Babies have a ‘work-in-progress’ immune system. Which unfortunately makes them susceptible to infections. Many fellow moms are often seeking home remedies for a cough or cold for babies.  In this post, I am listing down ‘tried and tested’ home remedies for relief from cold and cough in babies. These simple yet effective solutions, mostly derived from traditional Indian practices, require items commonly found in Indian kitchens.

Home remedies for cold and cough in babies

Monsoon, season change, sudden weather change, presence at sizeable social gathering etc. can bring home the dreaded “common” cold and cough. Some of the symptoms of cold in babies are [1]:

  • Runny nose
  • Sore throat
  • Sneezing
  • Nasal congestion
  • Cough
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Fever

Based on personal as well as the collective experience of many fellow moms, the following Indian home remedies can be very beneficial to provide relief from symptoms of cold or a cough in babies.

1. Honey and ginger:

  • Relief from cold esp. a sore throat
  • Preparation: Grate an inch of ginger and strain it. Mix this juice with 1-2 spoons of honey and warm the mixture a bit.
  • Dosage: Give few 1-2 small spoon of warm mixture preferably in the morning before eating anything.
  • Age: Above one year

2. Kadha (herbal decoction):

  • Relief from cold and cough
  • Preparation: Take 3-5 cups of water. Add grated ginger (1/2 inch), ajwain (1/4-1/2 teaspoon), jeera (1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon), black pepper (1-2 pod), clove (1-2), tulsi leaves (8-10), cinnamon stick (1/2 inch). Boil the water till it reduces to 1 cup, strain it and cool it.
  • Dosage: Give 1-2 small spoon 3-4 times a day
  • Age: Above 6-8 months (dilute as required)
  • Note: Prepare fresh Kadha everyday

3. Ajwain (carom) shek:

  • Relief from cold especially blocked nose
  • Preparation: Roast a cup of Ajwain (till it gives out strong aroma). Take a soft/muslin cloth and put the hot roasted ajwain on it. Make a potli (compress) with the cloth.
  • Usage: Gently move the warm potli over baby’s chest, back, forehead, head, palms and feet. Hold potli near baby’s nose to inhale the fumes.
  • Age: Above 1 month
  • Note: Check the temperature of the potli before using it on the baby. Baby should be comfortable with the warm potli.

4. Steam Inhalation:

  • Relief from blocked nose and stuffy sinuses
  • Usage: Use a steamer/pan with hot water and let baby inhale the steam for 3-5 minutes. You can add 1-2 drops of eucalyptus oil or Karvol Plus in the steam.
  • Age: Above 6 month
  • Note: For babies younger than 6 months, you can give steam but its very tricky. One way for young baby to inhale steam to is run a hot water shower and close the washroom doors and windows till sufficient steam is present (like a steam room). Then switch off the shower and hold the baby in the closed washroom for few minutes.

5. Exposure to morning Sun:

  • Exposure to the morning Sunlight helps drain a blocked nose.
  • Take baby out in the morning for 5-10 minutes, when the Sun is not harsh (but you can feel the heat).
  • Age: any age

6. Bath with warm water:

  • Instant relief from blocked nose
  • Bathe baby, especially from the head with warm water. If possible, bathe within few minutes of taking the baby in the Sun.
  • Age: Any age

7. Warm milk with turmeric:

  • Relief from cold, mainly a sore throat and cough
  • Preparation: Bring a cup of Cow’s milk to boil and add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric to it. Mix well and let it cool a bit. Strain and give this warm turmeric milk to your baby.
  • Age: Above 1 year

8. Saline Nasal drops:

  • Relief from severely blocked nose
  • Add a drop of saline nasal solution (as recommended by doctor) in the blocked nostril
  • Note: Saline nasal solution can be either sprayed or added as drops. Follow the instruction of the manufacturer.

9. Massage with Mustard oil:

  • Recommended for a non-dry cough and chest congestion
  • Preparation: Take few spoons of mustard oil. Add 8-10 cloves of garlic and 1/2 spoon ajwain to it. Heat the oil well (till ajwain gives strong aroma or garlic turns brownish). Let it cool a bit and strain it.
  • Usage: Massage baby’s chest, back, palms, feet and forehead with this warm oil. You can also apply the oil to baby’s head. Leave it for 30 mins.
  • Age: Above 1 month of age
  • Note: Some moms also apply this oil on palms and feet before baby sleeps and leave it overnight

10. Sitopaladi:

  • Popular Ayurvedic medicine for a cold
  • Consult your paediatrician before giving it to your baby for age and dosage
  • Age: Above 6 months (or as advised by your doctor)

11. Eucalyptus oil:

  • Effective relief from a blocked nose
  • Usage: Put 1-2 drops of eucalyptus oil on baby’s clothes. Add few drops on baby’s bed and blanket.
  • Age: Above 1 month
  • Note: You can also use Karvol Plus capsules which has eucalyptus and camphor oil. Personally my most trusted remedy for a blocked nose.

12. Warm liquids:

  • Warm liquids are very useful to provide relief from a sore throat, cold and congestion [2]
  • Give warm soups and warm water as and when possible
  • Age: Above 6 months
  • Note: Many babies have temporary appetite loss when they have a cold, cough. Soups can also provide some calories.

