A newborn baby brings joy and prosperity to your life, but it also comes with a big responsibility to take care of your child’s health and hygiene. If you already have a baby, you must have noticed that one day your child is completely healthy, and the other day they have a runny nose. Cold and coughs are very common in infants and toddlers. Reaching for over-the-counter medicines is generally not recommended for infants. According to the FDA and the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, OTC cold and cough medicines are not recommended for children under 4 years of age due to the risk of side effects. That’s why most parents turn to Indian home remedies for cold in infants.
Many Indian home remedies can provide gentle relief for toddlers, but not all are suitable for newborns or very young infants. Always consult a paediatrician before trying any remedy on a baby under one year old. Coughs & colds are unpredictable; they can occur due to weather changes or certain baby foods. Sometimes it looks like your baby is going to be fine, it’s just a minor cold, but you wait, and boom, it triggers the next day. So, it’s best to opt for home remedies for a baby’s cough & cold to provide gradual relief rather than using over-the-counter medicines.
1. Salt and Turmeric Gargle
A sore throat can make your baby feel uneasy and irritated. This remedy is suitable only for children old enough to gargle safely (typically age 6+) and should never be given to infants or young toddlers who may swallow it. Use no more than ¼ teaspoon of salt per cup of water.. This gargle is specifically aimed at providing relief from a sore throat.
How to prepare: Just take a glass of lukewarm water, add a tablespoon of salt and a pinch of turmeric.
2. Saline Nose Spray
When a cold stays for a long time, it creates a solid mucus inside the nose of your little one, which makes it harder for them to even breathe. Using an OTC decongestant spray is not recommended for infants, but a nasal spray is a really good alternative. Among the popular Indian home remedies for cold in infants, saline nose spray works best to treat dry mucous, which disturbs your child’s sleep.
How to prepare: Add approximately ½ teaspoon (2–3g) of non-iodised salt to 500ml of sterile or boiled, cooled water to create a safe isotonic saline solution. Lay your baby on their back, tilt their head gently to one side, and place 1–2 drops into the upper nostril. Allow it to drain naturally before repeating on the other side. However, always consult a paediatrician before using on infants or toddlers.
3. Steam
A cold can be tough on your child, with a runny, blocked nose. Blockage is the worst part of having a cold; it can annoy your little one. However, steaming is one of the great Indian home remedies for cold & cough in infants and toddlers to open their nostrils.
How to prepare: Add enough water to the steamer and let your child inhale the steam. To make it more effective, you can also add a few drops of lavender oil, but remember to use it in a very small amount for child safety, as this is one of the best Indian home remedies for cold in infants or toddlers.
4. Honey
We all have had this at one time in our cold. This is one of the most used home remedies for a toddler’s cough & cold, providing quick comfort from a sore throat. Honey contains antimicrobial properties that may help soothe a stubborn cough and ease a sore throat.
How to prepare: Take a teaspoon of honey and mix it with warm water, and let your child slowly drink it. After drinking a honey mixture, your toddler will feel at ease and sleep more freely.
Important: Never give honey to a baby under 12 months old, as it carries a risk of infant botulism. This remedy is suitable only for toddlers older than 1 year.
5. Milk & Turmeric
It is one of the oldest Indian home remedies for cold in infants and toddlers valued for turmeric’s anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which may help support the immune system.
How to prepare: Just add a pinch of turmeric to a cup of lukewarm milk and let your child drink it to feel better. Milk and turmeric are two that work best when added to your daily routine.
6. Ginger
So, how can we ignore that one ingredient that has been used in Indian homes for ages? Ginger has always been the key ingredient in various Ayurvedic Indian home remedies for cold in infants and adults. It has natural antiviral properties which act as a decongestant and even decrease a body’s high temperature in no time.
How to prepare: It’s very simple to use ginger as a remedy. For breastfeeding mothers or much older children, adding ginger to their tea may pass along mild benefits through breast milk. For toddlers, add a small amount of grated ginger to a warm soup or khichdi by grinding it, as it is one of the effective Indian home remedies for cough & cold in infants.
7. Ajwain
Ajwain is traditionally believed to be an Indian home remedy for cold in infants and toddlers to help with congestion and cough. It is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties, which help relieve congestion and a heavy cough.
How to prepare: Simply boil ajwain in water, then strain and let it cool completely. For infants under 6 months, consult a doctor before use. For older infants or toddlers, offer a few teaspoons of the cooled, diluted ajwain water. Additionally, create a mixture by grinding ajwain, cloves, and garlic together, then roast it. Put the mixture into a small potli and place it at a safe distance, at least 30cm from the child’s face, so the fumes can help clear the congestion.
8. Warm Mustard Oil Massage
Massaging is a really effective technique for toddlers, as they are very fussy about eating food when they are sick. A warm mustard oil massage can provide instant comfort and help your little one sleep restfully at night.
How to prepare: Well, as the name suggests, it’s clear: Heat the mustard oil to a comfortably warm (not hot) temperature. If adding another oil, use a skin-safe option such as coconut oil and avoid strong essential oils like eucalyptus directly on infants’ skin. Warm mustard oil massage is one of the best home remedies for a baby’s cough & cold. Use slow, gentle strokes to massage your baby’s chest, feet, hands, and back.
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Embrace A Peaceful Night!
A cold can disturb your child’s sleep, making it uneasy to sleep peacefully. A dry, blocked nose makes it difficult to breathe, and a runny nose makes restful sleep almost impossible. And a cough that makes your little one’s chest feel heavy, making you feel bad, and eventually disturbing your sleep as well. Use Indian home remedies for cold in infants, which are highly effective and help parents and children sleep better.
