Infant cold and cough remedies

Infants are highly susceptible to viral infections even if there is a slight change in the weather. So in the first year, they are likely to be affected by cough and cold very easily. An equally big trouble is their treatment. Medicines and drugs wouldn't be such a good idea and some natural remedies could be harsh on their tender system. However, there are ways in which you can make sure that you keep the baby safe from cough and cold. To begin with, if the mother breastfeeds the baby, she has to make sure that she doesn't catch a cold. Also avoid exposing the baby to sudden weather change and make sure the baby remains in constant temperature - for instance, do not take the baby in and out of an AC room repeatedly. Ensure no one smokes around the baby because passive smoking causes cold and cough too. Giving a regular oil massage to your infant will improve immunity. Lastly, keep the baby's bathing time consistent.

Mostly infants' cold and cough, cure on their own but you need to take care that they are snug and warm all the time, especially their head, feet and chest. Keep the baby hydrated with breast milk, which has natural healing qualities. You can also try some simple home treatments. One of the popular ones is running a steam bath with a few drops of eucalyptus oil added to the water. Sit in the bath holding the naked baby in your arms enabling him to breathe in the vapors. This will help in opening up sinuses and decongesting the cold. You can also treat the infant with a paste of honey, ginger and basil that is freshly ground. After storing it for a couple of days, take a tablespoon of water mix a drop of this paste and administer it to the baby. Feeding the baby warm vegetable or chicken soup with a drop of garlic juice also helps. Make sure the broth doesn't have any vegetable or chicken pieces. If you are wary about administering baby anything, bring relief overnight by heating cloves on a saucepan and after they start turning white, make the baby inhale the fumes only for a minute at a time. Other than all these treatments do make it a point to observe the baby's breathing. If his nostrils flare up while breathing, it means the congestion is getting severe. Consult a pediatrician in such a case.

answered by G M

There are a few things you can do at home to treat an infant if she has caught a cold without using medicines. If the baby is breast fed, the best approach is to start treating the mother, as the effect if all the medicines will go down to the child directly in the form of breast milk. If the baby is not breast fed, then you can begin treatment by running a hot steamy bath and adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil or Vicks Vaporub to the water. Hold the naked baby in your arms and sit in this tub, allowing her to breathe in the vapors. This will open up her sinuses and ease out congestion, thereby allowing her to breathe easily. A paste of honey, fresh ground ginger and holy basil can be made and stored for a couple of days. Mix a drop of this to a tablespoon of warm water and administer to the child. This will loosen mucus and help her to heal as well.

Make a vegetable or chicken broth with chopped vegetables or chicken pieces boiled in water. Strain and give it to the baby while warm. You can also add a pinch of salt or sugar, and a drop of garlic juice to the broth. Heat a few cloves on a skillet till they start to turn white and release fumes. Bring the baby within sniffing distance of these fumes for a minute at a time at the most. This remedy will help to clear congestion almost overnight.

answered by M W