The Cold Care Kit

It’s that time again! We’re two weeks into the school year and my kiddo comes down with a cold. When someone gets sick, heading to the store for supplies can be a real pain. Be ready to tackle back-to-school sniffles by keeping a Cold Care Kit on hand. 

Helpful Information:

A cold is a virus that affects a person’s nose, sinuses, and throat. It gives you snot, a stuffy nose, maybe a cough, maybe a mild sore throat. Kiddos may spike a little fever but more than likely their temperature will be under 100°F, and they’ll probably eat, drink, and play like normal. In other words, colds are annoying but not scary and we expect them to happen a couple times through the fall and winter.

What you probably don’t need:

• Fever reducing medication: Fever is your friend! Your body temperature increases to fight infections. This is a good thing! Let the fever do its job, and don’t give your kiddo fever-reducing medication for a temperature under 103°F.

• Electrolyte replacement: If your kiddo is eating like normal and doesn’t have vomiting, diarrhea, or profuse sweating, they will be fine with regular old water or herbal tea. Sports drinks are full of sugar, which is especially unhelpful when they’re trying to kick a cold.

The Cold Care Kit

1. Elderberry Syrup

   The nutrients in elderberry have been shown to cut days off your cold. Herbalists use elderberry to encourage a healthy immune response. I like to keep it around and give it to my kids throughout the cold and flu season. It’s available in the supplement section of your local grocery store, or you can make your own! Click here for my recipe.

2. Cold Season (Wish Garden Herbs)

   I love Wish Garden’s tinctures for children because they taste great and I know they’ve been made especially for little ones. Cold Season is formulated especially for those pesky runny noses and lingering coughs that drive kiddos and parents crazy. I also love that Wish Garden products are usually available in my grocery store. Click here to visit their site and browse their formulas for children.

3. Honey

   For kiddos with a dry, raspy persistent cough that just won’t quit, I give about a quarter teaspoon of honey, either straight or in a bit of water. This is especially helpful at bedtime, when the cough will keep them up late. A dry cough is usually there because the airways are irritated and swallowing a little honey has a soothing effect, especially at the pit of the throat where that annoying tickle always seems to be.

4. Hydrotherapy

• Warming socks are my favorite treatment for kids with colds. The treatment is easy and free and it helps your kiddo get a better night’s sleep. Click here for my blog post on warming socks.

• People commonly believe congestion is caused by a lot of snot, but it’s actually swelling of nasal tissues to bring more blood to fight the infection. If your kiddo has a stuffy nose, applying a cold damp cloth over their forehead, nose, and cheeks can help relieve the swelling temporarily. A cold cloth gives my kids a little relief from congestion so they can get to sleep at night. Pair this with an extra pillow to give them a little elevation of their head.

When to Call the Doctor:

I usually don’t need to see a kiddo with a simple cold like the above. Parents can help manage symptoms until the cold resolves, typically within a week. I do want to see a kid with a fever of 103°F or above, with pain in the face, ears, or throat that doesn’t go away, with lots of yellow or green snot, with a cough that’s sticking around or getting worse, or who’s not acting like himself or herself.