1 post tagged “babies”

We're on our 2nd round of colds in a month.  My 6 year old is complaining about a stuffy nose and sore throat.  My 3 year old is stuffy and cranky and is telling me he just doesn't feel well.  And my 1 year old who cannot express her discomfort with words is crying to let me know how she feels.  I, of course, cannot complain about my own miserable state.  I could, but it is a useless waste of words and energy for my complaints fall on deaf ears.

What do I do with 3 sick kids while I feel like crap myself?  I just keep going, I have no choice.  I long to take a nice long bath and get into some comfy pj's and get into my cozy warm bed and just sleep off this cold, but that will not happen so I push on and try to not exert myself too much by leaving my housework and laundry to accumulate in piles around the house.  As I wander around the house in a congested head daze with sippy cups, droppers of tylenol, boxes of tissue and herbal teas I feel like this will never end.  It is, in my opinion, one of the hardest parts of being a parent.  What do I do for them?  For me?

Drugging my kids isn't the answer.  Here is an article from injuryboard.com http://www.injuryboard.com/national-news/no-cough-and-cold-meds-for-kids-under-four.aspx?googleid=249038 The FDA is saying certain types of cold medicines shouldn't be given to childen 4 and under BUT these cold medicines can be very dangerous for young children over 4 and they are ineffective for children under 12. 

We will get through this.  The things that work for us are soup, tea, vaporizers, warm baths and lots of hugs and love.

Here's a recipe for a nice herbal tea for kids:

Bring 2 cups water to boil, remove from heat and add:

1 tsp. cammomile

1 tsp. wild cherry bark

1 tsp. fennel

1 tsp. peppermint

1 cinnamon stick

Let steep for about 5 minutes and then add about 1 tsp. honey. 

Other tips:

For sore throats:  Coat a spoon with honey and let your child suck on it like a lollipop.

Put salt water is spray bottle and use for oral spray in toddlers (who don't know how to gargle).