Colds and all of their aliments (runny nose, water eyes, stuffy nose) will last at least
7-10 days—even if you use over-the-counter medication. Cold medications are used to help treat the symptoms but will not cure your cold.

So, how do you deal with your children’s cold symptoms without the medications that we have been dependent on for decades? Boys Town Pediatrics offers advice to parents and caregivers:

• Place a cold mist humidifer in your child’s room
• Use saline drops and a suctioning bulb
• Sit with your child in a hot steamed bathroom for about 10-15 minutes at a time
• Use hard candies or warm chicken broth to soothe a sore throat
• Keep your child home from school or daycare if he has a fever

To help prevent more colds make sure your child is bundled up for the winter chill, don’t share utensils or cups and practice proper hand-washing. Cold are inevitable but with the proper precautions you may help cut down on the number of stuffy noses he’ll get this year.

Contact your child’s physician if you plan to use any over-the-counter medications so he or she can supply you with the correct dosage for your child’s weight and also recommend products based on your child’s medical history.

For more information on childhood illnesses and other pediatric issues, log on to www.boystownpediatrics.org.