If your toddler comes down with the flu, you'll know it because of sudden fever, head or muscle aches, chills and fatigue, with a runny nose or cough coming later. Sometimes there is also diarrhea, vomiting or a sore throat. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that over-the-counter medications are not effective for children under six-years-old, and may even be harmful. However, there are safe remedies that work well, and many of them are completely natural.
Step 1
Give your child plenty of fluids and rest, which are the best treatments for the flu. Water is a good choice, or clear fruit juices diluted 50 percemt with water; also try smoothies made with milk or yogurt, blended with fresh or frozen fruit. Avoid sugary drinks since they can affect the immune system. If she won't drink enough liquids, offer her frozen fruit bars and soup or plain broth. The bonus to the latter is that soup can also help to relieve congestion at the same time.
Step 2
Use steam to further ease congestion by running a hot shower and letting steam build up in the bathroom, where your child can sit for five to 10 minutes; humidifiers are another option, but need to be cleaned and disinfected well against mold and mildew.
Step 3
Clear any residual mucous from your child's nose with a few drops of saline solution, making sure it stays in the nostrils for about 10 seconds before removing it with the suction from a bulb syringe. Refrain from doing this more than two or three times a day, as it can irritate the nostril lining.
Step 4
Give your child a spoonful of honey instead of cough syrup if she is over two. Never give honey to a baby under 12 months, as it can cause infant botulism, which is a serious, though rare, type of food poisoning.
Step 5
Ease fever or muscle aches with children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen. This is the only medication that you may want to rely on to soothe his symptoms. Do not give your child aspirin unless his doctor has specifically recommended it, because it can cause a rare life-threatening condition known as Reye's syndrome. Some parents think antibiotics will do the trick, but the flu is caused by a virus, not by bacteria, so that approach is ineffective and possibly detrimental.
Step 6
Ask your child's doctor about the option of an antiviral medication if she has an underlying medical condition that could put her at a high risk for complications. This won't get rid of the flu, but it might ease the symptoms and shorten the bout by a day or two, as long as it is started within the first 48 hours.
Step 7
Watch for your child to start feeling better, which should happen within three to five days. Usually his fever will break first, and then he'll get his appetite back. However, some kids will have a lingering cough or achy body for a few weeks after getting over the flu.
Step 8
Call your child's doctor if her fever lasts longer than three days or is over 103 degrees F; if she develops a cough that does not get better after a week; if she has an earache; if she is wheezing or having difficulty breathing; if she shows signs of dehydration; or if she gets sick again shortly after recovering from the flu, which could indicate a secondary infection that needs to be looked at.
Step 9
Prevent future illness by feeding your child a healthy, nutritious diet, making sure that he gets lots of rest and exercises daily, and teaching him good hygiene. Have him wash his hands with warm water and soap before eating and after using the bathroom, and keep him away from other people who are sick.
Things You'll Need
- Fluids
- Honey
- Saline drops
- Bulb syringe
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Thermometer
