What to do if the child has a cold

Get rid of the sniffle nose quickly

If the child has a cold, you suffer yourself and would do everything to get the offspring back on their feet quickly. The fact that the child has a cold from time to time is not a cause for concern. Why children bring the viruses home so often and how a cold in children quickly subsides, read here.

How many times a year does your child have a cold?

One to three times a yearMore than three times a yearMore than seven times a yearI don't know

Why is the common cold so common in children?

Children go through up to ten colds a year. Kindergarten children even up to twelve. If the child often has a cold, this is rarely a cause for concern – but completely normal and usually harmless.

Ruhe und Erholung, wenn das Kind erkältet ist

This is due to the fact that the immune system of children has hardly any contact with viruses. Every pathogen is new, so that almost every infection leads to the disease. Once the organism has become acquainted with the pathogens and "stored", the frequency of colds decreases with age.

How can you make children fit again with age-appropriate home remedies for colds?

With a cold, you treat signs of illness, such as runny nose, sore throat and Co. – that's why you can use home remedies for children with the cold. Especially with infants and toddlers or, if you have no experience with your child having a cold, consultation with the pediatrician is important. Because not every home remedy is always suitable for every child.

Drinking a lot and regularly helps with colds

In general, the following applies to a cold: Drinking a lot helps a lot. This makes the mucus liquid and allows it to drain off more easily. If there is a fever, drinking is especially important to prevent dehydration of the body. Against dry cough, hot milk and honey as a home remedy for children with a cold can be beneficial and soothing.

Menthol for the mucous membranes

An effective home remedy is menthol, as it relieves the typical discomfort. With nasal congestion, inhaling with menthol can cause a feeling of coolness and thus free breath in the nose. On the other hand, peppermint candies moisten the mucous membrane and counteract the multiplication of germs in the mouth and throat. Caution with essential oils in toddlers and babies, as these can cause serious side effects in concentrated form. Apply this home remedy only to older children.

Clear your nose with table salt

Saline can also help against a clogged children's nose. Mixed at home with warm water and salt, the solution then only needs to be sucked in. This is achieved, for example, by the child sucking the saline solution from the hand into the nose. Sounds cumbersome at first, but is quite simple and contributes to nasal hygiene and a free nose.

Make the common cold with soups and spices the cook

Also recommended for children with a cold are home remedies, such as soups or more spicy foods. The popular alphabet soup or a carrot stew with enough spices and pepper can dissolve the viscous secretion in the respiratory tract. Even if garlic and onions are not particularly popular with children, you should include them in meals. Because they contain defenses against viruses and can prevent a cold.

The proximity of mom and dad as the best medicine

If your child has a cold, pay attention to rest and sleep. If you don't want to stay in bed, a quiet daily routine can help. A particularly popular home remedy for children for colds is the affection of mom and dad – often the stuffy nose does not bother so much anymore. Still, keep in mind that cuddling and cuddling with a cold can be contagious. Instead, you can read stories, listen to music or audiobooks, as well as provide security with a few comforting words.

Why does it often catch the whole family when a child catches a cold?

Most infections with a cold happen at home. Because the transmission of cold viruses depends on how close the contact is and how long it lasts: Time together on the couch, playing with the siblings or simply using objects together are factors that have to be taken into account. Your own four walls thus offer ideal conditions for the spread of viruses.

How to prevent a cold in children

Hand washing is the be-all and end-all: Unwashed fingers should not touch the nose or eyes, especially during the cold season. So if your children come from kindergarten, school or the playground, their hands should be washed thoroughly with mild soap at home. This prevents viruses from being brought along.

Regular outdoor exercise supports the immune system. However, because of the connection between cooling down and the risk of infection, you should always dress your children warmly. When walking or on the playground, make sure that your feet stay dry or change clothes directly when you get home. Playing outside is therefore perfectly fine, as long as the children move sufficiently while romping – only when the body cools down, the risk of catching a cold increases. In this way, the activity of the immune cells is reduced and viruses are combated more slowly.

By the way, feveris based on the same principle: our body increases its own temperature in the event of an infection in order to bring the immune cells into full swing and successfully get rid of viruses.

You should also pay attention to a vitamin-rich and balanced diet, especially a lot of vitamin C, so that your child has a cold less often.