It is never fun seeing your child sick. If your little one has an illness that prevents him or her from going to school, you may be wondering how you can help ease the symptoms. The good news is that most children bounce back fairly quickly, and most remedies can be found at home. To manage symptoms the most effectively, it is a good idea to first identify the type of sickness, and then you know better what to do.
Identifying Your Baby’s Sickness
To combat many illnesses it’s a good idea to have a newborn starter bundle at home. Although there are additional illnesses your child can get, the most common types are the cold and flu. When looking at newborn baby bundles, you will see that the products may help:
- Cough
- Congestion
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Low-grade fever
- Sneezing
The symptoms of a cold come on gradually, and they usually last between three and 10 days.
The flu may also include symptoms such as cough, sore throat, and congestion. However, additional symptoms generally include:
- High fever
- Chills
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Weakness
- Nausea
Along with symptoms, another way to identify the flu is the rate in which symptoms come on. They appear rapidly, and a child usually feels better between three days and two weeks.
Effective Ways to Help Your Baby Feel Better
Once you know which sickness your child has, you can make better choices as to how to manage the symptoms and help your child feel better. Some parents reach for medication, but it is important to know that over-the-counter medication does not treat the illness. It only covers up symptoms, which can actually lengthen the duration of the sickness.
Medication also comes with side effects, and many of them are not suitable for children. Those that are geared towards kids often have unwanted ingredients such as artificial flavors, colors, and sweeteners. As an alternative, search for other unconventional remedies that help the body heal, such as bond with your baby. Other ingredients that help fight illness are garlic, ginger, turmeric, honey, and echinacea.
Rest is important for both the cold and flu, so encourage your child to sleep as much as possible. Getting enough liquids is also important.
A humidifier or steamy bath helps ease congestion and keeps the airways moist. A saltwater gargle helps ease a sore throat and loosen mucus. It also helps prevent upper respiratory infections. Using essential oils also has benefits, as they have antiviral and antibiotic properties. Effective ones include:
- Tea tree
- Peppermint
- Cinnamon
- Eucalyptus
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Lemon
You can place the oils in a diffuser with water or dilute them with olive or coconut oil and apply them to the skin.
