One of the worst things you can experience as a mom is seeing your baby sick. You want to do everything you can to get them healthy again!
Having these medicine cabinet must-haves to treat your sick baby at home is a necessity!!
Your baby can’t express to you exactly what hurts or how they are feeling so you have to play a guessing game or rush them to the doctor.
All mothers want to fix every little cold and fever that their baby gets as fast as possible!
Unfortunately, there may not be an easy fix to every single cold your baby catches!
However, there are some amazing home remedies and medicine cabinet must-haves that are sure to speed up your baby’s immunity and get them back to themselves again!
I have tried so many medicine cabinet products and natural remedies over the past 9 years and discovered which cold and cough remedies are safe and which medicines actually work!
I wrote a post about vitamins and immune boosters our family takes on a daily basis to stay healthy here. I’ve had many people ask me what we use when my children actually do get sick!
So, I thought I’d answer all your questions and give you our go to home remedies and medicine cabinet essentials that we use to fight fevers, coughs, and colds!
Our oldest daughter has some health issues and tends to catch many more colds and infections compared to her sisters.
I will share with you what we have used to fight off these colds and infections quickly and help get her and her sisters back to feeling like themselves again!
Every mother or parent should have these items in their medicine cabinet at all times! Some of these home remedies for cold and cough for babies have helped me and my family tremendously!
Disclaimer: Remember, I am not a doctor, just a mom who has tried a million things to keep her children healthy. I can’t prevent, cure, or diagnose any illness. Always be sure to ask your doctor for more information and what they recommend!
This post is all about medicine cabinet essentials for your sick baby.
Fevers in Children
First and foremost, let’s talk about fevers in children.
A fever caused by an infection is actually helping the body destroy its microbial invader. (Source) In short, the fever is starting the healing process to fight the infection.
As parents, our first response to our children having a fever is usually, “How can we lower the fever and get them feeling better?”
In most instances, treating the fever will not help the body get rid of the infection, but it will relieve discomfort for your child. You can read more about this here.
We all hate seeing our children uncomfortable! So, naturally, we want to treat the fever immediately!
However, if the fever is between 99-101 F and the child is over the age of 3 months, you may not need to call the doctor unless they are very uncomfortable.
The exception to this, of course, is if the child is under 3 months of age.
If a baby under the age of 3 months has a temperature of 100.4 F or higher, call your doctor ASAP or head to the ER. (Source)
To be honest, I even use caution with babies 4-5 months of age. Always call your pediatrician or nurse if you have any questions or concerns with a fever.
Thermometers
Obviously, having a thermometer on your baby registry is a must have! This way if you need it after you have the baby, you’re prepared!
To get the most accurate temperature in a baby, you’ll want a rectal thermometer.
No, these are not ideal, but they will give you the accurate temperature you need. It’s always good to have an old-school thermometer like this on hand no matter what the age!
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For toddlers who won’t sit still, I recommend an ear or forehead thermometer like the one below:
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Or just put a thermometer kit on your baby registry!
How to Reduce a Child’s Fever Naturally
Plenty of fluids and popsicles
Offer your sick baby with fever plenty of fluids!
Any doctor will tell you to make sure your child has enough to drink and stay hydrated.
With my toddlers and children, this is where I add their vitamin C powder to their juices so I know that they are getting the extra Vitamin C they need at such an important time!
Read more below on the Vitamin C that we use.
Also, offer them plenty of popsicles if they like them!
Here are some popsicles my kids love:
Apple Cider Vinegar
This one is an old wives tale!
Yes, it doesn’t smell the best but if you soak a washcloth in apple cider vinegar and dilute it in water, then apply it to your child’s forehead or wrapped around their feet, it is known to draw out the fever.
You can also add some vinegar to their bath to help draw out their fever as well.
Apple cider vinegar is always great to have on hand! We also add it to our homemade tea recipe that works wonders on flu and colds!
When choosing an apple cider vinegar, you will want the kind with the “mother” in it.
This brand below is the best kind you can get! ACV can be used for so many things so it’s always great to have on hand!
