
25 Simple foods to tackle cold and cough in babies and toddlers:
- Sweet pearl millet flour porridge/ Bajra raab. Bajra raab is what comes to my mind first, if anyone asks what to give babies who have cold and cough.
- Sweet whole wheat flour porridge. Sweet whole wheat flour porridge is the next preferred porridge given to babies when their chest is congested.
- Ginger tea. ...
- Tulsi tea. ...
- Tomato soup. ...
- Tulsi – lemon tea. ...
What is the best home remedy for a toddler cough?
The Most Effective At-Home Cough Remedies for Kids
- Cough Syrups and Drops. How you treat your child’s cough depends on both the sound of their cough and their age. ...
- Natural Cough Remedies. There are several options available to parents who prefer to treat their children's coughs with more natural home remedies.
- When to Visit the Doctor. ...
- Other Causes of Coughs. ...
- A Word From Verywell. ...
How do you help a toddler with a cough?
There is a range of home remedies that can provide congestion relief for toddlers:
- Steam inhalation. A warm, steamy room can help loosen thick mucus and make it easier for a child to breathe. …
- Humidifier. …
- Bulb suction. …
- Saline nasal sprays. …
- Chicken soup. …
- OTC pain relievers. …
- Plenty of fluids. …
- Changing sleeping position.
How can I Stop my Child from coughing?
What can stop kids from coughing?
- Keep their head elevated. …
- Steam things up. …
- Use a humidifier. …
- Get a NoseFrida. …
- Clear the nose. …
- Get sweet on honey. …
- Use a chest rub. …
- Try an internet rumor.
How to treat cough in toddlers at home?
Natural Cough Remedies
- Humidifiers. Using a humidifier can help ease your child's symptoms by adding moisture to the air. ...
- Honey. You can offer children one and older a homemade remedy of honey dissolved in warm water with lemon. ...
- Fluids. Keeping your child hydrated is important when they have a cough. ...
- Saline Drops. ...
- Elevation. ...

How do I get rid of my toddler's cough?
It could be due to post-nasal drip from the back of your child's throat.Use saline nasal drops. You can buy these over-the-counter nasal drops at a pharmacy. ... Offer fluids. ... Offer honey. ... Elevate your child's head when sleeping. ... Add moisture with a humidifier. ... Talk a walk in cold air. ... Apply vapor rub. ... Use essential oils.
What should I not give my toddler for a cough?
Avoid carbonated or citrus drinks that may irritate a raw throat. Run a cool-mist humidifier in your child's bedroom. Use saline (saltwater) nose drops to relieve congestion. Never give cough drops (a choking hazard) to young kids or cough or cold medicine to kids under 6 years of age.
What can I feed my 1 year old with a cough?
Age 3 months to 1 year. Give warm clear fluids (such as apple juice or lemonade). Dose: 1-3 teaspoons (5-15 ml) four times per day when coughing.
What helps a toddler with Covid cough?
The best way to manage coughing and shortness of breath varies depending on the age of your child. Kids under age 2, try: Using a soothing chest rub for babies, such as Vicks® BabyRub ™. Avoid adult rubs containing camphor.
Is banana good for cough?
Eating bananas when you are suffering from cough, cold and other problems like nausea or vomiting helps in getting rid of the diseases easier. Banana is a part of BRAT (Banana, Rice, Applesauce and Toast), a diet type recommended for people suffering from cough, cold and stomach ailments.
Can we give milk during cough?
02/7Dairy goods During cough and cold, the intensity and severity of mucus increases and it is suggested to avoid dairy products as they can further increase mucus production.
What food should be avoided during cough?
And so can the following foods which you should avoid if you want that cough and cold to get any better.Sugar. You might crave a sugary tea or something sweet when you're down with a cold - what would you do without some comforts when you're sick after all? ... Alcohol. ... Caffeinated drinks. ... Milk. ... Spicy food.
Which fruit should be avoided during cough?
Citrus fruits: Fruits with citric acid may cause acid reflux aggravating your throat and triggering coughs. Fruits that have lot of water content like watermelon, pears, pineapples, peaches should be taken.
