You may remember all of the ruckus caused a few years ago when FDA ordered that manufacturers stop making cold medicine for children under four years old. I know a lot people who rushed out to the store to stock up before the offending bottles where pulled from the shelves. It was like a parenting riot at our local Walmart. Why all the commotion? Because no one likes a congested kid. And the younger they are the more troublesome congestion can be. They can’t communicate what is going on in their body and their little ears and lungs are at an increased risk for infection. But it is important to abide by the guidelines set forth by the manufacturers and your pediatrician. Giving medicine to a baby or the wrong dosage to a small child can stop their heart or liquidize their mucus to the point that they could drown in it. So what to do about that nasty congestion in your little one? Here are some effective alternatives to medicine that will help them feel better and give you peace of mind.
- Steam cleaning. Steam is your best natural defense against mucus. For infants and young children, turn the bathroom into a steam room with the door closed and the shower on full hot. Sit in there for 10 or 15 minutes. For older children, use a facial steamer or pot of hot water (carefully!). The steam will help loosen the nose and chest congestion, and help your child cough it up or blow it out. Do this steam cleaning every morning and before bed, as well as during the day if possible.
- Clap the chest and back. While you sit in the bathroom steaming, clap on your child’s chest and back (where the lungs are) firmly (harder than burping) with an open hand. This helps shake the mucus loose so your child can cough it up better.
- Sleep upright. If possible, allow your child to sleep in a slightly upright position. This allows for easier breathing during sleep.
- Clean out the nose. For older children, it is crucial to have them blow their nose several times during a steam cleaning, as well as frequently throughout the day. Getting out all the junk will help prevent this from turning into a bacterial infection. An alternative to steaming is to use nasal decongestant spray to loosen up the congestion before blowing it out. For infants too young to blow their nose, you can use a suction bulb.
- Hot steam vaporizer. Use a hot steam vaporizer in the bedroom at night. This warm, humid environment can help keep noses and chests clear at night. Be sure to air the room out well during the day because mold can start to grow in the room due to the warmth and humidity.
- Vapor rub. Apply to the chest, but never on the face. Occasionally, this can cause wheezing because the vapors may be too strong for some children. It is safe to try, but do observe your child to make sure it doesn’t cause wheezing. Stick with the baby version for kids under 2 years old. I have also found this gunk to be an amazingly effective decongestant when applied to the soles of the feet. You read it right. Apparently the soles of the feet are a direct line to your nasal passages. Supposedly if you put garlic on the soles of your feet your will taste it in 20 mins. We haven’t tried that one, but for the vapor rub, put a thick coat on the soles of their feet and cover with thick cotton socks before bed. My boys always ask for it when they are stuffy.
- Drink twice as much liquid. This will help to thin secretions and prevent dehydration.
