Home Remedies for Kids' Colds That Actually Work

Health Canada doesn’t recommend using over-the-counter cough and cold meds for kids under the age of six, with the exception of paediatric painkillers, which are generally good for treating aches and fevers over 38.5C when used correctly by caregivers. Many herbal and alternative remedies haven’t been evaluated for use with kids and are generally not recommended by medical practitioners, so check with your healthcare provider. Here are some tools for battling coughs and colds this winter.

Several studies have shown that swallowing one teaspoon (15 mL) of honey about half an hour before bed can help you get a better night’s sleep and settle a cough, says Mankal. It’s believed that the antimicrobial and antibacterial properties of honey may be at work. However, remember that kids under the age of one should never have honey due to the risk of infant botulism.

Keeping kids hydrated is a really important part of making them feel better, says Jared Friesen, a family nurse practitioner in Alberta. “A cold or cough can make kids lethargic, so they won’t want to eat or drink much, which means they can get even more lethargic, and the cycle continues,” he says. Offer small amounts of food and especially liquid often. Kid-friendly options include soup (try a low-sodium broth), applesauce, juice mixed with a bit of water (offering it in an egg cup or even a shot glass may be enough of a novelty to intrigue them) and frozen treats like Popsicles. Mankal says a good alternative to juice is cooled, fruity hibiscus tea, which is brightly coloured like juice but not nearly as sweet.

“Saline drops and mists can help because salt loosens the mucus and makes it easier for a child to clear it out of their nose,” says Mankal. “If they’re upset with you after you do it, that’s how you know you’ve done enough.” You can also get out the suction bulbs, or “snot suckers,” to gently clear out their nose.

Try teaching kids ages six and up to gargle with salt water (a teaspoon of table salt dissolved in a cup of warm water) to help relieve a sore throat. We also love this affordable saline spray for kids.

A humidifier in your child’s room can help manage cough and cold symptoms by keeping their airway moist, says Friesen. Cool or warm mist? It doesn’t really matter, says Mankal, although a cool mist is generally better for a barky, seal-like croup cough. “For croup, you can also bundle your child in a blanket and take them outside to breathe in some cool air for a few minutes,” she says.

This cool mist ultrasonic humidifier is easy to set up and kid-friendly.

“There’s reasonable evidence to suggest that a sponge bath with lukewarm water, combined with Tylenol or Advil, is more likely to bring a fever down within an hour than medication alone,” says Friesen. However, if your child is already feeling chilled, skip the sponging.

This method works for little ones of all ages, and is yet another reason to make sure you add an infant bath to your newborn checklist.

Add an extra pillow to elevate your child’s head and help clear congestion, says Mankal. These budget-friendly pillows for kids are designed to support delicate growing spines and smaller heads.

Is that strongly scented stuff from your own childhood a good idea? While it's not exactly a "home remedy," the over-the-counter ointment is still quite popular as a topical option.  “There’s a small amount of evidence to suggest that it can improve symptoms at bedtime,” says Friesen, who sometimes uses it on his own kids, ages two and six.

Each tried-and-true jar of Vicks costs about $6, and lasts all the way through cold season.

Coughs and colds are a fact of life. And while there’s no magic approach to zap a stuffy nose instantly, you can manage symptoms and help your child get some healing rest. “Comfort is your ultimate goal,” says Friesen.

Signs that you’re not dealing with a run-of-the-mill cough or cold and your child should be seen by a healthcare provider include wheezing, laboured or fast breathing (nostrils are flared, skin is stretched tight over the ribcage and a prescribed inhaler isn’t helping); a cough that leads to choking, vomiting or trouble breathing; difficulty waking up; and infrequent urination due to dehydration.

These symptoms could be red flags that you’re dealing with influenza or another serious infection. When it comes to temperature, you should take your child to a doctor if their fever lasts longer than 72 hours, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society.