13 ways to soothe a sick toddler’s cold
Lil’ Duck and I have been sick lately, so here are 13 things that help him to feel better!
- Baby Vapo-rub – he likes to help rub it on his neck and chest, it helps him breathe easier too.
- Warm apple juice with a little lemon and honey – he’s too young for herbal tea yet, but this helps him feel a little better and he thinks he’s getting a special treat
. - Cool washcloths on his forehead if he is feverish – he also likes to suck on them and rub them on himself.
- Popsicles! Not necessarily the healthiest thing but it cheers him up and gets some liquid into him. You could make homemade ones with 100% juice, we buy the Dole juice bars with the fruit chunks.
- Chicken noodle soup – the chunky kind with the penne or the spiral noodles is easy to feed to him.
- Children’s Tylenol Cold – a fever reducer, anti-histamine and decongestant – helps him sleep at night.
- A warm heating pad on my chest with a blanket on top, then him lying face-down on my chest – gives him the benefit of the heating pad without exposing him to too much heat (also helps my chest too ). Only use this if they don’t have a fever, of course, and make sure it’s set on low heat.
- Lots of books, music, and new TV shows/movies – he enjoys the Animal Channel, the Backyardigans music, and all of his books. This keeps him entertained but relatively quiet and resting.
- Warm baths with Johnson’s Vapobath – I love it too. I like to run the shower on hot before he gets in there to create some extra steam, keeping the door shut and the air off to lock in the humidity.
- Warm showers with Mommy and a few drops of eucalyptus oil in the air (I just put it on a cotton ball or kleenex and put it up high where he can’t get it) – similar to the vapobath idea, only he prefers showers and it helps unstuff him in the morning.
- Sprite – not so healthy again, but he loves to steal “sips” of mine out of a straw and thinks it’s a special treat. It also helps keep him hydrated and soothes his tummy.
- Smoothies – even when he refuses regular food, he’ll usually drink a smoothie. It’s one of the few ways to get fruit into him, and helps cool him down if he’s feverish.
- Cuddles – lots of cuddles in a nice, warm bed, helps him feel better every time!
Aww! I hope y’all are feeling better soon. I didn’t know they had baby Vapo rub. I guess they come out with something new all the time. I put some regular vapo rub on my son (years ago) and he was up bouncing half the night. Get lots of rest!
I’m always taking notes when i come here.
Those are all good things to keep in mind for my little one someday.
Awww…my 5 year old has had a bit of a cold.
Those all sound great. Hope you both feeling better soon;-)
That’s a really good list! Makes me wonder how mine will fare with her first cold whenever she gets it – I hate chicken soup but her dad loves it. We also can’t use the vapo-rub since it causes both of us to end up with bronchitis, and ocassional pneumonia, so we’re not even going to attempt it with Kira. I’m going to remember the honey/lemon though!
Sorry to hear that you and the lil duck have been under the weather
You have some great tips here…I’ll have to pass them on to my best friend. Her little guy is suffering from a cold as well. Hope you both start feeling better soon!
Well, that made me warm too – from reading this
You really are a caring and loving mother. It shows.
I sure hope that you both are feeling better now!
Being sick is no time to think healthy. I give my kids popsicles and smoothies too. Anything to get some liquids in them.
Hope you both are feeling better soon!
When I get a boo-boo or am not feeling well, do not be surprised when I come knocking on your door. You seem to have a definite idea of what to do, and I am afraid of what my human pet will resort to.
Actually…sniffle, sniffle…I think I might be…ACHOO!…be getting sick right now!
Wink!
Happy Thursday to you!
When little one is better, will you come take care of me?? You sound like such a sweet mom.
I hope he gets to feeling better soon.
Thanks for always bopping by Snarkypants on Thursdays!
Hope he gets to feeling better soon! Sick kiddos aren’t fun at all!
Hope you BOTH feel better soon. I can always count on you for great advice and I have three kids!!
I don’t know why but popsicles always makes me feel better, too.
Bless his heart.. I hope the poor little ducky gets to feeling better soon.
Awwwwwwwwwwww
I hope you are both feeling better soon.
You are a wonderful Mom…
Great ideas for feeling better.
Great TT
My TT is up
Have a wonderful Thursday!
All very good ideas! You sound like a wonderful mom, lil duck is a very lucky little boy
But, on the other hand, you also sound like a very lucky mommy! I hope you both feel better soon 
My son LOOOVES the vapo-patches in the cherry menthol scent–less mess! Lil duck may still be too little for them, though. My mom always crushed popsicles up and poured seven-up over them when we were sick. That was the best treat ever.
Mmm, smoothies, haven’t had one of those for a while. Probably because I like banana and we haven’t had any around.
Hope you’re feeling better soon!
My son loves the homemade popsicals and the warm showers. it makes him feel so much better.