Home remedy for treating Cough : Toddlers

I know.. Cough especially at night .. could be heart-rending! Thanks to some Popsicles my son had .. the cough started. Even though he is a little over 3 yrs, we use those over-the-counter medicines quite sparingly! Following the doctor's advice first .. we tried - using a vapourizer, continued to give him lot of fluids and then nasal drops. But when that didn't help, we tried giving him some Bendatryl one nite. He could sleep through the night, but the cough didn't go away.

Here are a few Home Remedies :

** A friend suggested this excellent tip - Take about a tbsp of honey and mix it with a small piece of grated / crushed ginger. We gave him this mixture and its like the cough instantly disappeared. He slept through the nite minus cough. We were relieved!!

This home remedy is sometimes so much better than those cold/cough medicines which are nothing more than a sleep aids.

The health benefits of honey and ginger:

• Respiratory problems: The mixture of honey and ginger is an excellent expectorant and therefore provides instant relief to a person suffering from cough, cold, sore throat, and runny nose.
• Asthma: It is also believed that a mixture of honey and ginger along with black pepper is capable of treating or reducing the effect of asthma.
• Indigestion: Both ginger and honey have antioxidant properties thereby increasing the immunity of the body. Therefore, consumption of one tea spoonful of this mixture is very useful for people who have a weak digestive system.

**If your kid does not like the ginger taste, you can also try giving honey mixed with lukewarm water. That also helps. I even tried mixing the honey with warm milk for my daughter.

** Vicks vapor rub is good too. Baby vicks is mild. I use the regular vicks ointment. Apply it on chest, back and forehead. My Grand mom's tip : apply on the soles of the feet. The aromatic properties of the ointment leaves a soothing relief.

** Keep the head elevated. Pop in a pillow or raise the headboard/legs of the bed.

** Run a cool mist humidifier or vicks vaporizer in the kid's room.

** Give plenty of fluids. I usually give warm diluted milk for my daughter whenever she has a cold.

I am not totally against over-the-counter medicines. But all I am suggesting is to try treating any sickness naturally, first. See how the child responds! If the child still doesn't feel any better .. then start thinking abt using the medicines or calling a doctor.

Also, check out - Sore Throat Relief Lollipops