Soothing Your Child’s Cold

More than 100 different viruses cause colds. No wonder a vaccine for your child's cold does not yet exist! And because viruses cause colds, antibiotics aren't effective against them. So treatment for a child's cold or a child's sore throat is usually a matter of easing symptoms with self-care and over-the-counter children's cold medicines.

First Steps for Relieving Your Child's Cold Symptoms

For a child's cold, often the simplest solutions are the best: rest, fluids, and keeping the air moist with a humidifier. Then let your child's cold run its course.

Drinking extra fluids thins mucus, helping it to drain. Drinking fluids can also ease a child's sorethroat. Try a variety of fluids such as warm water or tea with lemon and honey, Popsicles, or chicken soup.

Moist, warm air also improves draining and breathing and can ease a dry, sore throat.

What About Children's Cold Medicines?

If rest, fluids, and other self-care steps don't make your child comfortable, especially at night, should you try over-the-counter (OTC) children's cold medicine? They're not all the same, and they can contain a variety of ingredients, so be sure to read labels carefully. If you have any questions about OTC children's cold medicine, be sure to ask the pharmacist or doctor. Below are several types of cough medications, along with suggestions for relieving the same symptoms naturally.

Decongestants

Decongestant nose drops such as Afrin or Neo-Synephrine shrink nasal passages and reduce congestion. Do not use them for more than two to three days. Extended use actually triggers the body to produce more congestion in response to the chemical.

Oral decongestants include medications such as Sudafed. Common side effects include sleeplessness or hyperactivity, so avoid giving oral decongestants at bedtime. Unfortunately, these medications rarely work for more than an hour or two.

Saltwater nose drops and sprays, readily available at drug stores and many supermarkets, are just as effective as decongestants. They have no side effects.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are present in some cold medicines, but they work only for seasonal or occasional symptoms of allergies. They aren't effective in treating viral symptoms. They also can cause sleepiness and a dry mouth. Benadryl is an example of an antihistamine.

Cough Expectorants

Cough expectorants may help thin mucus, allowing your child to cough it up more easily. Robitussin is an example of a cough expectorant. Your child needs to drink a lot of water while taking a cough expectorant for it to work. Some research suggests that these medicines may work only when given in much larger doses than are currently considered safe.

Warm tea or water with honey and lemon works just as well as cough expectorants to soothe inflamed throat membranes. Warm liquids can also reduce the "tickle in the throat" and dry cough that result from post-nasal drip.