Ah, the dreaded cold and flu season. It’s a time of sniffles, coughs, and sleepless nights for parents everywhere. While there’s no magic wand to banish illness, there are definitely ways to make your little one more comfortable and hopefully speed up their recovery. As a mama of three, ages 15, 13, and 2, I’ve been through my fair share of sick days. And, as parents who prioritize natural and holistic approaches, we understand the desire to find gentle and effective ways to support our children’s health. (We do believe in Modern Medicine, too!) Therefore, I’m excited to share a few tips and tricks to help your little one feel better during those inevitable sick days.
1. Embrace the Humidifier:
Think of it as a mini spa for your child’s stuffy nose. A cool-mist humidifier adds moisture to the air, which helps loosen mucus and makes breathing easier. This can significantly improve sleep quality for both you and your little one. Just remember to clean it regularly to prevent the growth of any unwanted guests (like mold!). We recently discovered THIS ONE and I love it! All of its components that can hide mold can be put in the dishwasher so you don’t have to worry about mold lingering in your air. Trust me, after dropping almost $50k on mold remediation in our home, we take mold SERIOUSLY.
IT has so many different settings and you can put your favorite vapor drops or essential oils on the little stone disk provided or add it right into the water. I love that it has an automatic setting that keeps the humidity at an ideal level. You can’t go wrong with any humidifier, but this one we LOVE.
2. Saline Solution is Your Friend:
Saline nasal spray is a lifesaver! It helps loosen that thick, sticky mucus, making it easier for your little one to breathe and feel more comfortable. Gently suction out any excess with a nasal aspirator. (trust me, you’ll become a pro at this). One tried and true method I love is nasal flushes using a nasal syringe. Here is a YouTube video showing you how. Your babe will HATE it, but it takes seconds and they will feel SO MUCH BETTER.
Our littlest just had pneumonia so we ended up busting out the big guns and buying a nebulizer and some sterile saline solution for inhalation (MAKE SURE ITS FOR INHALATION AND NOTHING ELSE. You have to get the right kind of saline. Talk to your pediatrician first, please!)
Our oldest two frequented the nebulizer treatments when they were little and let me tell you it was a flipping nightmare trying to get them to use that thing. Nose Frida now has a silent one and let me tell you, THIS THING BECAME MY BEST FRIEND THE LAST FEW WEEKS. I know it sounds like I’m a walking advertisement for Frida Baby, but man… they know how to make sick day things for littles. I like what I like, what can I say?
3. Comfort is Key:
Encourage plenty of fluids – water, breast milk, or electrolyte drinks (not Gatorade…) are all great choices. Dehydration can make them feel worse, so keep those fluids flowing. Popsicles are also a welcomed treat! And of course, lots of rest! Let them snuggle up in their favorite spot and get plenty of sleep. My favorite way to get some nutrition into a sick little while also giving them a treat like a popsicle is to freeze smoothies in small popsicle sleeves or a SouperCube and give it to them in a mesh or silicone feeder. We love using Once Upon A Farm food pouches for a quick fix!
4. Natural Remedies:
- Chest Rub: Apply a gentle, natural chest rub to their chest and back. PRO MOM TRICK. Slather that shit on their feet and put on cozy socks. I don’t know what kind of sorcery this is but a PICU nurse did this when my middle guy was hospitalized and it was a miracle trick. Look for products containing soothing essential oils like eucalyptus or lavender. Avoid brands like Vicks as they contain petroleum products and aren’t safe. Many natural brands offer safe and effective chest rubs specifically for babies. I also love making my own when I have time. I use THIS RECIPE from Wellness Mama. They go into detail about ingredient safety and why we should avoid petroleum. Here is a list of a few I’ve tried and loved that you can easily get at Amazon or Whole Foods if you have one local.
- Vapor bath and shower steamers: Similar to the chest rubs, I love using vapor bubbles during bath time and I’ll toss a vapor steamer in the shower when I’m steaming the bathroom for some good old fashioned steam treatments. Run a hot shower and let the steam fill the bathroom. Bring your little one in for a few minutes of steamy goodness. Toss one of these bad boys on the floor of the shower and enjoy. This can help loosen congestion and make breathing easier. Just make sure to supervise closely to prevent any accidents.
5. Utilize the Frida Baby Sick Day Kit: I LOVE THIS KIT ( not sponsored, promise lol)
This little kit is a lifesaver for many parents. It includes my favorite vapor rub, the Nose Frida, Booger Wipes, and a dosing syringe. There are a couple variations of this kit so you can get what fits best for you! I like the manual nose Frida because I feel like I have easier control over the suction and it’s easier for me to hold. I also love the sick day kit that has the vapor drops but I found it to be more cost efficient to buy the kit I linked then buy the vapor drops seperately.
6. Support the Immune System:
- Nourishing Foods: Offer plenty of nutritious foods that support the immune system, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I love making a DIY veggie stock. When I’m prepping meals during the week, I save all veggie scraps in the freezer and when I need a good veggie stock I toss a bag in the crock pot with a good bone broth or water and let that stew for the day. My kids love sipping it when they feel cruddy. For the toddler, I take baby food pouches ( we LOVE the Once Upon a Farm Pouches) and freeze them in popsicle portions using this and let him know on them using a baby food feeder like this one.
- Rest and Relaxation: Adequate sleep is crucial for a healthy immune system. I love to add vapor drops to our humidifier to help soothe them. We don’t spend a lot of time in front of the screen normally, but sick days call for binging movies to our heart’s desire. I do make sure we get out side to sit in the sun for a but because fresh air and sun are good for the soul and immune system.
Important Note: These tips are just a few ideas to help your little one feel more comfortable. Always consult with your pediatrician for any concerns about your child’s health and before using any new treatments or medications.
Remember, this is just a temporary situation. With a little TLC and these helpful tips, your little one will be back to their bubbly selves in no time.
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