13. Wedge pillow:

  • The incline of wedge pillow helps baby with a stuffy nose to sleep better
  • If your baby has blocked/runny nose, use a wedge pillow (or create a wedge using existing pillows) to put the baby to sleep
  • Age: any age
  • Note: The pillow should be firm and safe for a baby

14. Spices:

  • Relief from cold
  • Spices like black pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg are known for providing relief from cold symptoms. Add them in a small quantity (e.g. in powdered form) to baby’s food. Or add them to Kadha.
  • Age: Above 6-9 months (as recommended by your paediatrician)

15. Adulsa juice:

  • Relief from chest congestion and wet cough
  • Preparation: Take 10-15 Adulsa leaves. Wash them thoroughly and pat dry them. Keep them in criss-cross over each other. Add 1/4 teaspoon of ajwain, and 4-5 tulsi leaves on top of the crisscrossed Adulsa leaves. Wrap the Adulsa leaves tightly (with the ajwain and tulsi inside it) to make a potli (compress). Heat it on low flame. Once the outer leaves dry and start to burn, take it off the fire. Remove the outer dried leaves gently, without opening the compress. Inner leaves are a bit mushy due to heat. Press the potli tightly and collect the juice.
  • Dosage: Give one small spoon of the juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. It has a bitter taste; you can add a little quantity of honey to the juice.
  • Age: Above 1 one year
  • Note: It was beneficial when Anu had a non-dry cough. 2 doses, and she recovered well from her cough. But due to bitter taste, it may induce vomiting. Please avoid giving to the baby in case of vomiting.

Rest well to get well 

Cold or a cough is a symptom of an underlying infection. Baby’s body needs plenty of rest when fighting such infections. Try to keep your baby away from unwanted stimulations and encourage baby to rest as much as possible.

Relief from blocked nose in baby

Baby with blocked nose may have difficulty while feeding (especially when being breastfed) or sleeping. Following are some of the ways to help baby relieve of a blocked nose:

  • Steam inhalation
  • Using a wedge pillow when sleeping
  • Putting few drops of eucalyptus oil on baby’s clothes and bedding (while sleeping)
  • Bathing with warm water (from head)
  • Taking baby out in morning Sun
  • Putting saline drops in blocked nostril
  • Drinking warm liquids
  • Kadha
  • Giving Ajwain shek, inhaling fumes of roasted ajwain

Useful tip: Give steam, ajwain shek or saline drop (as and what is required), at least 20-30 minutes before feeding the baby or putting your baby to sleep. This time gap gives enough time for the thinned mucous to drain out, making it easier to feed or rest your baby.

Relief from a sore throat in baby

Baby with a sore throat may have a dry cough. Baby may also have difficulty swallowing. Following are some of the simple ways to soothe a sore throat in the baby:

  • Kadha
  • Honey and Ginger
  • Drinking warm liquids
  • Drinking warm Haldi milk
  • Sitopaladi

Precautions to follow when administering home remedies in babies

If your baby is less than 6 months old (breastfed or formula fed), it is best not to give any medicine orally. Please do not administer any oral medication (homemade or otherwise) to baby below 6 months of age without consulting a paediatrician.

Please avoid any home remedy which involves using honey or animal milk, if your baby is less than 1 year of age (many paediatricians do not recommend honey or animal milk till 1 year of age).

Use any ingredient (including medicinal herbs or spices, oils etc.) only after ruling out allergy (3-day rule for oral consumption or patch test for the skin as applicable).

When using a steamer (or any equipment) for steam inhalation, make sure baby is at a safe distance to avoid possible burns from steam or accidental spillage of hot water.

Always check the temperature before administering any dose orally or applying anything to baby externally.

Buy Ayurvedic medicine like Sitopaladi from a trusted brand and a trusted store. Always check with your paediatrician before administering home remedies for cold and cough.

Cold or a cough in babies – What to expect from home remedies

Cold and cough are an indication of underlying infection. The home remedies provide only symptomatic relief from a cough and cold. These treatments do not cure the infection. They just help soothe or relieve the symptoms.

Cold and cough in babies can bring temporary appetite loss. Paediatricians advise being patient through this brief phase (which can last for a week after the baby has recovered). Appetite does return after recovery. Keep baby hydrated as much as possible.

Cold or a cough in babies – Why opt for home remedies 

Many people prefer home remedies instead of over the counter medicines. One argument for those who prefer home remedies is that it reduces reliance on allopathy medicine for symptomatic relief.

Since most of the remedies use immunity boosting natural items (use age appropriate), they are usually considered safe for consumption. Always consult your paediatrician to weigh the pros and cons of home remedies concerning your baby’s cold and cough.

Cold or a cough in babies – When to consult a doctor

If baby’s cold or a cough worsens over time or persists for more than 7-10 days, in spite of doing home remedies or giving prescribed medicines, please consult your doctor.

For a baby, less than 6 months of age with unexplained fever, consult your paediatrician immediately. If your baby has a high temperature (over 100 degrees F or above) or fever does not subside within 24 hours, please consult your doctor immediately. Home remedies (except sponging with room temperature water) are ineffective for fever management in babies.

Build immunity to prevent cold and cough in babies

The best protection against infections is a stronger immune system. Baby’s immune system develops as he grows. During this time, when the immune system is developing, babies are known to get sick more often. Cold and cough in babies is very common :-(.

A breastfed baby, especially less than 6 months of age, is protected from many common ailments via the antibodies passed from the mother in the breast milk. Once your baby starts solids, include immunity-boosting food (suitable as per age) items in your baby’s diet. A well-balanced diet, plenty of rest, ample physical activity and stress-free surroundings help build a child’s immunity.