Home Remedies for Cold and Cough in Babies

Home Remedies for Cold and Cough in Babies:

“It hurts when I see the little chest in pain due to cough , poor thing”. These were my colleague’s words when I asked about her son. As the weather changed drastically in Mumbai everyone including the babies are affected.

I took a leave on Monday as even Anshika was cranky due to cold and cough. Now she is better and relieved.

This post is about the 21 home remedies for cold and cough in babies, toddlers and kids.

Home Remedies for Cold and Cough in Babies, Toddlers and Kids:

#1.  BABIES UP TO 6 MONTHS:

Remember your baby’s first cold ? I remember when Anshika was barely 3 weeks old when she became down with her first cold and cough. I am sure many moms would have gone through this difficult phase of sleepless night and crankiness in babies during cold and cough.

1. Breast milk

Yes 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. The antibodies in BM helps the baby’s body to build immunity against all types of germs and aids in proper hydration required.

2. Nasal saline drops

I am sure your ped would have prescribed pediatric saline drops for infants .

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 in 8 tsp of warm filtered water. Once cooled , you can use it for your baby . But 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 .

Nasal aspirator is also a good option to decongest your baby’s blocked nose. You can BUY IT HERE

• Read: 5 tricks to keep cold at bay

3. Garlic and Ajwain Potli (pouch)

Garlic and Ajwain (carrom seeds) are known for its anti bacterial and anti viral properties.

Dry roast 2 big cloves of garlic and 1 tbsp of ajwain on a tawa and once cooled make it into a potli / tight pouch with a clean muslin cloth. Place this potli in the baby cot / cradle where baby sleeps. The garlicky ajwain smoke from the potli would help baby to open the blocked nose and relieve from congestion.

NOTE : Please don’t keep the potli near baby to avoid the chances of putting into mouth / choking  / breathing hazard in anyway. You can also dry rub the potli under baby’s feet .

4. Baby’s clothing should be as such to protect the chest from cold.

5. Keep baby’s and your hands sanitized thoroughly at regular intervals with antibacterial baby wipesor soap . This helps to prevent the spread of germs.

6. Keep baby’s head elevated when he sleeps, to ease breathing

If your baby’s cold and cough persists for more than 2 weeks , please consult a ped asap. Please don’t try any home remedies which involves intake of any oil / herb/ medicines for babies below 6 months.

#2. BABIES ABOVE 6 MONTHS

You can try 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 too here . Apart from those,

7. Give warm water at regular intervals to keep the baby well hydrated. You can try boiled ajwain or cumin water. You can also read about how much water is required for babies.

8. Provide warm vegetable soup /tomato soup . You can try chicken soupif your baby is 8m+. These soups increase the immunity of the body.

• Read : 7 healthy soup recipes for babies and kids

9. Nilgiri oil dipped in a cotton ballplaced in the room where baby sleeps is found to be effective. You can buy itHERE

10. You can try steaming the room using a vaporizer or giving a warm shower .

NOTE : Steam should not placed close to the baby

11. The garlic and ajwain potli in step 3 , can be used to rub on the baby’s chestby making it warm on a tawa.

NOTE : Don’t apply the potli on the chest directly from the tawa , instead place it on your palm, check for the temperature and rub it on with the slight heat. Helps to clear the chest off the congestion and phlegm

12. Tomato and garlic soup also called rasam can be given to 7M + babies. This is popular in South India as a common cure for cold and cough. Please omit the red chillies / chilly powder here

13. Apply vapo rubs for babies under the feet and put on cotton socks before sleep.

#3. BABIES ABOVE 1 YEAR:

14. Grate ginger and add honey to it. A tsp. of this can be given at regular intervals. Helps to soothe the throat and cough.

• Read : Kaacchiya Enna or Velichenna Kaacchiyadu for cold and cough

15. Add lemon juice and honey . Add a little warm water to it and give it your baby to drink.

16. Milk with turmeric is effective for dry coughs.

17. Ginger coffee works like magic . Boil about 1 cup of water with 2 slices of ginger , 2 tulsi leaves,  2 pepper pods, 
2 cardamom, 2 cloves and 1 tbsp jaggery . Strain and give this concoction for quick relief from cold and cough

• Read : Chukku Kaappi or dry ginger coffee for babies 

18. Dry roast 5 cloves and grind it well once cooled. Add honey to it and give it before sleep

#4. TODDLERS ABOVE 2 YEARS OF AGE:

19. A powdered mixture of jaggery and 4 peppercorns helps to remove phlegm

#5. CHILDREN ABOVE 4 YEARS:

20. Infusing Medicated Vapors – Pour 2 drops of eucalyptus oil or nilgiri oil in a pot of steaming boiled water.

Ask the child to bend and cover his head with a breathable blanket and infuse the medicated vapors . Helps to unblock the nasal tract.

21. Gargle with honey, lime and warm water which helps to clear off the throat and nose. Buy pure honey from HERE

In addition to the above mentioned 21 home remedies, we recommend nasobuddy nasal aspirator for your baby which is efficient in relieving the baby’s stuffed nose. You can read myreview of the nasobuddy nasal aspiratorand buy it by clicking the banner below.

Hope this helps. I am sure there would be many more home remedies for cold and cough in babies and kids. Please share with me in comments.