The top 5

May 16, 2007 | Print

Head Cold Protocol for Kids

Besides more rest, here’s how we relieve our kids’ sniffles, coughs and discomfort:

1. Humidifier. Helps kids breathe at night. We use a warm mist with antibacterial feature or a cold mist humidifier (less bacteria risk).

Our standbys, the Slant Fin Warm Mist, though not so easy to clean and a bit gurgly (which is actually fine as white noise for the kids), and the Air-O-Swiss (warm or cold) easy to clean, but the mist can leave wetness on the floor.

2. Raise the mattress or pillow. For babies/toddlers sleeping with their heads always at the same end of the crib, we put a few folded towels under that end of the mattress.

For kids in beds, we prop up their pillow with a folded towel. If they wake miserable in the middle of the night (“Mommy, I can’t breathe!”), we coax them back to sleep in a reclined almost sitting position propped up by pillows.

3. Drink water. We use staws, fun sippy cups, whatever gets them into drinking.

4. Immune boosters. We rely on ChildLife Essentials First Defense and their Vitamin C.

5. Nose relief. Saline drops or breastmilk in the nose for congestion; Egyptian Magic Cream or Herbs For Kids Super Kids Salve for redness and chapping. Lip balms also can offer relief for sore spots under noses.

Saline drops help loosen clogged noses. In dry climates, we always use them before trying the bulb syringe (also known as the blue ball squeezer). To avoid the preservatives in store bought nose drops, Lyndsey makes her own saline solution with 1/8 tsp Neti pot salt and 8 ounces water.

If we’re nursing, we use breastmilk, either placing a few drops under our baby’s nose, or in the nose with a dropper.

•