Is Egg good for cough and cold?
Selenium acts as an antioxidant, which helps relieve some symptoms of the common cold. Eggs are a protein-filled food rich in zinc and vitamin D. A 2018 clinical review suggests that vitamin D intake is associated with a lower risk of a cold, and the higher your intake, the better your immune function.
What are symptoms of Covid in toddlers?
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in children are cough and fever....Possible signs and symptoms include:Fever.Cough that becomes productive.Chest pain.New loss of taste or smell.Changes in the skin, such as discolored areas on the feet and hands.Sore throat.Nausea, vomiting, belly pain or diarrhea.Chills.More items...
How do you treat Covid in a 2 year old?
How Is Coronavirus (COVID-19) Treated? Most people with a mild illness, including children, don't need any specific treatment. They get better with rest, fluids, and fever-reducing medicine.
How do I get rid of Covid cough?
Other techniques to help with reducing your cough:Close your mouth and swallow.Gently breathe in and out through your nose, until the urge to cough goes away.Sip drinks regularly (hot or cold).Suck boiled sweets or lozenges.
How can I stop my toddler coughing at night?
To help your coughing child feel better:For a "barky" or "croupy" cough, turn on the hot water in the shower in your bathroom and close the door so the room will steam up. ... A cool-mist humidifier in your child's bedroom might help with sleep.Sometimes, brief exposure to cool air outdoors can relieve the cough.More items...
How can I stop my child coughing at night?
Things you can try to get through the night: 1) Run a cool-mist humidifier in your child's room for a few nights. 2) If your child is over 12mo, give 1tsp of honey (preferably buckwheat honey). This has been shown to be more effective than cough suppressants in children.
Can I give my 2 year old honey for a cough?
Coughing: Do not give infants under 1 year honey; it will not help with symptoms and can cause a sickness called infant botulism. For children 1 year and older: Use honey, 2 to 5 mL, as needed. The honey thins the mucus and loosens the cough.
Why can't toddlers have cough medicine?
Children under 2 years of age should not be given any kind of cough and cold product that contains a decongestant or antihistamine because serious and possibly life-threatening side effects could occur. Reported side effects of these products included convulsions, rapid heart rates and death. What about older children?
What to give a child for a sore throat?
soup with rolls. baked or grilled chicken or fish. Some mums find that offering their child some warm milk with a pinch of turmeric ( haldi) helps calm a sore throat. On the other hand, some believe that milk worsens a cough or cold. There's no real harm in giving milk if your child wants.
How to help a toddler with fever?
Here are a few things to consider. Offer plenty of nourishing fluids. Fever can dehydrate your child so give her small amounts of liquids every half an hour. Start with small sips and then gradually increase the amount. Ensure she gets enough to drink even if she doesn't want to eat anything.
Why does my child lose appetite when sick?
Like most mums, you may worry about how your child is going to get the strength to fight the infection if she doesn't eat. But it's quite common for children to lose their appetite when they are sick. They may be too tired or uncomfortable due to the fever. A sore throat may hurt while swallowing, and a runny or blocked nose might make them cranky ...
What to do when your child isn't interested in eating?
If your child isn't interested in eating a full meal, don't force her. Offer small servings of the foods that she does enjoy. Try a mix of healthy snacks and fluids to keep her energy levels up. Some options include: toast. mini idlis. poha. mini croissants. butter or cheese buns.
Can you give milk to a baby?
There's no real harm in giving milk if your child wants. However, some antibiotics for your baby's infection, may give a tummy upset or make her stomach intolerant to lactose. In that case, your doctor may recommend you avoid milk or dairy products for a few days.
Can I eat tamarind for my toddler?
Some may also avoid tamarind ( imli ), curd, certain spices or sour foods. It's best to take your doctor's advice before including or removing any food item from your baby's diet. Your toddler needs a wholesome meals to recover well and your doctor will be able to help you plan the best diet for your child.
What is the best milk for a baby with a cough?
