Alternative/homeopathic Treatment for a Cold in a 16 Month Old.

I too was also going to suggest the humidifier and saline spray. Peppermint extract is also very strong and works like vapo rub-put a little between her lip and nose or on her chest.

update: My hubby just had my son in the dr. for ear and throat infection. She recommended rubbing his skin with apple cider vinegar. This is an old rememdy from her mom's native land but with a scientific basis. When the body is sick, it loses acid, which helps fight the infection. Rubbing the skin with the vinegar adds acidity and helps with the infection. Weird and smelly but worth a try.

Since both your children are over 1, honey works fabulous. It has been found to actually work better at controlling coughs than medicine. Also, vapor rub on the soles of their feet before bed, and cover them with socks.
I have been doing this with all 3 of my children since they were very young. I have 3 boys, 19, 12 and 3.

Good luck,
D.

you can try a straight saline mist for her nose. Irrigate her nose out a little to help it from being so runny/stuffy.

Do the hot shower thing or a humidifier for the raspy cough to help break up secretions in her lungs and soothe her throat a little.

both things work good for bigger kids and adults too. The nice thing about it also it that you can do it as often as you want - no worries about overdosing!

Hope you get to feeling better soon!

Hyland's homeopathic cold remedy is in a little blue box. It seems rediculous - how many pills you start with but it has been effective. Good luck!

Hi H. - Hope your daughter is already recovering well. Since you asked about alterhative/homeopathic treatments, I'm sure you prefer next time you'd like to avoid the steroids, antibiotics. Getting more fruits and vegetables into your family every day is the key to keeping them healthy. My whole family including my three young boys have been taking Juice Plus every day for 4 years and they are very healthy, hardly ever get sick and if they do get the sniffles, we just double up on our Juice Plus capsules/chewables and it helps to beat it quick. Please take the time to investigate by going to www.wethriveonJuicePlus.com. The scientific research proving Juice Plus positively affects immune function, DNA and cell protection, improves cardiovascular health is unlike any other supplement you'll find. Your children would take the gummie form and you would take the capsule form (it's 17 fruits, veggies and whole grains, pesticide/herbacide free that is juiced and dehydrated so the micronutrients/enzymes are preserved in powder form and encapsulated). Just let me know if I can be of any help to you. ____@____.com

One thing that's completely inoccuous(sp?) that helps is saline nose drops. It just helps them breathe better and be less miserable, esp. when trying to eat & drink.
I hope you guys are feeling better soon!!!
M.

Hyland's makes a homeopathic product similar to the teething tablet designed to relieve the symptoms of a cold. I purchased mine from Rite Aid. I forgot the exact name of it (Little Sniffles?) Anyway, the tablets are small and after giving it to my son, it seemed to help with his symptoms. You may want to ask the pharmacist to help you find the product; I think it is located around all the other cold remedies. The packaging is so small, you could miss it.

Stay diligent with the humidifier, baby Vicks, etc. You may also want to visit a local Health Foods store or Henrys and ask if they have any advice for homeopathic remedies.

Steam can help. I occasionally take a long, hot shower with my DD and leave the extractor fan turned off. I'm careful about wasting water most of the time, I promise, but it really helped.

There is a children's tea that could easily be put into a bottle that is found in the health food stores. Warm tea with some specific herbs can help to get some of the mucus moving. It also provides vapor that she can breathe.

Have you tried a humidifier in her room, at night, or when she is sleeping during naps??? That may help to moisten the air and her throat as she is breathing. Drinking lots of fluids too...even if it's gatorade or fruit punch...anything. As far as her fevers, also try tepid baths.