What is the home remedy for cold and cough for babies?
A cold is a viral infection that involves the nose, throat and sinuses, which can seriously affect your baby's health. At the same time, a blocked and runny nose is the main symptom of a cold. Children are more vulnerable to colds because they are often around other people. Colds can be transmitted to children from family members or those they meet. Also, their immune system is weak and they are surrounded by more than 100 cold viruses. Children may catch a cold eight to ten times in the first year by the age of two.
What is the cause of cold in children?
As we mentioned that children are very prone to cold and they can fall prey to it soon. Know through the points given below which reasons can cause cold in children.↷
👉 Cold is a viral infection and it can affect your baby through some other means. If a member of the household and someone coming from outside has a cold, then this virus can enter the body of the baby from the infected person.
👉 Children have a weak immune system, so they can catch a cold very soon. More than 100 cold viruses can affect children.
👉 Cold and flu are common in the winter season and during this time children are more prone to catching colds. Cold air can directly affect the baby's nose and sinuses.
👉 Sometimes family members take the children for walks. The polluted environment outside can also cause cold in children.
👉 If the item used by a person suffering from cold comes in contact with the child, then it increases the risk of cold in the child.
Also Read: If you have become a mother for the first time, keep these things in mind.
Following the various causes of cold in children, know how cold affects children.↷
What is the effect of cold on the child?
Although a cold is not a serious problem, it can have a negative impact on the health of children. Know below how cold can affect children.↷
👉 Children suffer from runny nose and blocked nose due to cold and flu. They may also have cough, sore throat, and intermittent sneezing.
👉 Some children do not like to eat during the winter season. They may have a headache or feel more tired than usual.
👉 A cold can sometimes cause a fever, but the fever is usually not very high.
👉 Colds and flu can bother the baby for up to two weeks.
👉 Some respiratory viruses can cause more severe illness in children. These diseases include croup (hoarseness, cough), bronchiolitis (wheezing, difficulty in breathing), sore throat and swollen neck glands.
How is a cold treated in children?
As we mentioned earlier, babies may be more prone to colds because their immune systems are weak in childhood. It is not that it cannot be treated. Below we are telling some of the remedies and important precautions related to cold, which you can follow for your child.↷
👉 First of all, know that there is no immediate cure for the common cold. It usually gets better on its own. By taking care of some important things, you can make a child suffering from cold feel comfortable. Try not to make your child feel uncomfortable with anything in the house. During this, you give him lukewarm water and feed him light nutritious food.
👉 Do not give cold medicine to children under the age of three without a doctor's advice. At the same time, before giving over the counter medicine to children under the age of 12, read and follow the necessary instructions on the pack carefully.
👉 Children may also have a cough with a cold. Although coughing helps to remove mucus that has accumulated inside the body, if the cough is persistent, a decongestant called 'dextromethorphan' can help reduce it.
👉 If your baby is having trouble feeding because of a blocked nose, use a 'rubber suction bulb' to clear the blocked nose. If the mucus is very thick, use saline nose drops or saline nose spray. The spray goes well into the nasal passages and may be more effective than nose drops.
Note: Do not use nose spray and nose drops for children under 6 years of age.
👉 A humidifier can work to soothe a blocked nose in a child. A humidifier is an electronic device that increases the humidity level of a room. Clean the humidifier thoroughly to avoid bacteria and then use it. Keep in mind that do not give hot steam to children, doing so can burn the baby's skin.
👉 Colds and flu can be accompanied by fever, so keep checking your child's body temperature. You can give children older than 6 years of age a medicine called acetaminophen (eg, Tylenol, Tempra, and Panadol), also known as paracetamol, to reduce pain and fever during a cold. Consult the doctor regarding the dosage and timing of the medicine. Children should be given maximum rest at home in case of fever with cold and flu.
Also Read: Essential Baby Products, Which Products Do I Really Need?
