Home remedies for cough for Kids
Its difficult to not let kids catch cold but then be assured, its not un avoidable. Every season, every activity has its pros and cons and it pains a parent when kids suffer it out. I see every child suffering from cold, cough, fever, sore throat in nearly all seasons. In extreme winters, we blame the chilly breeze, In summers, we blame scorching sun and AC contrasts, In rains, we blame hot – humid-rains. But the actual situation is kids are losing their immunity. Compared to our parents or even our’s generation, today’s kids are much weaker when it comes to their immune system and resistance. Yes, even the morphed virus and bacterial strains are to blame, but much of reasons lie within our vicinity. Natural and home remedies for cough for kids are the best remedies compared to medicines.
So, me, being a mother of a 3yo, took out all the home remedies for cold and sore throat which I saw my granny, parents doing. Also, try implementing some of the remedies for cold and cough in your kids daily routine, which will not do any harm but rather help kids gain immunity.
Tips must as a “Daily Routine” which your kids should follow :
Perfect home remedies for cough, rather before cough sets in.
1. Diet :
It plays a very important role in building immunity and resistance towards external factors of a child. In balanced daily diet of fruits and vegetables, include foods which are rich in Vitamin C (Lemon, oranges etc.), Vitamin D(Mushroom, fortified milk, cereal and oatmeals) Curd, Probiotics. All these help in a strong Immune system.
2. Clean Environment :
Keep the house, surfaces clean and disinfected. Open Cups, glasses, table tops usually get infested with viruses and dusts within few hours. Even kids have frequent access to phones and their surfaces are the most dangerous for kids. Keep cleaning all these surfaces and specially the gadgets/mobile which your kids get hooked to multiple times.
Cleaning the hands is another important task. Most of the diseases be it cold, stomach issues in kids are all due to viruses entering via hands. Hence ensure that hands are washed before and after meal time, after play and similar instances. Do santitize their hands or use wet wipes when travelling.
3. Proper Sleep :
Usually as kids grow, their activities grows and their sleep gets cut down drastically. Kids themselves do not want to sleep rather play and do their loved crafts. But here is what we, as parents need to ensure. Check out the minimum sleep requirements age wise here. Less of sleep, anxiety and stress all add up to a poor Immune system.
4. Enough of liquids :
Be it Summers or winters, there has to be enough of liquid intake. During early morning and late night one should always try giving warm liquid/water to the kids. That slight warmness will de-clog the passages from building the mucus.
Let me share two amazing tea for sore throat or even for cold/cough. Even if not, you can drink it sometimes a week.
5. Chamomile Tea :
Try giving chamomile tea at least thrice a week. Chamomile has anti-inflammatory effects and relaxes the body. Be assured that you/your kid is not allergic to it. There are many pure herbal tea’s available, but refer your paediatrician before giving any herb to your kid.
6. Honey – lemon Tea :
One can always go for Honey – Lemon tea for kids older than a year. It has a delectable taste due to honey and this tea is full of vitamin C, must for body’s resistance. You can also add Ginger and some spices as grounded clove, black pepper, cinnamon, black salt and brown sugar, which will add taste as well as make it more nutritious. Usually this mixture with all spices does wonder in cold and cough. For daily use, keep it simple and just add lemon juice and a spoon of honey to lukewarm water and give it to your kid.
7. Soup :
Vegetable /Tomato/ Chicken Soup, are some which are must for kids in all seasons. While in winters and rains, frequency can be daily, in summers it can be twice or thrice a week. It has all important nutrients a kids growing body needs. Make vegetable soup with all seasonal veggies in it.
8. Turmeric Milk :
Whether suffering from cold or not, I try to give Turmeric milk to my son daily in winters and twice/trice a week during rainy season. Turmeric has ample medicinal properties and this milk should be given daily in morning and at night if a child is suffering from cold. We simply needs to add a pinch of turmeric to boiling milk. Let it become normal and give it to your kid to drink it.
9. Saffron + Cardamom Milk :
This is a delicious alternative of plain milk in winters. I usually boil one-two strands of pure saffron in milk for close to 15minutes. It will leave a yellow tinge to the milk. Add little sugar and cardamom to it. It is absolutely delicious and a perfect remedy for cold and cough in kids.
Natural or home remedies for cough or cold for baby :
10. Honey :
Honey is really safe and full of many important nutrients & minerals, must for a healthy and resistant body. It relieves the cough and helps in a good sleep as well. After a kid is 1yo, it can be given in various forms. (Refrain toddler lass than a year old since it enhances risk of Botulism).