Turmeric Milk with pepper & palm candy (1 year +): Turmeric and pepper are the best natural antibiotics that help to get rid of cold, dry cough and throat infection. Avoid any milk or this turmeric milk if your child is taking antibiotics and the doctor advised the same.
What to feed a baby with fever?
Stewed apples or applesauce is an ideal food to offer during fever as it's easily digestible. It also helps to keep the baby hydrated. Check out Stewed apple recipe here:
What is the best home remedy for colds?
Tomato soup is a great home remedy for cold, as it is loaded with vitamin C and it always works like a charm. Also, it tastes yummy! You can offer this tomato soup as such or mix with the mashed rice and feed your baby.
What to feed a 6-month-old baby?
11. Apple & Carrot Soup (6 Months+): Apple and carrots are rich in antioxidants which would be the right choice during colds. Make a warm soup with apple & carrot and sprinkle pepper powder when your baby is down with a cold.
How to help a baby with dehydration?
Don't force the baby to eat, instead try to offer the foods he/she prefers. Make sure to give enough fluids like water, warm soups, fresh fruit juices (made with lukewarm water) to prevent the baby from dehydration.
What fruits help with mucus?
Citrus fruits protect the body from cell damage and boost the immune system. It also helps to relieve congestion and keeping the mucus thin. Make fresh juice with lemon or orange with lukewarm water & serve or add lemon juice to warm water and serve with honey (for babies below one year avoid honey). Below are the recipes for lemon juice and orange juice below:
What is the best way to fight a cold?
Antioxidants in Pomegranate fruit helps to fight the cold. Give pomegranate juice with little pepper powder & dry ginger powder for best results during cold and cough. Check out Pomegranate Juice here:
What is the best food for a baby with a cold?
40 Best Foods for Cough and Cold in Kids. 1. Breast Milk. Breast milk is the best thing you can feed your baby when she’s sick, regardless of age. Breast milk has the power to transform itself into exactly what the baby needs at that current stage, and no food or medication can match that ability.
What is the best milk for cough?
Also known as liquid gold, turmeric milk is an age-old remedy for several illnesses, including cough and cold. A cup of spiced turmeric milk or ‘golden latte’ can relieve cough and offer an overall feeling of wellbeing.
How old is a baby when he eats apple khichdi?
Apples and rice are both easily digestible foods, making this a soothing and easy way to keep babies full. Age: 6 months+. 34.
Why do babies eat rice soup?
When babies don’t have an appetite and are cranky, rice soup acts as the perfect remedy. It offers the fluids the baby needs as well as energy to help the baby get better. Its bland taste also works well for kids who can’t handle anything strong when ill.
What is the best food for a newborn?
This puree is one of the best ways to help babies eat these two green super foods – broccoli and spinach. Packed with antioxidants and numerous other essential nutrients, this green puree is an ideal healing food for babies suffering from cold and cough.
What is the best soup for a cold?
Along with rice soup, dal ka paani or lentil soup is perfect for a cough, cold or fever. Garlic has antioxidant and antiviral properties which help prevent infections and speed up the healing process.
How to help a child with a cold?
Tulsi, or Indian basil, is a natural adaptogen, which helps the body fight any kind of stress, including that of cough and cold. Boil a few tulsi leaves in half a liter of water for 3-4 minutes. Cool, strain and offer your child the water.
How to take care of a toddler's cough?
To relieve this toddler cough: Take your child into the bathroom, get a hot shower running, and close the door.
How to help a child with a cough?
Warm decaffeinated tea may also help ease the tickle that sets off the cough. But if your child refuses to drink, cool Popsicles may tempt her — and they can also soothe a sore throat. Run a cool-mist humidifier in her room at night (a warm humidifier may pose a danger in your child's room if she gets too close to it).
What does it mean when a kid has a runny nose?
A phlegmy cough, that sounds as if mucus is rattling in her throat. Your child may also have a runny nose, sneezing, and a mild fever. A cold. In some kids, the cough may be the first sign of the cold, and in other kids, the runny nose or sneezing may come on first.
How to get rid of bronchioles?
