What Is Your Favorite "Nip It in the Bud" Cold Remedy?

My grandson learned to rinse (neti pot) his sinuses right away when symtoms appear, whether a cold or hay fever. It helps significantly, and he actually likes doing it (makes him feel capable and in control, I think). I do this too, but I just sniff saline from my hand — never could get the hang of that little pot.

Oh, yeah, I LOVE me some chicken broth — can I join you for dinner?

(BTW: The time-honored remedy of Vicks on the chest or feet gives some people comfort, but it has been found to increase congestion in many children, so experiment cautiously.)

To slow down. Stay away from work or school. Sleep late. Cook something homemade in the crockpot. Stay in pjs all day and chill.

Many colds are because we are run down.

If you do nothing, a cold will last about 14 days. If you aggressively treat it, it will be gone in just 2 weeks.

I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's a virus, and a virus has to run it's course. Just keep an eye on it, and if her nose is yellow/green gunky or she has ear pain around day 10, go to the ped to make sure it hasn't turned into a sinus or ear infection before you get on the plane. Give it enough time that you can get 2 days of antibiotics in her before the trip if your ped says that it is an infection.

lots of vitamin c, steamy hot baths, lots of sleep where possible

Use over the counter saline nasal spray every hour. My kids colds always used to develop into a full blown sinus infection until we started using he saline. (I also give them mucinex but I don't know if it is okay to use in a 4 yo.)

Rest and hydration. Honestly, once the cold comes on it's too late for any preventative measures and generally it has to run it's course. Staying well rested and getting plenty of fluids will help shorten the lifespan. For congestion, you can put a humidifier in her room at night. If your 4 yo is like mine, she won't let me put any saline up her nose. :) A nice steamy bath is just as good.

Homemade chicken noodle soup
Extra Vit C
Zinc
Tea with Lemon, Ginger, Dates and Honey
Sleep
Movies
Cuddle

For her cough, Vicks on the bottom of her feet with socks & a little on her chest & back at night will help her sleep. Hope she feels better soon & have a safe trip :)

Chicken soup, with lots of onions on the broth.
Zinc lozenges.
Clear fluids.
Vitamin C

Good luck!

Depends on my symptoms. Ginger root and lots of water. And sleep!

A neti pot is my favorite but it might be hard to use with a 4-year-old.
Take him to the doc for a shot of cortisone.

We use a lemon tea of

1 cup water
1/2 lemon
1 spoon oregano
1.5 spoons honey

Let the oregano steep for 3 minutes (or it will be more bitter). A few sips before bed and a few sips in the morning should start making it taper down. The only down side is the acid for a four year old may be too much.

Neti-pot, lots of fluids and rest.

Not much you can do except help her body stay strong enough to fight it. The broth should help. As will rest, sleep, liquids. And keep her comfortable with acetaminophen for aches and warm honey/lemon tea for sore through. And maybe Vicks rub.

Well, there's nothing you can do to make it go away faster. Getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated should keep it from getting worse.

There are many things you can do to try and relieve some of her symptoms (make her more comfortable), and that's pretty much the ideas you've already gotten.

But there isn't anything you can do to help her get over her cold faster. As a couple of others mentioned, it's a virus and it has to run it's course.

Vitamin C several times a day and tons of sleep!

here's something for a head/ chest cold-

1 shot of boiled water, 1 clove crushed garlic (raw). juice of 1/2 a lemon, stirred with 1 TBSPN of honey. down the hatch it goes. Might be tough to convince a 4 year old to drink it though.

To help with a dry cough, a spoonful of tahini followed by a spoonful of honey, seems to lubricate and soothe the throat.

Good luck,
F. B.

I love Elderberry Extract, it is the best stuff to relieve cold symptoms. You can find it at any health food store, you just mix a few drops in water a few times a day.

lots of echinacea and vitamin C, and 'witch tea' (fresh from the garden sage, mint, basil and thyme, with a cinnamon stick and candied ginger, and plenty of local honey to mask the medicinal flavor of the sage). oh, and 'boiled water' garlic soup, which is wonderfully comforting.
but sometimes nothing works. i'm on week 2 of a nasty stubborn summer bug. pisses me off all the more because i hardly ever get sick!
khairete
S.

Sleep.
Make sure she sleeps and gets rest.
Do not do any "activities" or running around.
Sleep helps the body to heal.
Keep her home.

Neti pot.
But for a child that young, they may not be able to do it properly. If not used properly and blown out properly, it can cause problems, and/or you don't want a kid to aspirate on it. So INSTEAD, I would use a saline nasal spray. "Little Noses" makes a good one, its for kids. I used that on my kids when they were younger. You can find it at any drugstore.

A typical cold will last 10 days.
Take her to the Doctor, since you said she is getting worse today.
Look out for new or worsening symptoms.

Also, IF she is able to, have her gargle with salt water. Even Doctors do this. It helps to lessen the symptoms of upper respiratory colds. Gargle several times a day.

Hi M.,

For me it's Beta Glucan. If I take it as soon as I feel something coming on,I never get it....for the kids, elderberry extract. It works the same way by boosting the immune system so the body fights it off before it knocks you down.

God bless,
M.

PS NO ONE has to ever have a cold!