Babies are prone to infections and flu in the changing seasons. We as mothers instantly panic with the coughing of babies and feel helpless when your baby cough sounds miserable. Antibiotics and other medication definitely gives relief to babies but it's not healthy for the later age of the baby. Here are 9 home remedies to cure cold and cough in babies which can be easily available.
Breastmilk
Nothing is better than breastmilk for the babies from newborn to 6 months. Breast-milk has antibiotics which boost the baby immunity and helps fight any infections. If your baby is on formula milk along with the breast milk then try giving more breastmilk. It works as a medicine.
Mustard Oil
Warm massage of mustard oil works like a magic to calm babies in sore throats and nasal stuffiness. Mix some garlic(lehsun) and carom seeds (ajwain) with mustard oil and heat it. Once it crackles, switch off the stove and cool it for some time. Massage lukewarm oil to the baby's neck, chest, toe and palm area gently. The warmth of mustard oil calms the baby and massage helps in a comfortable sleep. Regular mustard oil massage is also good for babies for stronger muscle growth. You can read here to know what oils are good and bad for babies.
Ghee
Desi ghee is the only medicine for everything for babies as per our grannies. And yeah this is true, ghee works wonders for babies, try using ghee made from cow’s milk and homemade ghee while using it for babies. Rubbing ghee gently on baby’s neck and throat area calms the baby instantly.
Grate the ginger and mix it in hot ghee, when it crackles close the stove. Give this ghee ginger mixture to babies above 15 months in small amounts (a teaspoon) for 3 to 4 times.
You can also rub ghee mix with 2 to 3 drops of eucalyptus oil in toddlers chest, neck and toe.
Read here: DIY Baby Photoshoot Ideas: Baby Costumes
Honey
Honey is a good remedy for dry cough. Dark honey which is also known as buckwheat, works best for cough as it is higher in antioxidants. Honey is not for babies below one year of age as it leads to infant botulism. Digestive systems of babies are not developed to digest honey. Half a teaspoon of honey is enough for babies ages from 1 to 5 years. For babies older than 5 years you can give 1 teaspoon.
You can mix honey with some tulsi leaves to babies of above 3 years. Extract some juice from tulsi leaves and mix with honey if you are giving it to babies below 3 years. Tulsi leaves may choke in the throat of the baby, if they do not chew it properly.
Ginger
Ginger is a popular home remedy to treat sore throat for adults as well as for babies. You can boil some ginger in water, cool it down and then mix some honey and give it to the baby. Ginger has anti-inflammatory compounds which relax the membranes of airways which helps in calming the sore throat and coughing.
Garlic
Garlic has anti-bacterial properties and has many health benefits. It's a good remedy for curing cough in babies. Crush some garlic, mix it with some ghee and then heat the mixture. Cool it down and some honey and give it to the baby. Always remember do not mix the honey when the mixture is hot in any drink or mixture, as the property of honey gets killed and it becomes toxic. Make sure your mixture or drink is cool when you are mixing the honey. Burnt garlic mix with mustard oil is a best massage for instant relief from cold and cough.
Turmeric
Turmeric milk is the best option to cure any pain, dry cough, and cold. As we all know turmeric is the best antiseptic and has anti-inflammatory properties. You can mix a pinch of turmeric powder in warm milk and give it to babies above one year of age. You can also make a ginger turmeric tea to calm the sore throat and nasal congestion. Boil 2 cups of water, mix some grated ginger, turmeric and peppercorns. You have to boil the mixture till it remains one cup. Cool the mixture, mix 1 -2 drops of lemon and ta-dah your therapeutic drink is ready for your little one.
Carom Seeds/ Ajwain
Ajwain potli or pouch is one of the popular remedies of our granny. Its aroma works wonders when your baby is suffering from nasal congestion. Put some ajwain on a pan, along with it add two three cloves of garlic and cloves (laung) roast the mixture. Put the roasted mixture into a cotton cloth and inhale the aroma, you can also put the potli into the baby's bed or near to his pillow.
Pepper
Peppercorns powder mix with honey soothes the throat in dry cough. You can also boil some water with peppercorns and ginger. Cool it down and mix a teaspoon of honey into it to serve.
Tips for the speedy recovery of baby from cold and cough
Much Water Intake
Encourage your baby for more and more water or fluids to sip. Water thins the mucus and prevents nasal congestion. Never offer your baby fluids that are cold and contain sugar like juices or any cold drinks/ soda water. You can offer him/her breast-milk, formula milk, cow’s milk (only above one year), dal pani, soups. Also check your baby pee color, if its dark yellow in color encourage him/her for more water to sip. If the urine color is light then your baby is taking the adequate amount of water which needs to be maintained.
Stop giving Antibiotics
Avoid giving antibiotics every time your baby gets a cold and cough or any other small health problems. Always try natural and home remedies to treat the early symptoms, this will also help the baby in boosting the immunity. Giving too much antibiotics can make the babies body resistant to antibiotics.
Elevate the head while sleeping
Nasal congestion always disturbs the sleep not only in babies but also to us. The idea of sleeping with slightly head up is what we always do while we suffer from the blocked nose. The same idea goes for the babies as well, elevate the baby’s head a little with a baby pillow or thin blanket or any rolled-up towel. Never use big/adult pillow as it may increase the chances of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
Give time to baby
Babies need more love and pampering, if they are unwell. Try to give more time to your baby and make them feel better. Breastfeeding, skin to skin touch (for 0- 3 months babies), cuddles, mother touch all these can help your baby have a speedy recovery to fight any health issues. Give your baby more nap times to recover faster, sleeping helps in boosting immunity as well.
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