It is that time of year again, where colds are going to come and go through everyone’s house. This is especially true if your child is in school and is mixing with other students. The weather is changing and that can cause a lot of sinus problems. A congested child is not a happy child and it can cause them a lot of discomfort and misery. In a world where COVID-19 is still running rampant, mom may be a little reluctant to pack up her child and take them to the doctor and may need remedies to treat it at home.

Mom also may be looking for some alternatives to medicine. According to Mayo Clinic, no parent should be using an over-the-counter cold medicine on a child under the age of 6. It should also be avoided for any child under the age of 12. This means that mom is going to need some alternatives to help her child clear her sinuses.

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Inhale That Steam

According to Medical News Today, one of the best ways to help clear congestion is by inhaling steam. The easiest way a mom can do this is by running the shower with hot water and letting the room fill up with steam. Then, mom can sit with her child on the floor and let them breathe it in. Steam can help break up mucus in the system, which would make it easier to breathe. This is a good trick to do right before bed.

Chicken Soup Is Good For The Soul

Chicken soup is a staple for anyone who has ever been sick, but it turns out that chicken soup can actually help clear up congestion. According to Nationwide Children’s, studies have shown that chicken soup actually contains ingredients that helps to break up mucus and decrease the amount of nose congestion.

Dust Off That Humidifier

One of the key ingredients in clearing up congestion is moist air. Keeping the air moist is the best way to reduce congestion, because remember, it is all about breaking up that mucus and allowing them to breathe better. A cool-mist humidifier is going to be your best bet when it comes to nighttime problems. This may make it easier for your child to breathe at night, which means that it is going to be easier to sleep.

Bulb Suction

When it comes to children under the age of 3, mom may need to pull out her bulb syringe to give them a hand in relieving some congestion. Young children can not blow their nose and clear their nostrils on their own, so they need some help getting it out. This may be the most uncomfortable way for your child to clear their nose, but sometimes a mom has to do what a mom has to do to make sure her child is comfortable.

Bulb suction may not be as affective as some of the other solutions on our list, and that is mostly because of the tool design. The Nose Frida is something that a lot more moms swear by, and it allows mom to “suck” out the mucus without getting any in her mouth.

Plenty Of Fluids

It sounds a bit cliché to say that when you are sick that you need to drink a lot of fluids, but there is a reason. When you drink a lot, it can help to thin out mucus. This may make it easier for a child to cough it up, according to Medical News Today. It is also a great way to avoid dehydration, which can be a risk to children who are not feeling well enough to eat.

Water may be the optimal choice for liquid, however, if your child will only drink juice then it may be in moms best interest to let them have diluted juice for a day or two to break up all the congestion.

Sleep Position Matters

If your child is old enough to be in a bed with pillows and blankets, then you may want to prop them up when they are sleeping for a day or two. Congestion will often appear worse at night, according to Medical News Today, and this is not going to help them get better. The reason it is worse is because when a child is laying flat, the mucus does not have anywhere to go, and it causes a stuffy nose and coughing. Mom may want to prop their child’s head up with an extra pillow at night to help keep everything at the right angle to keep moving.

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Sources: Mayo Clinic, Medical News Today, Nationwidechildrens