Honey + Ginger :
Mash the ginger pulp, squeeze the juice out of it. Add 1/2 teaspoon honey to it and give it to your kid twice a day for treating cold and cough.
Honey + Ginger + Neem(Azadirachta indica) :
Neem has anti-bacterial capacity in itself. When the seasons change and during cough, get some reddish – green new and small Neem leaves. Mash it with ginger and form a paste. Sieve out the juice, add honey and give it. It even helps fight seasonal fever if given as soon as the season changes for minimum 15-20days. When we were kids we used to eat Neem leaves with black pepper during seasonal changes and I need to say, we rarely got any fevers. A perfect home remedy for cold and cough.
Honey + Ginger + Tulsi (Basil leaves) :
Just as the above mixture, this also helps to relieve cold and cough. You should give atleast twice – thrice a day incase of severe cough.
11. Garlic + Carom Seeds (Ajwain):
Garlic with its anti bacterial and anti-viral properties is great for building resistance in the body. All you need to do is, roast 2 cloves Garlic and 1/2 – 1 teaspoon carom seeds , toss them up for next 2-3 minutes. Let them cool and put it in a muslin cloth. Put this close to your kid’s pillow or you can even tie this in his arm. The slight fragrance oozing out will help relief in blocked nose while sleeping.
12. Camphor :
It is very helpful in opening up the blocked nose. Even if you ask your kid to inhale a box with 10-12 small camphor, his nose will open. You can also add pinch of powdered camphor in warm coconut oil and massage on your kids chest. Don’t take it closer to eyes or mouth. Ensure that camphor is not taken by your kid in absence of an adult and should not be ingested.
13. Vicks Vaporub :
I guess it needs no introduction. But you can use vaporub in steam and inhale that moisture. This will help a quick opening of the nasal passage.
14. Elevation of the head :
Sleeping and cold just do not go with one another. Usually the nose blockages and coughing increases while sleeping. So at the outset, give a steam inhalation with Karvol/Vicks and then massage either camphor+oil or vaporub on chest and soles of the feet. Then elevate your child’s head compared to the lower body which will make breathing easier.
15. Saline Water :
These are perfect drops to loosen up the mucus which has been clogged. Many such drops (Nasoclear) are available in the market. These are even safe to use for kids less than a year old. Simply put 2-3 drops in the nostril and let your child have a good night sleep.
16. Cool :
Mist Humidifier , warm bath in a steamy bathroom are great alternatives. Breathing the moist air clears the mucus in the nasal passage and thus a better breathability. Get one cool – mist vaporizer/humidifier here. Let the bathroom be in hot steam for few minutes and then give your kid a warm bath in that steamy bathroom.
17.Gargling :
Gargling with salt / lemon water(lukewarm water) is another option suitable for kids more than 4/5 yo.
18. Kadha :
Well, this is every granny’s choice I believe. This magical juice has all the natural herbs and ingredients to relieve cough/cold and fever. And it is a perfect home remedy for cough. My granny used to add – Carom seeds, Basil leaves, Ginger, Clove, Black pepper, Black salt, jaggery, cinnamon, pinch of turmeric, grounded fenugreek seeds to the boiling water. Boil this whole mixture till it remains half. Let it cool and then give it to your child to drink atleast twice a day. Well, this is not truly loved by kids but then if taken, it is sure to show its magical effect within 2 days.
19. Onion :
Well, onion is of lot importance in Coughing. one can easily sieve Onion juice and add Honey to it and allow it for 2-3hours to blend it properly. One can take it 2-3 times a day. For older kids, you can even make Onion Broth and they can drink 1/2cup 2-3times a day.
20. Wheat Flour + Jaggery :
This can be a very good option for cough and cold in kids but should be given either in the night just before sleeping or after getting up in the morning. Take a spoon of ghee and add grounded pepper and small grounded clove. Add half a spoon wheat flour and roast it. Stir it till it becomes little brown. Boil Jaggery and Water on another side. Once the flour has been roasted, add sieved jaggery solution to it. Stir continuously and let it simmer for next 5 minutes. Ensure that there are no wheat balls formed. Incase, balls get formed (could be due to improper roasting) , let it cool and then filter it up. Serve slight hot, just as soup.
