Cold symptoms often leave your child feeling uncomfortable. A child may catch eight colds or more a year, according to Kids Health. The common cold is often identified with symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, cough and fatigue. While there is no cure for the common cold, some relief is possible for your child if he is experiencing cold symptoms. Over-the-counter cold medications are not recommended for young children, as they are not proven effective and may cause dangerous side effects in your child.
Step 1
Apply saline nasal spray to your child's nose to ease nasal congestion. Avoid medicated nasal spray, which may cause side effects in your child. Repeat the saline nasal spray application several times a day to soothe your child's nose and relieve congestion.
Step 2
Suction out your child's nostrils using a bulb syringe. Use the bulb syringe in conjunction with the saline nasal spray, which may help loosen some of the nasal mucus.
Step 3
Run a cool-mist humidifier in your child's room to moisten the air, which may relieve mucous membranes, according to MayoClinic.com. Clean the humidifier and replace the water daily to prevent mold and bacteria from growing.
Step 4
Bathe your child in a warm bath to ease muscle aches she experiences from the cold. Kids Health also recommends using a heating pad. Use the pad on its lowest setting while supervising your child. Never leave the heating pad in your child's bed.
Step 5
Ease your child's breathing and chest congestion by creating steam in the bathroom. Run the shower on hot with the bathroom door closed. Sit in the bathroom for 15 minutes with the child to loosen chest congestion.
Step 6
Hydrate your child by giving him plenty of clear liquids, such as water, juice and broth. According to MayoClinic.com, the fluids may help with congestion and help avoid dehydration.
Step 7
Mix a half teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water, stirring until the salt is dissolved. Have your older child gargle the salt water to provide relief for sore throat.
Step 8
Offer your older child cough drops or hard candies to suck on for additional throat relief. Kids Health recommends this option for kids older than 3.
Step 9
Apply petroleum jelly under the nose if it becomes red and irritated from nose blowing, but not too much, as your child will be constantly inhaling the jelly from her upper lip until it's gone.
Things You'll Need
- Saline nasal spray
- Bulb syringe
- Cool-mist humidifier
- Heating pad
- Salt
- Cough drops
- Hard candy
- Petroleum jelly