Run a cool-mist humidifier in her room at night to fill the air with moisture. This will help relieve the swelling in the bronchioles, and it will loosen mucus in the airway to ease the cough and congestion. Try using nasal drops and a bulb syringe to clear out mucus in the nose.
What does it mean when a toddler coughs?
A phlegmy cough accompanied by high-pitched whistling or wheezing sounds when your toddler breathes. Your child may also vomit, have a fever, exhibit shallow or rapid breathing, and she may be lethargic.
Why is my toddler coughing?
The likely cause: Whooping cough, a bacterial infection also known as pertussis. Though outbreaks of whooping cough have been declining, your toddler is most at risk if she didn't get the DTaP vaccine (the P stands for pertussis). To treat the cough: See your pediatrician — your child needs antibiotics.
How to help a toddler with dehydration?
Call the pediatrician or on-call doctor right away for a phone or in-person appointment. Offer your child lots of liquids, such as water, juice, or warm decaf tea to soothe her throat and prevent dehydration. Run a cool-mist humidifier in her room at night to fill the air with moisture.
What is the best food for a congested toddler?
Best Food For Congested Toddler. The best foods for a congested toddler are foods that are light and easy to ingest. Warm liquids like chicken soup and vegetable soup work perfectly. They can eas congestion and other symptoms that a cold and flu carry.
What to avoid when your baby is coughing?
Foods To Avoid During Cough And Cold. Avoid citrus fruits – This is especially the case if your child is suffering from a sore throat. Avoid milk. If your baby is on any antibiotics this could react with the mediation. Sweetened drinks or carbonated drinks like soda.
What foods make your throat hurt?
Tamarind – this spice can make a sore throat worse. Yoghurt – This may thinking the phlegm built up in your chest and make a cough worse. Sweets – These work to lower your immune system and may cause inflammation and stomach pains. Spicy and oily foods.
What to do when a toddler won't eat?
If your sick toddler won’t’ eat, then you need to try to find alternative ways to get the food in them. Try soups or stews as they are easier to digest them bigger foods. Also you can try to mix in wholesome immune-boosting foods into ready-made meals that they are used to .
How to get a toddler to eat with a cold?
You can try nose drops (saline, saltwater at 1 – 2 drop ratios) or a natural steam remedy to free up their airways. Learning what to feed a toddler with a cold isn’t always easier as you may come across conflicting information.
What to give a toddler with a cold?
The hot liquids will think mucus and make it easier for you toddler to breathe. You can also try green or ginger tea as an alternative as long as it is warm. Foods that are high in Vitamin C should also be mentioned here as they help to fight off the symptoms of a cold. Fruits like papaya and cantaloupe work well.
What foods can help a toddler with colds?
These will not have a positive effect on your toddler’s health. Instead, try to focus on Indian dishes that promote rice, lentils, garlic, and gingers. These easy to digest and immune-boosting ingredients will certainly help your toddlers cold. Examples of Indian dishes to try are:
What to do if your child coughs at home?
If you’ve been treating your child’s cough at home for a few days and it’s getting worse, call your pediatrician’s office. The on-call nurse can give you more treatment ideas and help you decided whether or not to come in for a visit. Asthma and allergies can cause chronic coughs and need to be treated by a doctor.
How to tell if a child has a cough?
Pay attention to the sound of your child’s cough to help you pick the best home remedy and so that you can properly explain the cough to a doctor. For example: 1 Deep cough coming from the chest. It’s likely due to mucus in the airways. 2 Tight cough coming from the upper throat. It may be due to an infection and swelling around the larynx (voice box). 3 Mild cough with sniffing. It could be due to post-nasal drip from the back of your child’s throat.
Why does my child cough when he is sick?
Deep cough coming from the chest. It’s likely due to mucus in the airways. Tight cough coming from the upper throat. It may be due to an infection and swelling around the larynx (voice box). Mild cough with sniffing. It could be due to post-nasal drip from the back of your child’s throat. 1.
How to stop a toddler from dripping?
