Botanicals can soothe a child’s cough and prevent further complications, like pneumonia, when used often and as soon as you feel your child getting sick.
In this blog post, I’ll share the exact remedies I use with my children and my clients to soothe both a dry and wet cough.
Don’t let your kiddos suffer one more day. These home remedies can save the whole family from a rough night’s sleep.
Home remedies for a cough for kids
Finding an herbal remedy for my son’s cough has been one of the more challenging events we have endured.
Coughs can be dry, or wet. Coughs also can accommodate the flu, ear infections, or a sore throat.
To address a cough think of adding anti-viral botanicals plus, expectorants to support their immune system and release the mucous. ¹
So, what do we tackle first?
There are four ways I like to use natural remedies with children. I’ll give them teas, tinctures, decoctions, and homeopathy.
Plus, try your best to reduce their sugar intake and increase their fluids with chicken soups and pops, like our favorite herbal popsicle recipe here.
Teas For Kids
- Make a cup of tea with 1 tsp. of dried herbs to 1 cup of boiling water.
- Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Strain and add honey for children over 1 year or you can add juice to their Sippy cup.
For babies, you can add cooled chamomile tea to their bottles, adding maple syrup to sweeten if needed.
Toddlers love Lemon Balm or Peppermint as well.
Tinctures For Kids
Tinctures are an extract of a plant in alcohol. Because of the processing method, the amount alcohol your child ingests is similar to a ripe banana.
If you’re concerned with the alcohol intake you can use a glycerine tincture. These tinctures are made with glycerine instead of alcohol and most moms feel more comfortable using them.
When the cold begins, give an Echinacea glycerine tincture and Elderberry Syrup to support their immune system.
Studies show elderberry syrup can lower the duration of your flu and the need for medication.
Dose: When the adult dose is 2 droppersful (60 drops),
the following is recommended for children:
Age — Dosage
- Younger than 3 months — 2 drops
- 3 to 6 months — 3 drops
- 6 to 9 months — 4 drops
- 9 to 12 months — 5 drops
- 12 to 18 months — 7 drops
- 18 to 24 months — 8 drops
- 2 to 3 years — 10 drops
- 3 to 4 years — 12 drops
- 4 to 6 years — 15 drops
- 6 to 9 years — 24 drops
- 9 to 12 years — 30 drops
Other ways to determine dosage:
Young’s Rule – Add 12 to the child’s age. Divide the child’s age by this total.
Example: dosage for a 4 year old: 4 divided by 16 (4+12) = .25, or 1/4 of the adult dosage.
Cowling’s Rule – Divide the number of the child’s next birthday by 24.
Example: dosage for a child who is 3, turning 4 would be: 4 divided by 24 = .16, or 1/6 of the adult dosage.²
Decoctions For Kids
A Decoction is a method of extraction by boiling herbal or plant material to dissolve the chemicals of the material, which may include stems, roots, bark and rhizomes.³ This works best when the herb doesn’t taste well or you want to make a syrup, like elderberry syrup.
Homeopathy For Kids
Homeopathy is wonderful for kids. Please read my article:
- Everything you need to know about homeopathy HERE.
Home remedies for a cough and throat pain
When a cough is dry with throat pain, you’ll want soothing herbs like licorice, slippery elm, and marshmallow root.
- Your toddler can suck on slippery elm throat lozenges found here.
- I’d also give an immune tincture like herb pharm to boost their immunity found here.
- Our favorite tea recipe for a sore throat is found here. This is safe for toddlers who do not have hypertension and they love how sweet it is!
Home remedies for a cough and mucous
When there is mucous, you’ll want herbs that act like an expectorant, look for products with elecampane, hyssop, mullein, thyme, yerba santa, and ginger for warming.
Home remedies for infants
Using botanicals with infants requires more caution. The tincture doses are much less due to their body weight. Please see your free cheat sheet.
To administer a tincture to an infant, you can add tinctures to a bottle or place in 1/3 cup of water. Use a syringe or straw to make sure your child gets the full amount.
I wouldn’t use essential oils with children until they are 3 months of age. If you choose to, please use caution. Make sure you only use 1 drop per 1 tbs. of oil. They should be very diluted and avoid the eyes, ears, and any openings in the body. Never ingest essential oils with infants. (Unless advised by a professional as they are very estrogenic.)
Home remedies for a cough with toddlers
Toddlers are a little easier, as they love anything new and fun. I would add tinctures to their Sippy cup, use a syringe, or sip out of a fun cup with a straw.
5 Home Cough Remedies
- Slippery elm lozenges
- Licorice & peppermint tea
- Herb Pharm Lung expectorant
- Andrographis- to prevent pneumonia
- Echinacea tincture
Conclusion
When using botanicals and homeopathy with children it is very important you’re choosing the right herb (or homeopathic treatment) and correct dosing for their symptom. With a combined effort of diet, teas, and rest your child will be able to become resilient through the years.
What have you tried for coughs? Let me know in the comments below.
¹ https://chriskresser.com/rhr-treating-viral-pneumonia-and-other-infections/ ² Reference used: “Herbal Remedies for Children’s Health” by Rosemary Gladstar
³ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decoction
