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Does anyone have tips on what you can use to help with a cold for your child? My 14 month old woke up with a cold, and as the day goes on she is getting worse : (
I am so scared to have to take her to the Doctors and have them push drugs if it gets bad. I know that to feed her whole foods, avoid sugar and things like that. Does anyone have any tips on things you can get at the health food stores that work?
Thanks
Kelsey
Avoid dairy products also to
Avoid dairy products also to help with phlegm and mucous.
The only thing I've ever used
The only thing I've ever used so far for my 22 months old is Ocean Spray (nasal saline drops), this is just salt water spray to help her breath eaiser. And absolutely nothing else!!!Matia suggested a couple of herbs, but me daughter can't stand the taste of them even hidden in agave syrup. And I stayed away from cow's milk till she got over it. I did give her plain yogurt though.Good luck!
Umka
Here is part of a post I received when my son had a cold."She doesn't get much in the way of sugar so this treat helps. You can also use a homeopathic cold/sinus syrup that works very well at shortening the duration of colds. It's sold in most health food stores. It's called UMKA. Don't let the name s scare you. We've used it for years and if you start as soon as symptoms start it will shorten duration and they will have milder symptoms."http://www.iherb.com/Nature-s-Way-Umcka-Coldcare-Children-s-Natural-Medicine-FastActives-Powder-Cherry-Flavor-10-Packets/22537?at=0 The only catch is the dosages are for children over 6. I am not sure how much a younger child should take.
UMKA
Homeopathics are completely safe. No side effects. I used 1/2 tsp of UMKA 4 times a day with my kids until they were 3. Then went up to 3/4 tsp until age 6. Now when they sound like they MIGHT be coming now with anything nasal, I start this and BAM, it's gone!
powder vs syrup
I haven't seen this powder version. I'm sure it's good. My kids wouldn't take anything in powder form Esp. my younger son. I've been giving him the adult syrup with great success. They all say children over 6 but they have to by law. Homeopathics are safe for children. My son loves the UMKA syrup. He will remind me when it's time to take it!
sea salt
If it's just a cold the main thing is to keep the nasal passages clear to avoid ear and sinus infections. Sea salt has natural antibacterial properties. I make my own. Salt water saline is sold in Europe but I have not found any here in the US. You buy and empty a saline sprayer from the drug store. I make mine up fresh everyday. 1/4 tsp sea salt mixed with warm water and shake. I fill the sprayer about half way. I know that little ones HATE to have their nose cleaned out but you must keep the bacteria from getting a strong hold. They cry and fuss and then it's all over.I always keep a homeopathic remedy in my med chest called UMKA. It sounds weird but it shortens the symptoms and duration of colds. It's amazing! I work at a health food store and our customers have very positive feedback on this stuff. It won't help you with this cold as you need to start it at the first sign of symptoms but I would track it down and have it handy. I have used homeopathic remedies for years with great success. I also have one that works great for stopping a sinus infection short. If you want more details like brand names feel free to email me. You can special order these things at most Whole Foods or other health food stores. Lots of water, rest and a humidifier at night will keep the mucus loose. I would also start powdered probiotics .My children take probiotics and they rarely get ill. Oh, I rarely use fever reducers. The fever is the bodies way of fighting infections/bacteria/virus. Make them as comfortable as possible and let the fever do its job. Hope this helps.
I have been reading about
I have been reading about kids raised on farms, with animals, dirt, etc being lots healthier than kids with closed air systems, living inside with lots of cleaning anc anthbacterial chemicals. It seems to build the imune system early. For kids I really believe in nursing because that gives them a great head start. 2nd- dont start the grains too early. Try to wait 4-6 months. Start with veggies- most kids love squash and carrots.This is good news for those of us who don't like to clean that much! It's more important to play with the kids and get them outside in the dirt, sand, water, woods, etc. I never took my kids to the Dr. unless they were sick 7-10 days or more. Kidsget over simple infections pretty quick. I would't worry unless the fever was really hign or they were screaming in pain or something. Chicken soup, crackers, and hot tea works wonders.
Cold
I just want to say that I have used homeopathic remedies for years, and they are very safe and effective, even for small children. They work very well with viruses and can help unblock nasal passages and help the body fight off the virus.
