Home Remedies for Babies Toddlers & Kids ebook by Bumps n Baby

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Table of contents Home remedies for cold and cough

Home remedies for gas

Home remedies for dry cough

Home remedies for chest congestion

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Introduction  I am Sangeetha Menon, Founder and Chief editor at Bumps n Baby  Bumps n Baby is my medium to reach out to parents worldwide and simplify their parenting phase  Bumps n Baby features a lot of tried and tested baby n toddler food recipes, home remedies, month-wise food charts and many more parenting tips  You can connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, G+, and Pinterest  Special thanks to Anjana, Jayalekshmy and Yamuna for their amazing contribution towards this ebook  If you like to distribute this ebook on home remedies, feel free to do so giving credit back to us. Good karma always favors  Disclaimer: We do not recommend any intake of home remedies for babies below 6 months; kindly consult your paediatrician in such a case. Mother‟s milk is the best for baby.

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Chapter 1

---------------------------------------Home Remedies for Cold and Cough in Babies, Toddlers & Kids Remember your baby‟s first cold? A baby‟s first cold n cough becomes the terrible time for both parents and baby alike. “It‟s difficult to see the little chest in pain”, my colleague was discussing about her son‟s cold and cough. I remember when Anshika was barely 3 weeks old when she became down with her first cold and cough. Trust me when I say this, it was difficult! I am sure many moms would have gone through this difficult phase of sleepless night and crankiness in babies during cold and cough.

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BABIES UP TO 6 MONTHS 1. Breast milk Babies under 6 months do not need any medication other than breast milk during cold and cough to fight off the virus. The antibodies in breast milk help the baby‟s body to build immunity against all types of germs and aids in proper hydration required. 2. Nasal saline drops I am sure your paediatrician would have prescribed paediatric saline drops. Use the saline drops at regular intervals or as prescribed. It helps to add moisture to the nasal tract thereby preventing dry mucus formation. You can make saline drops at home too. Take a steel bowl, spoon and sterilize it well. Take 1/2 teaspoon of salt and dissolve in 8 teaspoons of warm filtered water. Once cooled, you can use it for your baby. But I suggest going for the saline drops available in the market than the home-made ones as there is a risk of bacterial growth. 3. Garlic and Ajwain potli (pouch) Garlic and ajwain are known for its anti-bacterial and antiviral properties. Dry roast 2 big cloves of garlic and 1 tablespoons of ajwain on a tawa. Once cooled make it into a potli or tight pouch with a clean muslin cloth. Place this potli in the baby cot/cradle where baby sleeps. The garlicky ajwain smoke from the potli would help to open the blocked nose of baby and relieves from congestion. Please don‟t keep the potli near baby to avoid the chances of putting into mouth, choking or breathing hazard in anyway. You can also dry rub the potli on the soles of baby‟s feet.

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4. Covered clothing Baby‟s clothing should be as such to protect the chest from cold. 5. Wash /Wipe hands Keep baby‟s and your hands sanitized thoroughly at regular intervals with antibacterial baby wipes or soap. This helps to prevent the spread of germs. 6. Keep baby’s head elevated Keep baby‟s head elevated when he sleeps, to ease breathing.

BABIES ABOVE 6 MONTHS UPTO 1 YEAR You can try 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 too. Apart from those, 7. Warm or Boiled cooled water Give warm water at regular intervals to keep the baby well hydrated. You can try boiled ajwain or cumin water. 8. Soups Provide warm vegetable soup or tomato soup. You can try chicken soup if your baby is 8m+. These soups increase the immunity of the body.

9. Nilgiri oil Nilgiri oil dipped in a cotton ball placed in the room where baby sleeps is found to be effective. 10. Steam You can try steaming the room using a vaporizer or giving a warm shower. Please note that the steam should not be placed close to the baby.

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11. Ajwain and Garlic potli The garlic and ajwain potli can be used to rub on the baby‟s chest by making it warm on a tawa. Don‟t apply the potli on the chest directly from the tawa. Instead place it on your palm, check for the temperature and rub it on with the slight heat. It helps to clear the phlegm from the chest. 12. Rasam Tomato and garlic soup also called „rasam‟ can be given to 7M + babies. This is popular in South India as a common cure for cold and cough. Please omit the red chillies / chilli powder here. 13. Vaporub for babies Apply vaporub on baby‟s sole of the feet and put on cotton socks before sleep.

TODDLERS ABOVE 1 YEAR 14. Ginger & Honey mixture Grate ginger and add honey to it. A teaspoon of this can be given at regular intervals. Helps to soothe the throat and cough.

15. Lemon juice & Honey Add lemon juice and honey. Add a little warm water and make your toddler drink it. 16. Milk with Turmeric Boil one cup of milk and add a pinch or teaspoon of turmeric powder. It is effective for dry coughs.

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17. Ginger coffee Ginger coffee works like magic. Boil about 1 cup of water with 2 slices of ginger, 2 tulsi leaves, 2 pepper pods, 2 cardamom, 2 cloves and 1 tablespoon jaggery. Strain and give this concoction for quick relief from cold and cough. 18. Cloves Dry roast 5 cloves and grind it well once cooled. Add honey to it and give it before sleep.