For a great tea recipe and more immune booster vitamins we use, click here or below
Detox Bath
My children LOVE their detox baths! They actually ask for them when they aren’t feeling well and usually feel so much better after one!
Magnesium bath salts
Magnesium bath salts are another staple in our home and great to add to any bath when you are sick or not!
To learn more about the recipe I use for our magnesium detox baths, click the photo below!
Essential Oils For Fever
Some moms swear by their essential oils and others think people who use them are crazy!
Trust me, I’ve heard it all!
I believe essential oils are an excellent way to help keep your family healthy without resorting to medicine in certain situations.
Always be careful when using essential oils and dilute them when using on children. Be sure to consult your doctor for more information.
There are three kinds of essential oils for reducing fever in a child that can help them greatly!
Lemongrass Essential Oil, Peppermint, and Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender and Peppermint essential oils can help reduce the body’s temperature and Lemongrass can help to boost the body’s immune system.
The safest way to use the oils is to dilute them with a carrier oil like coconut oil and rub it all over your child’s feet. Then put their socks on them to wear to bed.
Diffusing essential oils in a room is one of the best ways to treat a sick baby. You can diffuse lavender or lemongrass oil to help your sick child sleep better.
I would use peppermint oil with caution on young babies because it is stronger than the other oils.
These 3 below are great to always have on hand:
Here are some more great ones:
Natural Fever and Pain Relief Homeopathic Medicine
Here are two brands of fever and pain medicine that do not contain any dyes and are safe to use for children to help reduce the fever and help them get some rest.
Dr. Talbot’s Pain and fever relief comes with an easy syringe and is safe to use on babies 6 months and up:
Or this one:
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Homeopathic Hyland’s cold tablets for babies and toddlers
If your child is under two and you want to give them something to help them with their stuffy nose and congestion, you can try Hyland’s Baby Cold Tablets.
These are only for babies ages 6 months and up.
I have used these on my babies and they definitely seemed to stop the cold from getting worse and the best part was my children loved taking them so there was never a fight!
The only problem I had was that you had to remember to continually give them a few every 30 min or so. It was easy to put in their mouths and they did enjoy the taste though.
Hyland’s has had much controversy over the years about its teething tablets. For more information about Hyland’s products, click here.
Always be sure to check with your pediatrician before giving your child any new medicines.
If you have questions about using homeopathic medicine, read this article for more information.
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Advil or Motril for fevers
Of course, you should always have either infant Motrin or children’s Motrin or Advil on hand at all times.
If for some reason none of the natural remedies bring down your child’s fever and they are very uncomfortable, you can give them a dose of Motril or Advil to help lower their temperature and get a good night’s rest.
Always call your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your child’s fever.
I’m not a fan of Tylenol for many reasons and honestly, it never worked quite as well as using ibuprofen so I stopped buying it.
Remember, a fever is your body’s way of attacking the virus so if your child can tolerate the fever and it’s not very high, then let the fever do its thing if your child isn’t too uncomfortable. Always keeping one of these in our medicine cabinet is a great idea.
I try not to ever use them and go for more of a homeopathic/natural remedy but sometimes these come in handy for emergency situations.
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Medicine Pacifier
To give your baby the liquid medicine with ease, use a medicine pacifier! These things are brilliant and makes giving little ones medicine so much easier!
Baby Stuffy Nose Remedies
Nasal Aspirator
I can’t stress enough just how important it is for a parent to have one of these Nose Frida’s on hand!
If you aren’t a fan of the NoseFrida and I know how gross it is, then go old school and use an old aspirator or whatever you can to get out the mucus and clear your baby’s nose.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard friends or family say that their baby had a stuffy nose and it turned into a cough or something worse like bronchitis.
This is common and can happen when a parent isn’t able to draw out all of the mucus in the nose.
Yes, the NoseFrida is gross but trust me, it will save you a trip to the doctor’s office in a few days and your baby will breathe so much easier!
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Saline Spray
Get some great saline spray if you need to and hold your child down, spray it up their nose and let it break up the mucus. Then pull out your aspirator and it will easily draw everything out!
Be sure to do this, especially before bedtime!
