Home Remedies Are Actually Better for Kids Than Cold Medicines
This post is part of our Home Remedies Guide , a roundup of home remedies ranging from controversial to doctor-approved. Read more here .
The FDA has warned that children under 4 years of age should not use over-the-counter cough and cold medications. So what do you do instead? Try home remedies that “may work better than medications” for young children, says the American Academy of Pediatrics .
The AAP also notes that you don’t need to treat your child’s symptoms just because he has a cold. If your child is behaving normally and is not bothered by a cough or runny nose, no action is required. This includes fever: Although you should see a doctor if you have a fever above 102 (or 100.4 for babies under 2 months of age ), fevers below this threshold usually don’t bother your baby and don’t require special treatment.
When to Avoid Cold Medicines for Children
First, let’s look at the recommended age limits for over-the-counter cough and cold medications. The AAP and FDA agree that children under 4 years of age should not use these medications at all. The AAP says you can use them between ages 4 and 6, but check with your pediatrician first.
After age 6, these medications are “safe to use,” but double check that your child is taking the appropriate dose. This means measuring with a syringe or measuring spoon rather than a kitchen spoon (your “teaspoon” may be larger or smaller than a standard teaspoon) and paying attention to the active ingredients in different products. If you give your child Tylenol and then measure out cough syrup containing acetaminophen, you may not notice that you’ve doubled the dose of the same medication.
Some homeopathic products state that they are suitable for young children, but these products are not FDA approved and may not be helpful or even dangerous . The FDA allows them to remain on the market, but is “unaware of any proven benefits for these products and urges that homeopathic cough and cold remedies not be given to children under 4 years of age .” (Italics are theirs.)
Cold medicines may not always help, even if they are legal medications and prescribed appropriately. Home remedies like the ones we describe here are often more helpful.
Get rid of snot
If your child is old enough to blow his nose, encourage him to do so. Toddlers can often figure this out if you hold a napkin and ask them to blow. But until they grow up, the bulb syringe will be your friend. Use this tool to suck out snot (we called it a “snot” in our house). They will fuss while you do this, but then they will feel instant relief.
If the mucus is crusty, soften it with a saline solution or warm water before attempting to remove it. You can buy saline drops at the pharmacy or make your own using this simple recipe from the AAP:
Add ½ teaspoon non-iodized salt and ¼ teaspoon baking soda to 1 cup (8 ounces) warm water. Stir until the salt and baking soda dissolve. To rinse the nose, use sterile, distilled or pre-boiled water.
Help them stop coughing
Honey works at least as well as cough syrup, and some studies have shown that it actually works better. The AAP recommends giving children 2 to 5 milliliters of honey (that is, a teaspoon or a little less) as needed to thin mucus and reduce coughing. A spoonful of honey before bed can help with nighttime coughs.
The exception, as you may have guessed, is that children under 1 year of age cannot take honey . Not for food or cough syrup. There is a risk of contracting botulism due to spores in honey. Starting in childhood, our immune system can cope with the spores, but for infants the risk is higher.
Maintain fluid flow
Fluid helps because when we are well hydrated, mucus becomes thinner and it is easier for the body to get rid of it. This means giving children water, chicken soup, or any other liquid they are happy to drink.
Babies who are breastfed should continue to do so. If they are having trouble feeding due to a stuffy nose, use a bulb syringe first. You may also consider giving them breast milk or formula in a cup or bottle.
If the air in your home is dry, a humidifier can help prevent mucous membranes (like your nose) from drying out. If you use a device, try a cool-mist humidifier filled with filtered or distilled water . Or get some free moist air by sitting your child in the bathtub while someone else takes a shower.
When to go to the doctor
According to the FDA , very young children (2 months and younger) should be examined whenever they have a temperature above 100.4. Call the doctor for any child if they have a fever above 102, if they have stopped eating or drinking and may be dehydrated, if they have a persistent headache or persistent ear pain, or if they seem to be getting worse instead of better.
And be sure to contact your child immediately if you notice signs that they are having trouble breathing. This may include blue lips, difficulty breathing, wheezing, rapid breathing, or protruding ribs with every breath.