This post will cover 5 natural congestion remedies for infants that are safe to use and made with simple ingredients.
This winter was my baby girl’s first experience in Chicago’s cold weather, and the runny nose and congestion were no exception. She got sick three times in less than three months, and it broke my heart each time to see her sick and downcast. I reminded myself that when we get congestion, we naturally produce mucus which is the body’s ability to clear away any bacteria or inflammation in the lungs or nasal passages. Think of it as our body’s natural response to a cold or virus in our system– a runny nose or congestion is not the enemy! It is actually a good sign that our bodies are healing.
It is no fun when our babies are battling a cold. We feel helpless because we dont have a magic wand to make them feel better, but at least we can try!
So, I tried some simple remedies that helped my baby get back to normal in about a week. In addition, the things I did really helped boost her immunity, which I hope works for your little one, too. So, without further ado, let’s jump into 5 Natural Congestion Remedies for Infants.
Run the Humidifier
You can add a few drops of Eucalyptus oil to your humidifier and let it moisten the air in your baby’s room for added comfort, especially if they are congested and have difficulty breathing. In addition, the humidifier or a steaming shower may help moisten and open up the nasal passages and alleviate some of the dryness.
Breast Milk a.k.a liquid gold
Breastmilk is also referred to as liquid gold for a reason–it is highly nutritious and adjusts to your baby’s needs. There are many benefits of breastmilk that you can read about online, but I will mention how to use it for a cold or congestion in this post. If you are breastfeeding or know someone who can donate some breastmilk, I highly recommend using it in these three ways:
- Feeding it directly to your baby, especially important during this time! You can even add immune boosting foods to your diet so that your milk will contain more nutrients to help your baby feel better.
- Placing a few drops in nostrils. The breastmilk can thin out the mucus in the nose to help them breath a little easier.
- Breastmilk bath. Adding a few ounces to your baby’s bath time will not only make their skin extra soft but can help with congestion and help them sleep well.
Vitamin C Puree
If your baby is old enough to start eating solids, grab some carrots, apples, oranges, turmeric, and fresh ginger to make a baby puree. I tried the Immune Boost recipe from Baby Foodie and my baby loved it.
If you notice your baby developing a diaper rash while trying this recipe (like mine did), it may be the citrus irritating their digestive tract. Just keep an eye out for discomfort or pain and discontinue use if needed.
Anti-inflammatory Tea
This tea is grandma’s recipe for young and old alike to help with inflammation and getting rid of colds, coughs, and everything in between.
Boil a garlic clove, two onion rings, an inch of ginger, and half a lemon (if organic); otherwise, squeeze the juice with 1 cup of water for approximately 10-15 minutes and let cool before serving to your baby in a bottle or sippy cup.
If your baby doesn’t drink it at first because of the taste, try at a different time; a little of this tea here and there goes a long way to soothe any cold or cough.
Homemade Vapor Rub
Vapor Rub is a decades-old remedy; I remember my mom put Vicks VaporRub on my chest for colds. Now that I’m older and a mom, I start to question ingredient labels. 🙂 Since I dont know the ingredients inside the store-bought bottle of Vapor Rub, I like to find more natural alternatives or make my own natural congestion remedies at home.
I recommend reading How To Make All-Natural Vapor Rub from mommypotamus. Heather goes into detail about how much essential oils are needed based on your child’s age, and she has other great natural congestion remedies and recipes you can try.
Physical Touch & LOVE
I may have left the best for last! No, but in all honesty, babies need love for healing too. If you think about it, a sick baby wants to be held by their mom or the person they feel most attached to. That’s because they feel most comforted when they are being cared for by the person they love. I think that’s pretty special! So my advice is to leave everything aside for that moment and hold them close because the years pass by in a blink of an eye.
Please remember these suggestions may not work for everyone and are not intended to treat or cure an illness; if your baby is sick, please seek medical advice.
♥ Blessings!
Other posts you may like: Motherhood: What did Mary Treasure in her Heart?
