It is never a good thing to let your toddler drink medicine for every runny nose or burn he might have. There are common home remedies that are as effective as over-the-counter medicines you can give to your sick toddler. Here are some tried and tested treatments you can try.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is known as a powerful cleaning agent. But did you know that it is also effective in treating sick children? For treating diaper rash, fill the tub with lukewarm water. Put 2 tablespoons of baking soda into the water and mix it using your hand. After which, place your toddler in the baking soda bath and have him sit in it for at least 10 minutes. Do this until the rashes disappear.

For treating bug bites, mix a teaspoon of baking soda with just enough water to make a paste. Dab it on the bites and let it dry.

Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is known to have anti-spasmodic properties, which sends off a soothing sensation in the tummy. Over the years, chamomile tea has been used to treat an array of conditions such as abdominal pain, colic, constipation, diarrhea and hay fever to name a few.

You can either buy ready-made chamomile tea in grocery stores or add 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers to water and boil it for 10 minutes. Strain the mixture, let it cool to room temperature and then place 1 to 2 ounces in a bottle or administer it with a dropper 3 times a day.

Honey

Honey is a natural antibiotic that can soothe a sore throat and stop a cough. The best way to give honey to your toddler is to add half a teaspoon of honey to 2 ounces of water, microwave it for approximately 20 seconds or until warm (not hot) and let your toddler drink it down. Adding lemon juice (make sure it is skinned and the seeds are removed) to the mixture can also quickly cleanse the body and kill any bacteria.

Saline Drops, Steamy Air and Humidifiers

If your toddler has a stuffy nose, a saline drop will clear up a stuffy nose just by spritzing a few drops of saline in each nostril. Make sure you have a tissue handy since it can run out of his nose. A warm bath, sitting in a steamy bathroom (by running hot water in the tub or shower), taking your toddler outside on a cool night or installing a cool mist humidifier in your toddler’s bedroom can help loosen the mucus in his nasal passages as well as treat croup (a viral infection of the upper airway that impedes normal breathing).

Hot or Cold Compress

If your toddler has earache or swimmer’s ear (a red, swollen ear canal), putting a heated or cooled compress over the ear can help alleviate pain. You may use a heating pad, soak a clean washcloth in warm or cold water, place ½ cup of rice inside a clean sock, tie it and let it heat up in the microwave for 2 minutes or use a hair dryer and blow warm air into the ear.

Fluids

Drinking plenty of fluids is very effective to fight off any illnesses such as dehydration, constipation, fever, common colds and flu as it replenishes the lost fluids in the body. Have your toddler drink 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. Serving your toddler chicken soup can ease aches, colds, congestion, fatigue and fever. Serving other warm liquids such as tea and apple juice also helps.

Plenty of Rest

Of course, the best way to treat a sick toddler is to make sure he gets adequate sleep. Rest helps the body direct its energy on getting well so see to it that your little one has a comfortable place to relax in order to boost his immune system so he can fight the sickness fast.

With the help of these safe, doctor-approved cures, you no longer have to rush to your local pharmacy every time your toddler gets sick.