No one wants to see their child get ill but some childhood diseases are very hard to avoid especially in the winter. Germs can spread very quickly in environments such as nurseries and schools where a lot of children are gathered together.
According to National Health Service advice, the best ways in which to prevent the common cold are to adopt basic hygienic precautions such as hand washing and stay as fit as you can.
Children who spend a lot of time running around outdoors will be healthier and will have a stronger immune system. Diet is also important.
Many parents choose to invest in wooden climbing frames such as those available at https://www.niclimbingframes.com/childrens-wooden-climbing-frames to make sure that their children have fun playing outside. Nevertheless, some coughs and colds are inevitable and natural remedies can help. Here are a few of them.
Image Credit
Honey for a tickly cough
Anyone who has sat up all night with a little one that just can’t stop coughing will know how distressing it can be. Coughing is a natural reaction to tickling in the throat and helps to keep the airways clear. Therefore, using a powerful cough suppressant is not advisable and could lead to more harm in the long term. They cannot be used on young children at all and could be a bad idea for older children too. Instead, use a natural remedy to ease irritation in the throat.
Honey is a very useful natural ingredient. It is perfectly safe for children aged over 12 months and children love the taste because it tastes sweet. Some parents have found that the darker honeys, such as buckwheat honey, work the best as they have higher levels of antioxidants. All you need is half a teaspoon for kids aged one to five years and one teaspoon for kids aged six to 11 years.
Chicken soup for a streaming cold
It may sound like an old wives’ tale but chicken soup really can help with a streaming cold. The ingredients contain anti-inflammatory properties which help with a runny nose and eyes and with a sore throat. Also, you breathe in the vapour as you eat it and that helps to relieve congestion in the airways.
It’s a good idea to batch cook the soup and keep some in the freezer for when you need it.
