There's nothing worse than seeing your little one poorly. But it's a time of year when it is, alas, entirely normal to see your child struck down with a bout of the sniffles or if the poor mite is really unlucky, full-blown flu. Congested, coughing and all stuffed up, it isn't easy on them, but thankfully, there are a number of helpful things you can do to elevate their symptoms. Try any or all of the below five and you should see them back to their old selves in no time.
1. Get them lots of rest and sleep
It takes energy to fight an infection, and that can wear out a child. When your child rests, they are healing, which is exactly what they need to do when they are feeling ill. Make sure they are wrapped up, cosy and with a comfortable place to sleep (extra cuddles and kisses won't go amiss either) and you should see symptoms ease in a few days if you feel they don't need medicine - provided they don't get any worse. Keep a watchful eye and don't worry too much about sleeping patterns, you'll know when they've had enough.
2. Sit them in steam
Breathing moist air helps loosen the mucus in the nasal passages. A warm bath will also help them relax. Let a hot shower run for a few minutes before getting the bath ready. Let them play in the bath as long as they like (supervised, of course). But take care not to put them in a cool bath if they are feverish — it may cause the shivers, raising their body temperature. Instead, make sure the room is cool when they are out of a warm - but not hot - bath and dress them lightly before they go to sleep.
3. Try a saline nasal spray
A nasal spray can work wonders in washing away built-up mucus and can help moisturise dry or irritated nostrils, especially if your child doesn't like, or is too young to, blow their nose.
4. Give them extra fluids
Drinking plenty of fluids prevents dehydration, thins your child's nasal secretions, and flushes them out. Breastfeeding is particularly great for babies for two reasons – the milk contains antibodies that can help fend off illness, and it’ll keep baby hydrated and for older kids, soups, water and fruit smoothies are all great ways to ensure they are keeping hydrated.
5. Use honey
Honey coats and soothes the throat and helps tame a cough. If your child is over 1 year old, try giving them a small teaspoon of honey for a cough if you feel it doesn’t warrant medication. You can give 2 to 5 ml of honey a few times during the day.
As ever, if you are in any doubt about your child's symptoms, always consult your GP.