Thanks for
all your suggestions and emails I do appreciate it.I have started her on Natren (about 1/8 a pill a day mixed in plain yogart) since seeing Matia. And I do have that UMKA, and have used it for myself and it worked great. But I didn't know if I should give it to her, and how much? It sounds like other people have used it and liked it. I also have Wish Gardens Kick Ass ( sorry that is the name! ) and it works good for me. I got her the Childrens version and have been giving that to her. She seems a little better today. So do you think it is too late to give her some of the Umka?She doesn't really have a stuffed up nose at all, just really really runny and she is sneezing so much! I have always fed her well, and never used formula and breast fed her a year. I decided against all vaccines ( Both my sisters had very bad reactions when they were little, scary!) and she has only been sick once before and never been to the Dr for being sick yet but it always just worries me that she will have to, and I won't know what to do!But, I can't really stop giving her dairy? I know I can cut out other things like cheese and stuff right now, but they are supposed to have some whole milk when they are this young, she is only 14 months. I buy the organic. But I guess that is a matter of opinion. I would like to see what others think of this? And Matia's thoughts?! Thanks so much for everyone taking the time to give me suggestions!!! : )
So if she weighs
21 lb, how much would I give her of the UMKA? And I agree, the reason why they say above age 6 or 12 is because they have to buy law, and or they don't want to deal with people...
Yes, start the UMKA
I would give her 1/2 tsp at least 3 times todayand go to 4 times a day starting tomorrow. Colds are slow in coming and you've caught it within the first 24hrs. Yogurt is great and won't cause as much mucus. I would cut out cheese and milk for the next 2 to 3 days. She'll be fine. You want her nose to run clear and not sound stuffy. If it hangs up there, bacteria will grow. You're doing everything right. She's a lucky little girl.
One more thing about UMKA..
I live in a hot climate, Texas. I noticed that my unfinished bottles of UMKA would go bad. The bottle does not say to refrig but I called them and they told me that it was OK to refrig. Since doing this I haven't had any trouble.
emmarenee
your kinds words mean a lot to me : )I will start the Umka today then. That sound like a good dose. I wish I would have started it yesterday! But I just was not sure at all. Also, I think I will cut out the milk for 2 days or so... she can get calcium and the fat and vitamin D from some other things in the mean time.Thanks so muchKelsey
Kelsey
I think you'll be in good shape if you start the UMKA today. Being cautious is a good thing. With so many remedies, many of them bad. This site is a great resourse for moms. I have other homepathics that I keep on hand for colds/sinus that works really well. I recently found a company that has water based sprays. NO SUGAR! They are very easy to give to kids. KINGBIO. They have a multi strain flu that I have my whole family on.
Looking for unblock nasal passages
Tammy, Thanks for your great tips on colds. My son has a sinus infection and is on herbs for it. His mucus is still yellow and I am going to try your saline method tomorrow. Is the homeopathic in your last post for unblocking nasal passages? I would like to get that as well. Thanks.
Sorry to hear that..
My son used to get a sinus infection with almost every cold until he was 3 and my daughter has had 3. They are not any fun and hard to get rid of. Now that they are on probiotics, they rarely gets colds. The product I've used for years is by Boiron called Sinusalia. It relieves nasal congestion, sinus pressure and head pain. They come in pellets and rapid melts. I usually have to special order the rapid melts. The pellets can be found at most health food stores. They come in a litttle yellow tube (most are in blue tubes). Recently I have found the KingBio line. They have a waterbased spray that does not have sugar. You can find it at Natural Grocers or online. I also give them Boiron pellets called pulsatilla it's for colds with yellow nasal discharge. I use 6C for local/specipic symptoms. If you're not sure ask if someone at the store has homeopathic knowledge to help you. If you can't get the rapid melts and your son is too small to take the pellets correctly (melt in the mouth) you can put the pellets in a drop of pure water and let them melt. This can take a good 30 mins. Always give homeopathics in a clean mouth (at least 30 mins either side of citrus). I always have these at the ready. These in addition to the herbs should kick it's butt! Lots of water, rest and nasal flushes. Good luck and let me know if I can explain anything above clearer.