If it’s impossible to get these little drops in your toddler’s nose, sitting in a warm bath can also clear nasal passages and soften mucus. This helps prevent post-nasal drip. You may especially want to use saline drops before bed or in the middle of the night if your toddler wakes up coughing.
How long does a cough last in a toddler?
Exposure to germs and fighting them helps kids develop their immune systems. Helping your child to feel comfortable and manage their symptoms can help them get the rest they need to help them recover. A regular cough can last up to two weeks.
What to do if your child has croup?
If your child has croup, their pediatrician may prescribe a steroid to decrease inflammation. Croup causes a tight, barking cough that tends to occur along with a fever. The cough is usually worse at night.
How to get rid of mucus in nose?
Use saline nasal drops. You can buy these over-the-counter nasal drops at a pharmacy. Used with a nasal syringe or nose blowing, saline drops can soften mucus to help remove it. Follow the instructions on the bottle to administer the nasal drops safely.
Let her set the rest rules
No need to banish your sick toddler to bed, even if you know that’s where you’d want to go if you were feeling yucky. Just keep a close eye on her and follow her cues. Little kids are good at picking up on their body’s signals, slowing down when they’re really sick.
Doctor her diet
If anyone tells you to “starve a cold, feed a fever,” don’t listen. Childhood illnesses call for a nutritious diet — just adjust your tot’s meals to suit her appetite. If she’s willing to eat (don’t force it), give her whatever nutritious foods she’s hungry for. Pancakes for supper? Fine.
Help the medicine go down
Whether the pediatrician recommends acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil and the like) to bring down a fever, or prescribes antibiotics to beat a nasty bug, you’ll want to make medicine-taking as pleasant as possible for your sick toddler. Usually that means doing what you can to mask an unpleasant taste.
Counter congestion
Most toddlers (and even preschoolers) haven’t mastered the skill of nose-blowing, so they suffer with stuffed-up sinuses.
Read all about it
It helps kids to understand that feeling rotten is part of life. If your child is up to it, isn’t contagious and has been fever-free for 24 hours, a trip to the library will yield a few books about ailing characters she can relate to.
Keep it light
Laughter is the best medicine — and that’s particularly true for toddlers and preschoolers, who can often tolerate discomfort best if they have a distraction.
Pour on the TLC
There’s no better medicine than your undivided attention. If possible, adjust your schedule as much as you can to accommodate your little patient’s need for plenty of hugs and kisses, and offer them in double doses (that’s one Rx that kids can’t get enough of).
How to help a toddler cough?
Simply mix one-half teaspoon of salt with 8 ounces of water, then have your child gargle the solution. It should ease cough-causing throat irritation.
What to do when your toddler coughs?
Hot or Cold Drinks. Warm or very cold liquids make excellent toddler cough remedies because they thin out mucus, which makes it easier to cough up. Plus, liquids soothe a raw throat and keep your little one hydrated. Have your child drink ice water, cold or warm juice, or decaffeinated tea mixed with honey.
How to stop a toddler from coughing at night?
Keep a cool-mist humidifier in your child's room to help loosen chest and nasal congestion, which is a great remedy for toddler coughing at night. Bacteria and mold grow quickly, so change the water daily and thoroughly clean the unit, following the manufacturer's instructions.
How to help a baby cough?
As a home remedy for baby cough, raise the head of the crib mattress by placing a wedge or pillow under the mattress. (But call your doctor for any cough if your child is younger than 4 months.) 8 of 10. View All.
Does chicken soup help with mucus?
It's more than an old folk remedy: Research shows that chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties. Its warm temperature also acts as a vaporizer, helping to loosen mucus in the nasal passages.
Is honey good for kids?
Studies have shown that honey is better than medicine for relieving coughs and helping a sick toddler sleep better. "Honey is safe for children age 1 and older, and kids are happy to take it because it tastes good," says researcher Ian Paul, M.D., a member of the AAP's clinical pharmacology and therapeutics committee .
Can cough suppressants make kids hyperactive?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) explains that cough suppressants may also be unsafe for those under 4 years old.