Home remedies for cold in children:
There are many home remedies to get rid of cold and flu, but when it comes to children, not all of these remedies can be considered right. Nevertheless, below are some selected home remedies, using which you can cure your little one's cold to some extent.↷
Take bath with lukewarm water:
In winter, you can bathe babies with lukewarm water. The warmth of the lukewarm water will give a lot of comfort to the baby. First check the heat of the water, only then give the baby a bath.
Honey intake:
As you may know, honey is known for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In cold and cough, you can give ginger juice with honey to children above one year at night. The World Health Organization also recommends the consumption of honey to cure cold and cough in children.
Oil massage:
Indian mothers have been regularly doing oil massages for babies as a tradition. You can also do oil massage to give relief to children from cold. Mustard oil will be effective for this.
Keep baby hydrated:
It is very important to keep children hydrated during winters. In between, keep giving lukewarm water to the children.
Turmeric milk:
You can also give turmeric milk to your child for cold and cough. For this, add half a cup of milk, a pinch of turmeric, some basil leaves, sugar candy as needed, heat it for 5 minutes and filter it. Now add one-fourth teaspoon ginger to the milk and heat it for a minute. Filter the milk and cool it a little, so that the baby can drink milk easily. Turmeric is rich in anti-inflammatory properties. It also works to fight viruses and bacteria.
Complications if children's colds are not treated properly:
In the absence of proper treatment, children may have to go through the following complications during a cold.↷
➣ Ear infection
➣ Sinus infection
➣ Pneumoniae
➣ Throat infection
How to protect children from cold?
To keep your child safe from cold and cold, you can follow the precautions mentioned below.↷
👉 Keep your child away from people who are suffering from cold and flu. As we mentioned earlier, cold is a contagious disease and it can affect from person to person.
👉 Make sure your child has had all the vaccines. Although those vaccines do not protect against colds, they will protect the child from some complications, such as bacterial infections of the ear or lungs, if all vaccines have been taken.
👉 After cleaning the baby's nose, clean the child's and your hands thoroughly. For the baby, you use baby hand wash.
👉 Do not give your children other children's toys, as children often take the toys in their mouths.
👉 Take special care of children going to day care. If children have a severe cold, don't send them to day care for a few days.
When should I talk to the doctor if my child has a cold?
In the following conditions of cold and cold, the child should be taken to the doctor immediately.↷
👉 If a newborn under the age of three months is having trouble breathing and drinking milk.
👉 If the child has fever or vomiting during a cold.
The following conditions can become serious during the winter season:-
➣ Persistent cough
➣ If the baby's lips look blue
➣ Symptoms like vomiting with cough
These symptoms may be of pneumonia or bronchiolitis.
Also Read: 5 Most Factors to Consider When Buying Toys for Children.
👉 A child can pass on a middle ear infection (when a virus or bacteria infects the ear internally) during a cold. Know below about the symptoms of middle ear infection:-
➣ High fever
➣ Pain in ear
➣ Vomit
➣ Pneumonia, etc.
It is normal for children to get cold, for this you do not need to panic much. If your child gets a cold, follow the remedies and precautions mentioned in the article. Do not be careless in taking care of the child. As we have mentioned in the article that some symptoms during a cold can indicate serious illness, so if you notice symptoms like vomiting and fever then contact the doctor immediately. The more aware you are, the better you will be able to take care of your baby.
Frequently Asked question:
Is it normal for children to get frequent colds?
Frequent colds are common in children, because children's immune system is weak in childhood, so they are vulnerable to any kind of infection. Let us tell you that children are surrounded by more than 100 cold viruses and by the age of two they can get colds and colds eight to ten times a year.
How long can a cold last for a child?
Usually, a cold in children lasts only a week, but it can bother the child for up to 2 weeks.
If I have a cold, can breastfeeding pass the infection on to my baby?
No, the study done in this regard does not negate the link between breastfeeding and cold.
When should I talk to the doctor if my child has a cold?
1.)If a newborn under the age of three months is having trouble breathing and drinking milk. 2.)If the child has fever or vomiting during a cold.
What if children's colds are not treated properly?
In the absence of proper treatment, children may have to go through the following complications during a cold:- Ear infection, Sinus infection, Pneumoniae, Throat infection. etc.