I hope I have been able to help out stressed mama’s from these nasty cold and coughs. What all is required is serious and continuous efforts wrt home remedies for cough, before kids catch it and even afterwards.
Medications will do no good to kids body, but if we can make them immune and resistant, life will be healthier and happier. Use these home remedies for cough.
What remedies you use which helps your kid throw that cough and cold away…far away!!
very informative, thank you!
So Simple, I already knew the solutions, but I still dunno why people go for complex things unnecessary. Hope everyone gets to read what you have.
Thank you for sharing all these wonderful home remedies. Cough for kids really is tough, and it’s also hard for us adults to see them suffering. Thanks again for sharing!
Some brilliant tips here on how to help children with coughs. We always use a steamy shower, plenty of fluids and encouraging lots of sleep
Great homemade remedies! I always use garlic! Kg of garlics! Chopped with ginger and let it simmer with water then add honey and lemon. Luckly my daughter love garlic so sometimes she just eat it raw! Imagine the smell of our home when someone is sick!?
I always make honey, lemon and ginger drinks for my kids when they have coughs and colds and I also swear by echinacea. Thankyou for the ideas, I hadnt heard of some of them, especially the preventative methods you use!
Tea has always helped us too! I love it. My kids aren’t really fans, but I’ll still make some if they have a cough. I’ll have to try some of these other things you listed. Cough Drops help us too.
I agree that calomile and turmeric are great home remedies even if you are not a kid. I like the idea of turmeric milk to be used as an antidote x
My kids have coughs so this will come in handy today!
Thank you so much for these! I love effective, natural home remedies – especially when it comes to my daughter!
I used to get horrible coughs all the time as a kid and nothing would ever help. We eventually realized that I had allergies and I was constantly having asthma problems! Tea was always good for just soothing my throat though.
I don’t have a kid yet but I know a few parents who will be excited to learn about these remedies. And frankly, I think I might try some of them next time I have a cold or cough haha
Some great tips here – I love using honey and lemon when I have a sore throat and it was great to get some other ideas for things I can use!
I’m allergic to everything so I depend on home remedies like this. My go-to are lemon tea and turmeric milk. Once the weather starts getting colder, I start consuming crazy amounts of them!
I work in healthcare but I love the idea of all natural remedies such as this! Thank you for sharing your list.
This is so helpful as we are all full of a cold right now and my children will not stop coughing! Going to try these remedies! Thanks!
Timely post for us right now, thanks! Some tips I had never thought to try!
These tips certainly do come in handy now that we’re getting into the fall and winter season. Especially found the onion portion helpful I had no idea that onions could be used to remedy coughing with kids. Thank you I will certainly be taking note!
That’s a in depth list and I appreciate that. Im not aware of a lot of it but will look into some of these and try them.
These are wonderful tips to use with sick kiddos,,, my little boy was just sick this past week and I used many of these ideas to help him feel better.
These are so helpful! My son is fighting a cold right now so I’ll have to try some of these!
The cardamom and milk sounds delicious! Even as adults, proper sleep is important!
Vicks Vaporub and Honey and Ginger are the two remedies that have always been a a part of my home remedy. In extremely cold climates like Kashmir, a teaspoon of brandy with honey and ginger is recommended for warmth.
I love these remedies! I have always found that honey helps us, particularly a honey tea!
Great tips, I’ll need to keep these handy for next time my toddler has a cold! Thanks for sharing.
Very informative posts, i really don’t like taking medicines for small issues, i prefer home remedies instead, last time when i got caught by cold i remember how i healed myself from lemon tea with some ginger
Wow! I didn’t realize how many home remedies there are for helping your child stay healthy! I am definitely a fan of Vicks Vaporrub and have also used hot tea with honey and lemon for myself. We recently got a cool mist humidifier for my daughter’s room and it works so well! When it is dry in our house during wintertime, the cool mist humidifier helps her breathe better! I look forward to trying some more of these home remedies in the future!
Yea, Humidifier does works wonders. Ginger+ honey is my son’s favourite and believe me I give him daily when season changes to winters. Thanks
Thanks for sharing all of these tips. We’re heading into the cold and flu season here, and between elementary school and daycare, my kids are bound to be sick often. There were some tips here I’d never heard of, so they’ll definitely come in handy.
Great, happy that some of the remedies might help you. DO try out!
I use honey, onions and lemons. Mom taught us these are effective and cost efficient as well.
