Home Remedies for Cold and Cough in Babies/Kids

In country like India, especially in North India, weather is almost always changing, and our young children are the first to fall prey of it.

My daughter too used to suffer from frequent cold and cough episodes and I did not want to use antibiotics and allopathy medicines this frequently. So I always tried all the home remedies that I got to know. Out of several, few were effective. I have listed those effective ones here. I hope these will help you and your babies.

Massage with Ghee + Garlic + Ajwain

Take one spoon of ghee (clarified butter) in a bowl. Add 3-4 cloves of Garlic (chopped) and ¼ th spoon of ajwain (Carom/Caraway). Heat this ghee so that the extract of garlic and ajwain gets into the ghee. Now massage this ghee on your baby’s chest, feet and back, especially at night before sleeping. You can use this twice a day.

This remedy is very effective and relief starts from first use itself. Continue doing so till the baby gets absolutely fine.

Steam

I always underestimated the power of steam and never used it for myself even if the doctor prescribed it every time. But as a mother, I was obviously ready to try everything when my daughter fell ill. And I found steam to be really effective. Steam loosens the mucus and gives relief from blocked nose. It also reduces the cough.

I know giving steam to a baby or a toddler is tricky and risky. Keep the steamer in a room, close the doors and windows, and sit at some distance with the baby in your lap. Be very careful.

Ajwain and Garlic Potli

Heat 1-2 spoon ajwain and 5-6 cloves of Garlic on a pan. Wrap it in a cloth (make potli). Once the temperature is bearable, gently dab it multiple times on the chest, back and feet of the baby. Afterwards, keep this near the baby. This will help in easy breathing and getting rid of cough.

Jaiphal (Nutmeg)

Jaiphal has anti-bacterial properties and thus is very effective in treating cough and cold. Jaiphal can be used in two ways.

First, make a paste of jaiphal by rubbing it against a rough surface and apply this paste on the baby’s chest and feet. Leave it overnight and you will notice the difference the next morning.

Secondly, you can add this paste in the milk of the baby (make sure the surface you used for making the paste was absolutely clean) if the baby drinks milk from a bottle. And if the child is not that young, you can grate the jaiphal using a grater and add to the milk.

But be cautious with the dose. Very little quantity is to be given. For grating, not more than 8-10 strokes are required. When giving paste, not more than half a drop is needed. Do not give anything to the baby younger than 6 months.

Honey + ginger + black pepper

I am sure everyone already knows about it. Take a spoonful of honey, add a little ginger juice and a pinch of black pepper. It is very effective to treat cough. But kids usually do not take it due to its pungency. So you can dilute it with warm water and make your child drink.

Honey is reported to be even more effective than marketed cough syrups in controlling the cough. Ginger and black pepper too are proven to be very effective for reducing the cough.

Note: Honey should not be given before 1 year of age.

Turmeric milk

We all are aware of the anti-bacterial properties of the turmeric, and ‘haldi wala Doodh’ has always been a first aid for several health problems. Do not forget this for cold and cough too.

Tulsi and Ginger Tea

Tulsi has many therapeutic properties. It also soothes the sore throat. Just boil 5-6 leaves of tulsi and a piece of ginger in 1 cup of water and let the child sip it. Honey can be added for the taste and more benefits.

Saffron

Saffron (Kesar) too is very effective in treating and even preventing cough, cold and flu. Just boil a few strands in the milk or tea suggested above and give it to your child. You can also add saffron in the pastes/oils suggested above and massage on chest, back and feet.

Warm water

Make your child drink warm water through out. Warm water thins out the mucus and facilitates its expulsion.

Gargles

If the child is old enough, gargles can be a very effective remedy to treat cough.

Head elevated

Baby usually coughs more while sleeping. To reduce this, try to keep their head elevated.

Nasal drops

Though not a home remedy, but nasal drops can be safely given to clear away the nasal passage of the baby and help him breathe better.

Improve Immunity

While all these are curative measures, prevention is always better than cure, and there is no better prevention than a strong immunity. Frequent illnesses pose adverse effects on the child’s health in the long run too. So make every effort possible to give your child a strong immunity. I have earlier enlisted all the measures I know that help in boosting immunity. Read them here, and gift your child good health.

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Also Read:

Brain Foods for babies/kids

How I saved my baby from Diaper Rash

How I keep my child away from Junk Food

Disclaimer: These suggestions are purely based on my own experiences and should not be taken as medical advice. While choosing the remedy, consider the age of the baby and consult pediatrician before introducing anything for the first time.