity. And, of course, science has also shown that chicken soup really does have medicinal qualities.
How do you fight colds in your family? Let us know your tips and tricks by commenting at the bottom of this article.
5 Responses to “cough it up”
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Let us know what you think or share your great finds with us so we can share them with other Vancouver mothers!
I am actually not a “Vancouver Mom” , I am on the opposite coast in Halifax. I love your website though and I look forward to receiving updates and information on products for my kids.
In regard to your recent post on treating colds, I have found a couple of things that work well for my girls, aged 5 and 20 months. First in their bath before bed time I put in a few drops of Eucalyptus essential oil, which helps to clear up their noses. Then after story time I give them each a teaspoon of a natural cough syrup called NinJiom. It is a mixture of natural herbs, such as licorice root which is very helpful for coughs, and it is in a honey base. It tastes pretty good and I have no problem getting my girls to take it. It is quite effective at helping with coughs and it can be found in most health food stores here in NS, so I would think it would be available out there as well. My husband and I also take it when we have a cough and it does work very well. The honey also helps to soothe an irritated throat. The final thing I usually do, especially for my younger one, is elevate one end of her mattress and then place a bowl of warm water with a couple drops of Eucalyptus in it under her crib. The warm water helps to displace the oil in her room and it keeps her breathing freely.
I hope others find this information useful. I know it works for us!
Sincerely,
Delinda Trudel
I’ve discovered that one of the best things for colds is saline. You can buy it in a spray bottle from the drugstore. One brand is Little Noses. You should always check the ingredients to make sure that it’s not full of a bunch of other things (like nasal sprays often are). Or you can make your own (1/4 tsp salt in 1 cup of water). You can use a spray bottle or a straw to put a drop in each nostril. The salt helps to kill bacteria/infection in the sinuses. Any saline that goes down the throat also helps with sore throats. It’s great for stuffy noses as it encourages the nasal passages to clear.
The other things we do around here is lots of rest and breastfeeding for our child who is still nursing.
And keeping in mind that fevers are the body’s way of killing infection so as long as it’s a mild fever, I let it run its course rather than automatically reaching for the Tylenol.
In our house, a humidifier helps keep stuffed-up babes sleeping soundly.
Having recently lived through a pretty nasty croup with a 2.5 year old, we found a combination of things very helpful in getting through those long nights.
1. A humidifier in the room keeps the air from getting too dry, plus he likes the cute froggy shaped one, which we claimed had magical powers to make him feel better.
2. Steamy bathroom! A few minutes in here with the shower running and a little song, and his cough would calm down enough to get him back sleep.
3. Fresh Air! The outside air is much more humid than anything else. This cold air opens up their airways and calms the coughing pretty significantly.
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