How can I help my child feel better?

To help your child cope with a cough or cold:

• Offer fluids. Liquids such as water, juice and broth might help thin secretions. Warm liquids, such as tea or chicken soup, might have a soothing effect, increase the flow of nasal mucus and loosen respiratory secretions.
• Run a cool-mist humidifier. This can add moisture to the air, which might decrease the drying of the nasal passages and throat. Place the humidifier near your child's bed. Clean the humidifier after every use.
• Use nasal saline. Over-the-counter saline can keep nasal passages moist and loosen mucus. In younger children, apply saline nasal drops, wait for a short period and then use a suction bulb to draw mucus out of each nostril. For older children, use a saline nasal spray or saline nasal irrigation.
• Offer cold or frozen drinks or foods. Ice cream, frozen fruit pops, ice or cold beverages might feel good on a sore throat.
• Encourage gargling with salt water. For children age 6 years and older, gargling with warm salt water might soothe throat pain.
• Offer hard candy. For children age 5 years and older, sucking on a piece of hard candy might soothe throat pain. Hard candy is probably as effective as medicated lozenges and less likely to have harmful effects. However, hard candy is a choking hazard and shouldn't be given to younger children.