Here are a few of my favorite saline sprays!
Always, always keep these on hand! Trust me, you will use them!!
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Your child will get a better night’s sleep if the air isn’t dry and you have a cool mist humidifier.
Be sure to clean these out often.
If you constantly use a humidifier but don’t clean it out, it can cause more bad than good!
So, always be sure to rinse it out and follow the directions on how to keep it clean and mildew free on the box.
Here are a few humidifiers we like:
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For Breastfed Babies
If you are still nursing your baby and he or she has come down with a cold, continue to nurse your baby as much as possible!
There are some things you can do to help your child boost their immunity just by adding a few extras to your diet!
Take the Vitamin C that I mention below and be sure to add extra Vitamin D3 in your diet as well!
Taking a good vitamin D3 supplement will not only be great for mom but also excellent for your baby’s health as well!
Here are a few vitamins I love and take myself, these are not for your baby to take but for mom!
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Cough Essentials for Kids
Cough Essentials for KidsYour child can’t stop coughing?
Coughs tend to worry me more than just a runny nose, especially if it’s combined with a fever.
There are a few things you can do to treat a cough first before it gets worse.
Always be sure to use the aspirator above if they also have a stuffy nose to get rid of as much mucus as possible.
If your child is over the age of one, you can see if they will drink a warm tea remedy that works great for coughs and sore throats.
You can find out more about the tea recipe here.
If your baby is under the age of one, you can add a good vitamin C powder to their juice. They won’t taste the powder because it’s mixed in with their juice and they’ll get the added vitamin C they need to help fight off their cough and cold!
Keep on nursing your sick baby and he or she will get all the benefits from your milk and the vitamins you took!
Vapor Rub
I’ve heard many people say that rubbing vapor rub on your baby’s feet can help with coughs.
I’ve tried this and I believe it can help a little but I also believe everything else I did along with the vapor rub on the feet helped my sick baby get better as well.
Get yourself a great vapor rub for babies and children. One I like is from the Honest Company because it isn’t full of a bunch of chemicals.
Slather it all over your baby’s chest, especially before bedtime! This will help them breathe so much better!
Be sure to prop up your baby or child with a bunch of pillows.
They should NOT lay flat if they have a cough or mucus build-up. Laying flat will only make them cough more!
Here are a few vapor rubs I recommend trying:
Throw some vapor bombs in their bath:
You could also make your own vapor rub!
For more information on making your own all-natural vapor rub, click here or the photo below:
Diffuse Essential Oils
Lately, the moms I meet either LOVE essential oils or can’t stand them!
I’m one of the mamas that love them!
A few of my favorite essential oils that I diffuse when my children have a cough that works wonders are RC and Thieves by Young Living.
I also love Revive, they are more affordable and just as great!
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For the baby, I’d recommend diffusing a few drops of lemon, lavender, and Frankincense. RC oil may be too strong for a baby under a year.
Click the photos below for more information on these oils and how to use them!
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You can diffuse these oils or add them to your humidifier! Here are some diffusers:
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Cough medicine
There are a few things you can give your child depending on their age.
Cough Medicine for Babies
For babies over 2 months. you can try Zarbees Natural Baby Cough and Mucous Relief. This cough medicine is safe to use and may help when you’ve tried everything else and nothing works!
This is one of the only brands that are natural and available for babies over 2 months!
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Or you can save money and get yourself a Zarbees kit! Would make a good baby registry gift!
Another great brand is Mommy’s Bliss Cough Syrup. I love this brand’s gripe water for my babies and their ingredients are safe and natural.
This cough medicine for babies 4 months and up!
Or you can get day and night time relief:
Here is a great brand with all natural ingredients and is just like you made it at home!
Homemade Cough Syrup For Kids
If you can’t run out and buy some of these cough medicines, you can easily make them yourself at home!
This is awesome because you know exactly what you’re giving your babies!
Make sure you have raw organic honey on hand at all times because it’s great to add in hot teas and helps soothe sore throats and coughs!
However, babies under one year of age should not eat honey because it can cause infant botulism. (Source) To learn more about botulism, click here.