TODDLERS ABOVE 2 YEARS 19. Jaggery & Pepper corns A powdered mixture of jaggery and 4 peppercorns helps to remove phlegm. 20. Turmeric powder, Ghee & Pepper A pinch of turmeric powder with pepper and ghee is found effective for colds and coughs in toddlers above 2 years of age.

KIDS ABOVE 4 YEARS 21. Infusing medicated vapors Pour 2 drops of eucalyptus oil or nilgiri oil in a pot of steaming boiled water. Ask the child to bend, cover his head with a breathable blanket and infuse the medicated vapours. This helps to unblock the nasal tract.

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22. Honey & Lime Gargling with 1/2 teaspoon honey and a few drops of lemon in warm water helps to clear the throat and nose.

Further Reading:    

5 tricks to keep cold at bay 7 healthy soup recipes for babies and kids Kaachiya enna or velichenna kaachiyadu for cold and cough How to cure fever, cold and congestion in babies?

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Chapter 2

---------------------------------------Home Remedies for Gas in Babies, Toddlers & Kids A baby suffering from gas problems is a major concern since their digestive system is under-developed. Often they cry uncontrollably when they are uncomfortable with the gas not being passed out of body. Babies eat throughout the day and night. Hence their bowels produce a lot more gas compared to adults. If you are breastfeeding and have taken some gas causing foods in your diet, it can cause gas as it passes on to the baby through breast milk. Babies swallow air when they cry. It can also result in gas. Breastfed and bottle-fed babies can have gas problems as they suck in a lot of air along with milk making a build-up of air in the intestine. Gas problems are mainly caused by the substances called natural sugars like fructose, lactose, raffinose and sorbitol and/or soluble fibre. Since these substances are not digested in the stomach, they make their way down to the intestines. The bacteria in the intestines do the needful resulting in the release of gas, bloating and flatulence. Many fruits, vegetables, legumes and dairy products can also cause gas/ bloating in babies and toddlers.

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1. Burping after every feed Infants who are breastfed must be burped after every feed. Don‟t make them lie down once they have had their full. Take your baby in upright position, pat her back and carry her for some time. This avoids most of the gastric troubles in infants. 2. Bicycling your baby’s legs Bicycling your baby‟s legs few times a day keeps the gas away. The rotations relieve them of gas and soothe pain, if any. It is an easy method which can involve singing, talking and playing. This technique keeps them happy, active and playful too. 3. Massaging with mustard oil Giving a gentle massage with warm mustard oil daily is a very healthy method. Apart from calming the digestive system, it also strengthens the bones, brightens skin and promises a sound sleep. 4. Heat fermentation Dip a soft cotton towel in warm water and place it on the baby‟s tummy after squeezing out excess water. This eases the gastric pain and baby feels at peace. Please make sure that the towel is not too hot for the baby. Check for warmth by placing in your hand first. 5. Ajwain ka pani or Carom seed water Boil water with a handful of ajwain (carom seeds) and set aside.

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Keep giving this water at frequent intervals. This remedy is best for babies of 6 months and above. 6. Ginger Adding ginger to your babyâ&#x20AC;&#x;s food soothes and simplifies the digestion process. Ginger reduces stomach gas and flatulence. Please go slow with ginger and include just a pinch of it in your babyâ&#x20AC;&#x;s food, preferably after 8 months of age. 7. Cumin Cumin has Thymol, a compound which triggers the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes. Boil 1/2 teaspoon of cumin seeds in a glass of water. Give this water at regular intervals to relieve gas. Suitable for babies aged 6 month and above. 8. Cardamom (Elaichi) Elaichi is packed with minerals like potassium, calcium and magnesium and it also has iron and vitamin C. Since it reduces the air in the stomach, it speeds up the digestion process and also fights anaemia. Add a few grains of elaichi in baby food. It helps to fight gas in babies and adults as well. 9. Asafoetida: Take a pinch of asafoetida and dissolve it in warm water making a paste. Apply this paste around the infantâ&#x20AC;&#x;s navel. This is an excellent gas reliever. For babies over 1 year old, we can add a pinch of hing/asafoetida powder to their khichdi, dal etc. For older kids, you can add a pinch of asafoetida in their buttermilk or chaas.

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Further reading:    

Advantages and disadvantages of formula feeding Signs and symptoms of food allergy in babies How to tackle loose motion in babies and kids? 5 medicinal benefits of silverware for babies

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Chapter 3

---------------------------------------Home Remedies for Chest Congestion in Babies and Toddlers Heavy noisy breathing and difficulty to sleep are the common symptoms of chest congestion in babies and toddlers. Other symptoms of chest congestion in babies and kids are as follows. 

Difficulty in breathing

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Coughing with phlegm

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Low or mild fever

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Crankiness

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Fussy towards food

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Difficulty in sleeping

The common causes of chest congestion in babies are low immunity, exposure to cold n cough virus and common cold.

