I've discussed in my previous post that honey could be used to soothe cold and flu symptoms for your 12 months old and neti pot for your 4 years old and up.
Today, we'll discuss another 2 effective and safe home remedies to soothe cold:
(3) Nose blowing (2 years and up)
How it helps
Clearing the nose of mucus helps your child breathe and sleep more easily and generally makes him feel more comfortable. And he'll be nicer to look at, too!
What you need
A container of soft tissues.
How to do it
Many kids don't master this skill until after age 4, but some are game by age 2.
Tips for teaching nose blowing:
1. Let your child copy you. For some kids, that's all it takes.
2. Explain that blowing your nose is "backward smelling."
3. Have your child hold one nostril shut and practice gently blowing air out one side. A mirror or a little piece of tissue under the nose will help him see his breath, too.
4. Teach him to blow gently. Blowing too hard can hurt his ears.
5. Give your child his own little package of fun tissues.
6. Teach him to discard used tissues in the trash can and to wash his hands after blowing his nose.
7. If your child's nose is sore from all the sniffling and blowing, you can rub a little petroleum jelly or other child-safe ointment around his nostrils.
Find out more about when your child will be old enough to blow his own nose and how to teach him.
4) A bulb syringe (best for babies)
How it helps
Clears the nose of kids who are too young to blow their nose. A bulb syringe really comes in handy if a stuffy nose interferes with your baby's breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Try using it about 15 minutes beforehand.
Clearing a stuffy nose with a bulb syringe works best for young babies, but if your older baby or child doesn't mind the procedure, there's no reason not to do it.
What you need
A rubber bulb syringe
Saline (salt water) solution. You can buy bottles of saline nose drops at a drugstore or make your own.
Recipe for homemade saline drops: Dissolve about 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Make a fresh batch each day and store it in a clean, covered glass jar. Bacteria can grow in the solution, so don't keep it for more than 24 hours.
How to use it
1. Tip your baby's head back and squeeze ten to 20 drops of saline solution into each nostril to thin and loosen the mucus. Try to keep her head still afterward for about ten seconds.
2. Squeeze the bulb of the syringe, then gently insert the rubber tip into her nostril.
3. Slowly release the bulb to collect mucus and saline solution.
4. Remove the syringe and squeeze the bulb to expel the mucus into a tissue.
5. Wipe the syringe and repeat with the other nostril.
6. Repeat procedure if necessary.
7. Don't suction your baby's nose more than a few times a day or you might irritate the lining of her nose. Don't use the saline drops for more than four days in a row, because they can dry out her nose over time, which would make things worse.
If your baby is really upset by the syringe, use the saline drops and then gently swipe the lower part of her nostrils with a cotton swab. It doesn't have the suction of the syringe, but it's better than nothing!
Cautions
Don't use nasal decongestant sprays on your baby unless her doctor tells you to. They may work for a bit, but they can also cause a rebound effect, making congestion worse in the long run.
Clears the nose of kids who are too young to blow their nose. A bulb syringe really comes in handy if a stuffy nose interferes with your baby's breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. Try using it about 15 minutes beforehand.
Clearing a stuffy nose with a bulb syringe works best for young babies, but if your older baby or child doesn't mind the procedure, there's no reason not to do it.
What you need
A rubber bulb syringe
Saline (salt water) solution. You can buy bottles of saline nose drops at a drugstore or make your own.
Recipe for homemade saline drops: Dissolve about 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Make a fresh batch each day and store it in a clean, covered glass jar. Bacteria can grow in the solution, so don't keep it for more than 24 hours.
How to use it
1. Tip your baby's head back and squeeze ten to 20 drops of saline solution into each nostril to thin and loosen the mucus. Try to keep her head still afterward for about ten seconds.
2. Squeeze the bulb of the syringe, then gently insert the rubber tip into her nostril.
3. Slowly release the bulb to collect mucus and saline solution.
4. Remove the syringe and squeeze the bulb to expel the mucus into a tissue.
5. Wipe the syringe and repeat with the other nostril.
6. Repeat procedure if necessary.
7. Don't suction your baby's nose more than a few times a day or you might irritate the lining of her nose. Don't use the saline drops for more than four days in a row, because they can dry out her nose over time, which would make things worse.
If your baby is really upset by the syringe, use the saline drops and then gently swipe the lower part of her nostrils with a cotton swab. It doesn't have the suction of the syringe, but it's better than nothing!
Cautions
Don't use nasal decongestant sprays on your baby unless her doctor tells you to. They may work for a bit, but they can also cause a rebound effect, making congestion worse in the long run.
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