With the arrival of winter, my biggest concern develops into a nightmare. My children fall sick and multiple trips to their pediatrician are made. There was a point when I felt that I couldn’t cope with this and took an alternative approach. My Aunt who is a fan of naturopathy kept insisting on giving kids natural treatment for flu, cough and cold.
I was very skeptical in the beginning and didn’t have the slightest hope that natural remedies could actually work. I thought if the strong antibiotics have failed to leave good results then the milder alternative methods would be of no use either.
Home Remedies for Baby Cold
I tried these natural home remedies for baby cold and have started believing in them. These remedies not only cure the illness but also give prevention against harmful bacteria and other germs. As soon as the winter season start, make sure your kids are properly vaccinated and then give them these natural treatment.
1. Honey and Cinnamon
Honey is the most loved and reliable natural ingredient in eliminating cough and cold. It has anti inflammatory and anti bacterial properties which make it one of the best treatment for flu and cold. It also has anti fungal and antiseptic attributes which are beneficial against viruses. Anti septic nature of honey makes the wounds heal faster. It is also a powerhouse of antioxidants which help in combating free radicals in the body. This makes honey boost the immunity and it heals the body from inside.
On the other hand, cinnamon too has such amazing benefits which when combined with honey gives a complete cure for common cold and flu.
Method:
Now it is very important to know the exact proportion to combine these two together. The ratio is 1:4. It means that one portion of cinnamon needs to be mixed with 4 portions of honey. If you take a teaspoon of honey then mix ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder to it. It is best to mix in large quantity and keep it in a jar then give a teaspoon of this to your babies thrice a day. You also need to make sure that the baby doesn’t eat or drink afterwards for at least 20 minutes.
2. Olive Oil Mixture
I make this mixture in the winter and store it in a jar for the whole winter season. This is very effective in keeping the babies warm and helps to reduce the symptoms of cold and flu. Olive oil is the best oil to use for baby massage. It has anti inflammatory properties and has antioxidants in abundance. It is also taken in its raw form to prevent certain diseases and to keep the body healthy.
Method:
Take a cup of olive oil and put it on the stove in a pan. When the olive oil gets heated, add 1 teaspoon white cumin seeds, ½ teaspoon nigella seeds, ½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds. When these seeds splutter, take the pan off the stove and let it cool. Put this in a jar and store it at room temperature. Whenever you need to use this oil, just take a tablespoon and heat it then apply on baby’s chest and under feet. Do this at night and keep the baby warm. You will see that the congestion would go away and the baby would sleep well.
3. Increase Fluids
When the baby has congestion with flu then it is best to increase the liquid intake. The liquid would thin out the mucus and would let it pass through the stool. Warm milk, juice and water are the best to reduce congestion. Just make sure that the liquids are not cold.
You can also add a little honey to these and it would do wonders for your baby.
4. Onion Remedy
This is a very old but effective remedy against common colds and flu. Onion has anti bacterial, anti fungal and anti inflammatory properties and it helps in fighting against harmful bacteria and viruses.
Method:
Take a raw onion and peel the skin. Grate the onion and put it in a bowl. Keep this grated onion in your room at night. Discard this in the morning.
Caution: Don’t use the onion left overnight. It could be harmful for the body.
The reason being that the onion which was left overnight would absorb all the bacteria and germs from the surroundings and would hold them inside. If you consume this onion then your body would get all this bacteria.
5. Humidifier
Keep a humidifier inside the room where your kids sleep. The dry air during the winter makes the skin dry and the nose gets blocked. A humidifier would provide moisture to the air which would help make your kids sleep comfortably. They would breathe smoothly and there would be no blocked nose.
We recommend: DIVERSO DEVICES Cool Mist Humidifier for Babies Kids
Try using these simple and effective home remedies for baby cold. These have made my life a lot easier during the winter season and you could also benefit from them. Now be relaxed during this season and make your babies healthy and strong.