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BABIES BELOW 6 MONTHS 1. Steam the room Add a vaporizer to your baby‟s room. It helps to add the required moisture to the nasal tract of babies which reduces the breathing difficulty associated with chest congestion. 2. Ajwain & Garlic potli Make a potli or pouch of dry roasted garlic and ajwain. Frequent rubbing of this potli on baby‟s chest or under feet can help to reduce the congestion levels. Do NOT keep or rub hot potli over baby‟s chest or feet. 3. Frequent nursing Frequent breastfeeding helps the baby to get adequate hydration. This helps to prevent the solidification of mucus inside baby‟s nose and chest. 4. Raise the head of your baby while sleeping Always make it a point to elevate the baby‟s head while sleeping and breastfeeding. This helps to drain out the mucus from nose and chest relieving baby from congestion. Raising head of the baby can be done by using pillows or slings. You can also allow the baby to sleep sideways to ease breathing.

BABIES ABOVE 6 MONTHS 1, 2, 3 and 4 can be followed for babies of 6 month and above too. In addition to these,

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5. Addition of soups and extra fluids Make sure the baby is well hydrated with the inclusion of various soups and fluids. Chicken soup is known to soothe the baby during chest congestion. Chicken soup can be started from 8th month onwards. Boiled water with carrom seeds or ajwain can also help to soothe the baby. 6. Vicks vapourub Rub vicks vaporub for babies on soles of their feet and wear socks during night time.

TODDLERS ABOVE 1 YEAR 7. Turmeric milk or Haldi doodh Turmeric is known for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral properties. Warm milk with turmeric is an effective home remedy for chest congestion in toddlers and kids. You can boil a cup of milk and add a pinch of turmeric powder/ a piece of turmeric in it. If your toddler is not interested to have it, add jaggery and salt / sugar according to his taste. 8. Garlic milk Yes sounds a bit yuck, but garlic milk works wonders for chest congestion in toddlers and kids. Boil one or two cloves of garlic boiled with one glass of milk and a pinch of turmeric powder. Add sugar once the milk is boiled. You can also add honey instead of sugar. 9. Tulsi juice with honey Crush a few tulsi leaves to get the juice. Add 1 tablespoon of honey to it and store in a container. Make your toddler have this juice at regular intervals to drain the phlegm from chest. Make sure you prepare a fresh batch every day.

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10. Ginger juice with honey Grate ginger and add 1 tablespoon of honey to it. Store in a container and make your toddler have this at regular intervals throughout the day. You can also blend ginger with water and then add honey to it.

OLDER KIDS ABOVE 3 YEARS All the steps till 10 can be followed for older kids. In addition to these, 11. Dates Eating dates followed by drinking luke warm water has also been found beneficial for chest congestion in toddlers.

12. Hot betel plant leaves This is a very old but effective home remedy used by my ayyamma (grandma). Hot betel leaves (Vettilai) soaked in castor oil or mustard oil placed on child‟s chest followed with hot compress (cloth soaked in hot water) helps to loosen the phlegm and mucus in chest. Further reading:    

How to help your baby love vegetables How to take care of babies during winter? 12 winter care essentials for babies and kids Protect your baby from mosquitoes today with these 10 natural methods

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Chapter 4

---------------------------------------Home Remedies for Dry Cough in Babies and Toddlers Have you experienced the dry rough cough in babies and toddlers? Though there is no phlegm, the cough could be terrible and can give sleepless nights to both baby and parents. In all the remedies for dry cough, jaggery is added so that babies and kids wonâ&#x20AC;&#x;t get the bitterness of the medicines.

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BABIES BELOW 6 MONTHS 1. Breast milk Usually babies below 6 months need only breast milk to recover from dry cough.

BABIES ABOVE 6 MONTHS 2. Jeera water/ Cumin water Add 1-2 teaspoons of jeera/cumin seeds to the boiling water. Give this water at regular intervals.

BABIES ABOVE 10 MONTHS 3. Kashayam This kashayam is made with Indian spices. You can give this kashayam once or twice to the baby. 

Kandanthipili/long pepper/papal – 1 inch

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Sitharathai/Indian giner or snap giner, Kulanjan – 1 inch

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Vethalai/ betel leaf – 1

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Pepper – ¼ spoon

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Jaggery – ½ spoon (as per taste)

Crush all the above ingredients add to 1 glass of water boil till it reduce to half glass of water. Filter it and drink when it is warm.

TODDLERS 1 YEAR & ABOVE 4. Dry ginger coffee This coffee made with dry ginger and coriander seeds can be given once or twice for quick relief from dry cough. 

Dry Ginger – ½ spoon

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Coriander seeds – 2 spoon

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Jaggery – as per taste

Crush all the three ingredients except jaggery and add to water. Add the crushed ingredients to 2 cup of water. Boil till it reduces to 1 cup of water. Filter it and add jaggery. 5. Honey and pepper concoction  

Honey – 2 tsp Pepper crushed – ½ teaspoon

Heat 1 cup of water and add honey to it. Add crushed pepper to it and mix well. Give this concoction to your toddler before sleep at night.