Are you worried about your child catching a cold or developing a cough in this changing weather? When your child has a cold along with cough and sore throat, they can become very restless and weak. As a parent, it is totally understandable that you may want to rush them to the doctor and get medicine that will provide them some relief. However, instead of giving your child cold and cough medicines you can try some home remedies which are known to be effective in curing cold and cough in children and will not cause any side effects. Honey is one such remedy that has been found to work excellently in providing relief from cough and cold symptoms. Read ahead to find how you can use honey to treat cough and cold in children.
In This Article
- Why is Honey Considered Effective in Treating Cough and Cold in Children?
- How Does Honey Treat Cold and Cough in Children?
- Is it Safe to Give Honey to Babies?
- 10 Ways to Use Honey for Treating Cough and Cold in Children
- Precautions While Using Honey
- FAQ’s
Why is Honey Considered Effective in Treating Cough and Cold in Children?
Honey has some wonderful properties that include:
- Antifungal and antibacterial properties
- An excellent disinfectant
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Increases immunity in kids
- A wonderful cure for sleeplessness
- With traces of probiotics, honey is excellent for digestion
- Contains anti-oxidants and have decongestant properties
- Contains phytochemicals that boost the overall health of the child
- Gives an excellent boost to their energy levels
How Does Honey Treat Cold and Cough in Children?
Honey is found to possess a wonderful soothing or demulcent agent that helps to provide a coating on the mucous membrane that is swollen, thus providing immediate relief from the irritating cough, cold and sore throat. This wonderful liquid of light amber shade thus makes a magical cough and cold medicine.
Is it Safe to Give Honey to Babies?
You have umpteen home remedies for children with honey, but honey is not considered safe for babies less than one year. Honey has been found to trigger infant botulism that is a dangerous and rare condition in babies. It is perfectly safe for children above one year, but you do need to keep a watch on any kind of allergic reaction when you give them honey for the very first time.
10 Ways to Use Honey for Treating Cough and Cold in Children
Here we have listed for you, the top 10 ways to use honey for treating cough and cold in children :
1. Pure Honey
Just feeding your little one with a spoonful of plain honey before putting them to sleep works really well to ease the irritating cough and helps your little one get a good night’s sleep . Honey offers a commendable coating and triggers saliva that helps to thin the mucus and provides relief from any irritation in your child’s throat.
2. Honey With Dried Ginger
Measure out half a teaspoon of dried ginger powder and mix it with a spoonful of honey. This is yet another wonderful home remedy that offers your child respite from cough and colds.
3. Lemon and Honey
This mixture that is quite yummy will not make your child feel that they are drinking a medicine. All you need to do is make lemonade with lukewarm water, lemon and honey, and make your little one sip this tasty drink. Lime is loaded with vitamin C, which helps the system to ward off any infection and when coupled with honey, is a wonderful remedy for cough and cold.
4. Lemon and Honey in Garlic Tea
Put a cup of water in a pan with a couple of crushed garlic cloves to boil. After boiling, take off from the stove and leave to reach the lukewarm temperature. Add half a spoon of honey and half a spoon of lime juice to it and give it to your little one. Garlic along with honey is excellent to combat congestion.
5. Garlic Paste With Honey
Prepare a paste of garlic and mix it with honey and give it to your child twice a day. The cold and cough symptoms will disappear in a couple of days.
6. Honey With Tulsi or Basil
Another way of giving honey to your kid is by preparing tulsi/basil tea by boiling a few basil/tulsi leaves in water and then adding honey to the tea and drinking it. Another alternative is extracting the juice from tulsi/basil leaves and adding honey to the juice. It provides instant relief from a coughing bout.
7. Honey With Cinnamon
This is one remedy that has been proven to be very effective in treating cough and cold in children. Just add a pinch of powdered cinnamon to a teaspoon of honey and give it to your kid three times a day. It is known to provide relief from cough and cold. Some kids can be allergic to honey and cinnamon. Keep a watch on any allergic reaction.
8. Honey With Pepper
Grind dry roasted pepper corns and add this to a spoonful of honey and give it to your child. Although this may seem quite a spicy mixture for your little one, it is an age-old remedy to cure cough and cold in children.
9. Honey Mixed in Turmeric Milk
Adding half a spoon of honey to lukewarm milk along with a pinch of haldi or turmeric is another effective home remedy for cough and cold. Give this mixture to your kid just before they go to bed and you will find they sleep better too.
10. Pepper, Honey and Water
Grind a few peppercorns and add it to the boiling water. Switch off the stove and when the water becomes lukewarm, add a spoonful of honey to it. Sipping this provides instant relief to your kid from cold and cough.
Precautions While Using Honey
Though honey is loaded with health benefits, it is very important to follow these precautions:
- Never heat honey. Make sure the liquid you mix honey in is just lukewarm and not piping hot.
- It is best to use organic honey as it is mostly unadulterated.
- Do not give honey for a long period.
- Make sure your child brushes the.ir teeth after having any kind of honey mixture.
It is necessary for the parents to consult with their pediatricians before giving honey to their child if they are on any medication , as it may not be safe to give honey along with certain medications.
Hope these simple home remedies of using honey to treat cold and cough in children are of help to you. However, if symptoms of cold and cough in your child persists, then it is advisable to consult a doctor.
FAQ’s
1. How Can I Prevent my Child From Getting a Cold?
Unfortunately this is not possible. Children are exposed to the impurities in the atmosphere and their bodies react to it. This is how they build their immunity.
2. Can I Use Adult Cold Medication for my Child, in Case of an Emergency?
Absolutely not! The dosages are very different and it can be very dangerous for your baby. Always ask your doctor for suggestions if you can’t find the baby medicine.
3. Can I Give Honey for my 9 Month Old Suffering From a Bad Cold?
No, not unless your doctor specifically asks you to. It is not recommended to give honey for children below the age of one. It can cause allergic reactions in them.
4. Can I Mix Honey With Hot Milk and Give my Child Before Going to Bed?
No, never mix honey with hot milk or water. Honey is supposed to remain in the same temperature. Mix it in lukewarm milk and give.
Read Also: 5 Ways To Use Ajwain Seeds To Treat Cough And Cold In Children
