Our young ones are susceptible to a lot of infections and ailments. Since their immunity is still not as developed as adults, they become the target of many common ailments. They are especially sensitive to allergens and pollutants in the environment and also sudden weather changes. It is not uncommon for a child to catch a common cold or a chest infection when the weather changes. With every such change in the weather, children catch a recurring cold. Though there are a lot of home remedies for cold for adults, there are some for children too. With adults, a glass of brandy can do wonders but for your little one, you may have to be a little more careful.
Since your child is prone to infection and chest congestion, ideally you should have a vaporizer installed in your house. Vaporizers have been used as a remedy of chest congestion since ages. During the change in seasons, just as a precaution, make your child sit near the vaporizer and turn it on. In the winter months especially, do this without fail. If done regularly, this can save your child from recurring chest congestions. The vaporizers are easy to use and generally come with a timer and an automatic setting for shutting it off. Use plain water with a pinch of salt in your vaporizer for best results.
There are products that are available in the market that claim to work wonders when put in a vaporizer, but these contain various chemicals and so they should be avoided as far as possible.
Keep your vaporizers clean. The bronchial tubes are lined with cilia, a fine hair like structure that catch hold of any foreign objects that enter our bronchial cavities. In the event where a foreign object gets trapped, there is irritation and phlegm gets produced. Repeated production of phlegm, without proper elimination leads to a chest congestion. Therefore, the steam that your child inhales should at least be completely free of any bacterial material.
Another effective home remedy for chest congestion in children is a hot water bottle. Fill the bottle with heated tap water. Test the temperature before you let your child use it. The temperature shouldn’t be too hot or too cold. Place this bottle in the middle of the shoulder blades or the chest of your child while he or she is resting or sleeping. Ideally, you can wrap it in a thin towel and your child should snuggle up to it, however if they don’t like the sensation of a hot water bottle, switch to the vaporizer.