That’s true! Thanks
Great remedies for cough and cold for children! I am sure that parents would appreciate these tips. I am not a parent, but I was wondering if some or all of these remedies work for adults as well….?
Yes, indeed, most of these remedies work for adults as well. Just the doses will have to be increased:). Thanks
Cold and flu season is here! This is a great list of remedies. Thanks for sharing!
My daughter recently had a cold. I wish I would have known about these sooner. Thanks for sharing!
No worries, keep giving her some of the remedies on and off for building an immunity.
Love this. The biggest thing I always do for my kids is orange juice and rest.
Yea, Vitamin C and rest both are very important
I know the gargling can be good. And if you feel a little sickness coming on I have had doctors tell me to gargle with a tiny bit of chloroseptic mixed with water. It does work wonders. And as for washing hands making sure they spend a good three minutes doing that helps more. It’s the friction that takes off the bacteria, not what is on the soap.
With all the hoopla in the change of weather, my daughter has developed a bit of a cough, I net that saffron and cardamon milk would soothe her through, plus it sounds divine.
Yups, My family loves cardamom saffron milk, we drink it atleast twice a week. Give it a try. Thanks
I came across an article about the importance of turmeric milk and seeing you mention it also, I might give it a go! It sounds like it would not taste bad either! All of them great tips!
It tastes absolutely normal, My kid infact loves his “yellow milk”. BUt add only a pinch and give milk a boil. Thanks
I love tea with lemon in it. It helps the most. My little one caught a cold in daycare and when he starts Kindergarten next year, I will have to me more cautious.
Oh yes, kids catch cold, flu very quickly from the schools, no matter how much precaution they take. So try giving some remedies shared as the season changes and in the cold weather.
I think that I have tried all this remedies but I have to say this is the first time I hear about Kadha. This is something I have to give a try.
Oh yes, Kadha is really important, even in cold you can give this drink like a normal one, which will boost kids immunity. Thanks
This is super useful. I’m in love with tumeric milk. It’s delicious during cold autumn days.
I love all these tips, currently I have been down with cold and flu and using almost all of these to help me feel better. honey lemon tea is one of the most effective things. I also love eucalyptus oil for inhaling steam to clear blocked nose.
I imagine that the honey and ginger would be a great ancedote to a bad cough. Ginger helps with lots of temporary ailments
Very very useful post. My baby sometimes get very bad cold n cough. Will be useful.
A very useful post, thanks
I can vouch on these home remedies. The indian moms always rely on the home remedies for cold. I loved the post
Though you have shared these remedies for kids. Whenever I get cough I have turmeric and milk! 🙂
A very helpful post from a mom. I have taken note of all the remedies
These are such great pointers, a must read for all mommies and mommies to be! 🙂
I really needed this article as my son is unwell. Thank you very much for these very useful home remedies.
I always prefer home remedies for children for cough. They take time but cure completely. Didn’t know the last wheat flour one. Thanks for sharing.
This looks like handy guide ti treat kids cough problem from home only I’ve tried some but many are new to me which seems very effective
Very useful and informative post. All your tips and home remedies are best and safe for kids. Thanks for sharing.
All the tips are very handy and useful.. I tried the honey ginger juice one already and it works..
Ya turmeric milk is the best for me in cough and cold
OMG so many options, wish I have read it before
Natural remedies are best for kids during cold.. really awesome post dear..
This is a really good and helpful list. I think even us grown ups will benefit from this. camphor is a good idea – definitely will try this out in place of vicks as the 1st remedy.
Those are such easy to follow and effective tips which we often neglect.,. Thanks for sharing
Loved reading this post. Although I was aware of couple of recipes / tricks already but you updated my Arsenal fighting off cough esp for my toddler girl
I’m very familiar with home remedies and Calomile and Turmeric are a must have!
Good u posted this. Have been battling with severe cold for the past two weeks . Thanks a lot
Oh hope you are good now, do try the home remedies throughout this season 🙂
Jhilmil, as you know my son is 4yrs old so can I give him the followings?
Carom seeds, Basil leaves, Ginger, Clove, Black pepper, Black salt, jaggery, cinnamon, pinch of turmeric, grounded fenugreek seeds to the boiling water.
Pinch of powdered camphor in warm coconut oil and massage on your kids chest.
Mash the ginger pulp, squeeze the juice out of it. Add 1/2 teaspoon honey to it and give it to your kid twice a day for treating cold and cough.