 with her first cold and cough. I remember feeling really helpless as she struggled. At that age, they are already really delicate and any illness can make matters worse.
I am sure many moms would have gone through this difficult phase of sleepless night and crankiness in babies during cold and cough. So let us take a look at some home remedies that can bring down their discomfort and ensure a fast recovery.
Breast milk is a wonder drink. So babies under 6 months do not need any other medication other than breast milk during cold and cough to fight off the virus and bacteria.
As you know breast milk is loaded with antibodies. These antibodies present in breast milk helps the baby’s body to build immunity against all types of germs, viruses and bacteria. It also helps to keep your little one properly hydrated.
You can also read the benefits of breastfeeding you might know about.
This has proven effective in my case and I almost nicknamed it my savior. It has helped in clearing her nose and prevents crusting. It also makes cleaning the nose way easier and comparatively tear free.
I am sure your pediatrician would have prescribed pediatric saline drops for infants for your little one. Make sure you follow what your doctor or his prescription says.
The general rule is to clean the nostrils gently and then to put the drops in. Keep the head tilted so that the medicine doesn’t flow out.
You can make saline drops at home too.
Take a steel bowl, spoon and sterilize it well. Take 1/2 tsp of salt and dissolve it in 8 tsp of warm filtered water. Once it has cooled, you can use it for your baby. But use it only in case of emergencies and I suggest to go for the saline drops available in the market than the home-made ones as there is a risk of bacterial growth.
Garlic and Ajwain (carom seeds) are known for its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. So these two combined can prove to be pretty powerful and it makes a strong weapon against cold and congestion. But don’t let the name scare you, it is actually very easy to put together.
You need 3 things to make this potli or pouch – garlic, carom seeds and a clean muslin cloth.
Dry roast 2 big cloves of garlic and 1 tablespoon of ajwain on a tawa. Wait for it to cool and once cooled make it into a potli or tight pouch. You can do that with the help of a clean muslin cloth.
Place this potli in the baby cot or cradle where baby sleeps. The garlicky ajwain smoke emanating from the potli will help the baby as it helps to open the blocked nose and provides relief from congestion.
WORD OF CAUTION: Please do not keep the potli/ pouch near your baby to avoid the chances of him/her putting it into the mouth leading to choking. If placed too close by it can also become a breathing hazard.
If you are worried about the safety, then you can also dry rub the potli under baby’s feet. This method is also effective.
A fleshy perennial plant, widely found in South India called panikoorka is used for treating cough, fever, sore throat and congestion in babies.
Known as Indian borage, patta ajwain, patthar choor, karpooravalli or navarayila, Its a natural anti pyretic and expectorant. The fleshy aromatic leaves are wilted on the stove top, cooled and then put on the baby’s forehead. The leaves dry up indicating the absorption of water relieving the baby from cough/congestion.
Take about ¼ cup of mustard oil and heat it. Take one or two garlic cloves. Crush them lightly and then chop them up. Add them to the mustard oil. Wait for it turn brown, then remove it from the heat.
Remember only till it turn brown, don’t let it burn. You can use this oil and massage the little one’s chest and soles of the feet. Make him or her wear socks.
A pinch of carom seeds (ajwain) can also be added for better results. Add it while heating the oil. Like the garlic, don’t let it go black.
Mustard oil, garlic and carom seeds have anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Apart from that mustard oil has a warming effect which helps with the congestion. It helps to give your baby a much needed relief.
You can also read the step by step method to oil massage a baby.
WORD OF CAUTION: Never allow the ingestion of oil by the baby as it might cause loose motions and other problems. No intake of oils or herbal medicines are encouraged for babies.
We recommend nasobuddy nasal aspirator for your baby which is efficient in relieving the baby’s stuffed nose.
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Take a few strands of kesar or saffron. Rub it on a stone pad to get the paste. Apply tilak or tikka on baby’s sole and forehead at night.
Saffron tilak will help in absorption of the accumulated water in baby’s forehead.
This is an age old remedy used by my mother.
The tender green moringa or drumstick leaves are picked. Warm 1/2 cup of coconut oil in a heavy bottomed kadai and add a handful of moringa leaves.
Once the leaves get wilted and you get the aroma of the wilted leaves, you can take the kadai off the stove.
Use this as your baby’s hair oil during cold, cough and congestion.
Baby’s clothing should be as such to protect the chest from cold.
If it cold, then make sure you layer his clothing so as to keep him warm.
If it is already hot ensure that he comfortably dressed and he/ she doesn’t feel too stuffy.
While the usage of blanket may seem like the go to option for the night, it may not be a good idea. Your baby might end up drawing the sheet or blanket over his/her head. This can cause suffocation and put your baby at risk of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
You can dress your kiddo up in a onesie and make him or her wear a t-shirt on top. This can be effective if it is not cold outside.
Remember, his or her comfort matters the most, so if you think he is feeling cranky feel free to modify his/ her outfit accordingly. However, remember to keep the chest covered.
Keep baby’s and your hands sanitized thoroughly at regular intervals with antibacterial baby wipes or soap. If you are wondering how this helps or have someone in the family who says that they don’t believe in this, let me tell why it is important.
This helps to prevent the spread of germs. You do not want to make the situation bad now do you?
You will meet and interact with a lot of people during the course of the day and that means you will be exchanging a lot of bacteria and germs as well.
During an illness, the body’s immune system aka the defense mechanism is not as strong – which means he or she is susceptible to other diseases. So at least till the time he /she is not in the pink of health, ensure you follow this practice.
Try to keep your baby’s head in an elevated position when he or she sleeps. This helps to facilitate proper breathing. Also remove anything from his crib, cot or mattress that may affect his breathing.
A bulb syringe can be used to remove the mucous that is blocking your child’s nasal passage. It can be a bit tricky to use as most kids do not like this being used. You can use this when the baby is sleeping so that it can be used effectively.
Shop online for nasal bulb syringes now.
A good humidifier can help to ease the dryness in the air and will help to make breathing easier when your child has a blocked nose.
There are warm and cool mist humidifiers available in the market.
You can use breast milk, saline nasal drops, ajwain garlic potli for babies above 6 months too. Also stick to the rest of the points mentioned.
Apart from those remedies you can also include these simple remedies to counter cold, cough and congestion.
Steam the panikoorka leaves and extract its juice. Give 1/2 teaspoon to babies of 7 months and above. It is effective against cold and cough in babies.
This remedy is known as unakka manjal chuttathu in Kerala.
Apply the paste on the bridge of baby’s nose to get relief.
WORD OF CAUTION: Please note not to smear the turmeric paste inside baby’s nose or suffocate the baby in any way.
Juice extracted from fresh carrots, diluted with boiled cooled water at room temperature can be given to babies of 6 months and above. It is found to be effective against cold and cough.
Please make sure you have introduced carrots and your baby is not allergic to it before giving the juice.
You can wipe off the excess oil post massage.
Give warm water at regular intervals to keep the baby well hydrated.
Hydration is very important during any ailment. Your baby might be cranky and wouldn’t want to have anything but ensure you give him/her some warm water. You can try boiled ajwain or cumin water.
Take a glass of water and add a small pinch of ajwain, carom or cumin/jeera to it. Wait for