Natural, Doctor-Approved Ways to Treat Kids’ Colds Without OTC Meds

To Humidify or Not, That Is the Question

While many people use a humidifier to relieve congestion, Dr. Schachter favors other alternatives. He explains, "Humidifiers tend to accumulate mold, which is then sprayed into the air in the home. Instead, I recommend humidifying the body internally with fluids and using steamy bathrooms to relieve congestion. I also am concerned that humidifiers increase the number of dust mites, which are linked to asthma." The ideal range for humidity in the home is between 40% and 50%. Dr. Schachter suggests using a hygrometer to measure humidity in your home. Higher levels increase the growth of mold and dust mites, and lower levels can dry out the airways, making them more vulnerable to infection.

Quieting a Cough

A recent study, aided by a grant from the National Honey Board, shows that buckwheat honey is an effective cough suppressor (Never give honey to children under one year old; it can cause infant botulism, a rare but serious form of food poisoning). Researchers divided 100 children with colds into three groups: One group was given honey before bed; another group was given a cough syrup containing dextromethorphan; and the third group was given nothing. The next day, according to parents surveyed, the honey was more effective than the cough medicine, for reasons unknown.

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When to Call the Doctor

When in doubt, always call your doctor. Dr. Schachter advises that parents go to the pediatrician when:

• A child under 12 months old is congested
• Children have a fever over 100 F, cough, diarrhea, and vomiting
• Your child has an underlying health problem, such as asthma or diabetes
• The cold lingers more than a week and coughing continues

 Think you have all the facts about the cold and its treatment? Take our quiz and find out: Can you Bust the 8 Top Cold and Flu Myths?

Cold Medicine Tip from Allison:

If you feel the need to purge or peruse your medicine cabinet, here are the following over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold products that, according to the FDA, should not be used to treat infants and children less than 2 years of age because serious and potentially life-threatening side effects can occur. OTC cough and cold products include decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines, and antitussives (cough suppressants) for the treatment of colds.

Dimetapp(R) Decongestant Plus Cough Infant Drops,

Dimetapp(R) Decongestant Infant Drops,

Little Colds(R) Decongestant Plus Cough,

Little Colds(R) Multi-Symptom Cold Formula,

PEDIACARE(R) Infant Drops Decongestant (containing pseudoephedrine),

PEDIACARE(R) Infant Drops Decongestant & Cough (containing pseudoephedrine),

PEDIACARE(R) Infant Dropper Decongestant (containing phenylephrine),

PEDIACARE(R) Infant Dropper Long-Acting Cough,

PEDIACARE(R) Infant Dropper Decongestant & Cough (containing phenylephrine),