Moms Talk: Home Cold Remedies

While most over-the-counter cold and cough medicines are now suggested for children 4 years or older, many moms are turning towards home remedies.

Though there are many out there, Patch asked a its local Moms Council to recommend a few that usually work for their little ones.

Patch: What are your favorite home cold remedies?

Christie Arias: Lot of rest. A day of doing nothing and going no where. My favorite remedy for a cough is a spoonful of honey. When my kids are really congested, I like to give them a hot bath and steam up the bathroom. It helps to loosen everything up. When they get out, a little vicks on their chest helps them to breathe better.

I haven't tried it for my kids yet, but found that breathe right strips help to open up the nasal passage. Saline drops are helpful to get rid of a runny nose. I think the best thing to do is try to stay home and get extra rest.

Stacy Blom: We don't really have any favorite home cold remedies! A cold is a cold and it just has to run its course. Rest, fluids and a lot of spraying of lysol around the house and changing pillow cases! Nowadays, the moment we're feeling something coming on, we take Airborne to try to prevent it or to lessen its long-term affects!

Sara Raymond: My kids are still too young for most remedies, but I do worry about my kids getting secondary infections when they have colds — like ear infections, bronchitis, sinus infections, pneumonia.

Carina Ibarra: My favorite home cold remedies are honey and lemon for the sore throat, boiling eucalyptus leaves for chest congestion and Yerba Buena tea for fever.

Patch: Which remedies have you found that do not work?

Christie: Before cold medicine ages were changed, we used them, but I don't think anything replaces lots of rest.

Stacy: Aside from Doctor-prescribed cough medicines, nothing seems to really calm an aggressive cough. You know those dry ones that keep you up all night?

Carina: I stick to the ones my mom and grandma used and so far they have worked for me!

Patch: Do you rush your little ones to the doctor when they are sick, or do you use a remedy and wait it out? 

Christie: I usually wait it out, at least for a few days. One of my kids is prone to croup and the other ear infections. So, waiting it out isn't always an option for us. 

Stacy: Never did just rush my kids to the doctors for every little sickness. They usually had to have a very high fever or something that just wouldn't go away!

Sara: Generally if symptoms have lingered for more than a week and they seem to be in a lot of discomfort, or if they start running a fever, I will call Kaiser and usually take them in, but I am in the better safe than sorry camp.

Carina: I HATE taking my little one to the doctor because I always feel that he comes back sicker! All those icky germs at the doctor’s office lead me to try remedies at home and wait it out. If all else fails, I take him in.

Patch: Do you have a special recipe for soup, that's mommy-approved for battling the common cold?

Christie: I like to make chicken soup with lots of veggies when someone is sick. But, really any kind of soup helps us to feel better.

Carina: My husband actually makes this delicious and simple soup that was wonderful for my recent and horrible bout of stomach flu. He cooked some chicken breast in a mix of vegetable and chicken broth. Added the veggies and some egg noodles, and served it up. My sensitive and tender stomach was glad it didn’t have the spices you find in a lot of chicken soup and my son was eating it by the bucketfuls as well, even though he was healthy.