11 Cough Remedies For Kids
Here are 12 natural cough remedies for kids, all made with wholesome, simple ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry or garden.
1. Elderberry Syrup
Elderberry syrup is a powerful immune booster, packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, and flavonoids that help reduce inflammation and fight off viruses. Elderberries are great for helping to treat colds and flu, and recent studies support their effectiveness in reducing the severity and duration of illness.
Elderberry is also helpful as an expectorant, helping kids remove phlegm from the respiratory tract.
How to Use It
- For kids over 1 year old: Give 1 teaspoon of elderberry syrup daily to help strengthen their immune system. If they are already sick, you can increase the dosage to 1-2 teaspoons.
Elderberry syrup is super easy to make homemade, too! Make your own DIY elderberry syrup with my super simple and natural recipe.
2. Lemon Honey Cough Syrup
Lemon helps break up mucus and supports the immune system, while honey acts as a natural antibacterial agent that can calm an irritated throat. Together, they create a sweet, soothing remedy for your child’s cough.
How to Use It
This homemade cough syrup is super easy to take. Just take it like you would any other syrup! You don’t need to mix it with anything or dilute it – it’s ready to use 1-2 Tbsp as needed.
3. Warm Broth
Bone broth has been a traditional healing remedy for thousands of years! A warm broth, made from chicken or beef bones, provides hydration, essential nutrients while also helping to clear congestion and soothe a sore throat. The warmth is also calming, which can help relieve a sore throat.
How to Use It
Serve your child 1/2 to 1 cup of warm broth a few times a day. Chicken broth is rich in amino acids like cysteine, which can help thin mucus, making it easier to clear the airways.
The best broth you can use, is one you make yourself! It’s super easy to make homemade bone broth (and you know exactly which ingredients you’re putting in it!).
I’m not a fan of store-bought bone broth, but if you’re in a pinch the only brand I recommend is Kettle & Fire. They are the only brand that sells bone-broth made from grass-fed and finished beef/chicken, real ingredients, and no added preservatives, sweeteners and junk.
4. Steam Inhalation with Eucalyptus Oil
Steam helps to loosen mucus and open up the airways, making it easier to breathe. Eucalyptus oil adds an extra layer of relief with its decongestant properties, helping to clear out congestion and ease coughing.
How to Use It
- For younger kids: Sit with your child in a bathroom with the shower running hot, creating steam. Stay in the bathroom for 10-15 minutes, allowing them to breathe in the steam. You can also add a couple of drops of eucalyptus oil to the shower or add fresh eucalyptus.
- For older kids: Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a bowl of steaming hot water and have your child inhale the vapour with a towel draped over their head to trap the steam.
5. Pine Needle Syrup
Pine needles are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, making pine needle syrup an excellent way to support the immune system and reduce inflammation. It also helps soothe a sore throat and respiratory issues.
6. DIY Electrolyte Drink
Staying hydrated is essential for a quick recovery. Fluids help thin mucus, soothe a dry throat, and keep your child’s body functioning at its best.
How to Use It
Encourage your child to drink water, herbal teas, or make your own natural DIY electrolyte drink recipe throughout the day. Here’s a simple DIY electrolyte recipe:
Additionally, pineapple juice is a great option, as it contains bromelain, which helps break down mucus. Herbal teas such as chamomile, peppermint, or mullein are also fantastic choices for keeping your child hydrated and help soothe a sore throat and cough.
7. Fire Cider
Fire cider is a tangy, spicy tonic made from ingredients like apple cider vinegar, ginger, garlic, and hot peppers. These ingredients all have immune-boosting and antimicrobial properties that help fight infections and clear mucus.
How to Use It
If your child is old enough (usually 4+), you can offer them 1 teaspoon of fire cider daily to support their immune system. If your child doesn’t like the taste, mix it into warm tea or juice.
I use fire cider in my cooking year round to keep my family’s immune systems strong!
8. Bee Propolis Throat Spray
Bee propolis is a powerful substance that bees use to protect their hives. It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, making it an excellent remedy for soothing a sore throat and reducing coughing.
How to Use It
If your child is over 2-3 years old, you can use bee propolis throat spray to coat the throat and provide relief. Spray 1-2 times directly into the back of their throat.
Bee propolis is a great natural cough and sore throat remedy, especially for kids.
9. Homemade Chest Rub
A homemade chest rub is a great natural way to soothe a child’s chest and clear congestion. Many popular chest rubs contain harmful ingredients such as petrolatum, synthetic fragrances and dyes.
You can easily make your own DIY vapor rub using natural ingredients like coconut oil, eucalyptus and lavender essential oils to add soothing, decongesting properties.
How to Use It
Massage gently onto your child’s chest and back before bedtime.
10. Fermented Garlic Honey
Fermented garlic honey uses the natural antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties of garlic and raw honey to ward off colds and flu while also boosting overall immunity.
How to take It
Give kids (over 2 years old) 1 tsp of honey a day. You can also add it to recipes and tea.
11. Tea with Honey
A warm cup of tea with honey can be incredibly soothing for a sore throat. Mullein, chamomile, and peppermint are all great herbal teas that help ease coughing, clear congestion, and calm an irritated throat.
- Mullein tea: Steep dried mullein leaves in hot water for 5-10 minutes. Mullein is traditionally used to ease respiratory issues and coughing.
- Chamomile tea: Chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties that help relieve sore throats and coughing.
- Peppermint tea: The menthol in peppermint helps clear congestion and reduce coughing.
Add 1-2 teaspoons of raw honey to any of these teas for extra soothing relief.
Easy, homemade cough remedies for kids that are made with natural ingredients, easy to make DIY and simple.