I do not have my own cough syrup recipe and normally my kids drink up my hot tea that I make for them.
For a great herbal cough syrup recipe to make yourself at home, check out Wellness Mama’s recipe here.
Elderberry Syrup for colds and flu
Another staple we keep on hand at all times is Elderberry syrup. I actually give my kids this on a daily basis once flu season hits to help prevent any sickness before it starts!
Elderberry syrup is safe for babies 6 months and up depending on which brand you use. Making your own elderberry is the safest thing to do.
You can even make an elderberry syrup recipe without the honey so you can give it to your baby.
There are lots of great elderberry recipes out there, just look up one without the honey in it for babies and always consult your doctor if you have any questions!
The elderberry syrup my kids that we use if I don’t have time to make my own is Gaia Elderberry Syrup.
If your toddler isn’t into taking the elderberry syrup, you can also try the elderberry chews. I find that the chews tend to go quickly and they have extra sugar in them then my kids don’t really need.
However, they’re great for those 2 years old who will fight you when you try and give them anything but the chews!
Remedies for Stomach Flu
Oh yes, the infamous stomach bug!
This is the worst, I know! I’ve been there many times with my kids!
I finally found a stomach flu remedy that worked like magic for our family! You can read more about that here:
A few staples I like to keep on hand when dealing with the stomach bug (or even food poisoning) are popsicles, chamomile tea, charcoal, and a few essential oils.
Most of these below are not suitable for babies:
Ear Infection Remedies
Mullein Garlic Ear Drops
When your baby has any ear pain it can become unbearable for them to deal with. Many times a baby or toddler will have an ear infection and it’s difficult for the parent to know exactly what is wrong.
The worst part is you can’t look into your child’s ear to see if there is an ear infection brewing or if it’s their teeth or something else!
I personally have dealt with many ear infections with my oldest daughter because of her health issues.
As an experienced mom dealing with ear infections, the best ear infection pain relief advice I can offer is to have these garlic drops on hand at home.
Many times these garlic drops will work like magic and there’s no need to get ear infection antibiotics!
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Our doctor also recommended warming up good olive oil with fresh garlic and applying a few drops if you don’t want to buy anything.
If your child’s ear infections or pain persists, please contact your doctor!
The ears are nothing to mess with and recurrent ear infections can cause other issues that you’ll want to avoid.
Also, be sure to give your child plenty of fluids and try to limit the amount of dairy your child is eating/drinking during an ear infection.
Lots of water and juices are best during an ear infection. Of course, if you are still breastfeeding your baby, the more breastmilk, the better!
Essential Oils For Ear Pain
There are some essential oils that can really help relieve ear pain. However, remember these oils do not go into the ear, just rubbed around the outside of the ear. If you have any questions, always consult your doctor first.
lemon or Lavender Essential Oil is great at reducing inflammation and pain. These oils can be rubbed around the outside of the ear and below the earlobe.
I apply 2 drops of Lavender oil to a cotton ball and place the cotton ball inside the outside of my child’s ear overnight. (Remember, nothing down the actual ear.)
Then I’ll apply a few drops of lemon oil mixed with coconut oil along the outside of her ear near her jaw and also diffuse the oils in my diffuser as well.
This helps her sleep so much better and the cooling effect from the oils make the pain go away.
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Allergic Reactions
What happens when one of your children has an allergic reaction to something they ate or is bit by something?
This is when it’s always good to have some Benadryl in your home at all times! You just never know when you might need it!
I remember my daughter was bitten by a spider and her leg was swollen I called her doctor and he said to have her take some Benadryl. The swelling quickly went down after a few hours and she was feeling much better.
You just never know when you might need this so it’s always good to keep in your medicine cabinet. Better to be safe than sorry!
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These are the essentials I carry in our medicine cabinet when my little ones come down with a cold or fever.
I hope these medicine cabinet must-haves and natural remedies help treat your sick baby and get them feeling better again!
For teething babies that are in pain keeping you up all night, click here for all natural teething remedies that actually work!
Is your baby suffering from colic? Here are awesome tips to help relieve colic in babies!
