Is there anything harder for parents than when their child is ill? Not much. Fortunately, children learn to talk and can then point to and tell you where it hurts. But as a parent, you are often still worried when your child has a fever or is in pain, until the little one gets through it and smiles again.
So what can you do to support your child with various common ailments?
Here are some self-care tips for children with:
Fever
Cough
Stomach ache
Sleep problems
What can I do when my child has a fever?
1. Food that helps the body
It is completely normal for children (and adults too) to want to eat less during a cold or flu. The body needs its energy to do something other than digest food, namely fight viruses.
Therefore, eating easily digestible but nutritious food is best, such as watermelon, vegetable juice, miso soup, warm soup with blended vegetables, onion, and garlic, coconut water, and fruit such as pineapple and grapefruit.
Preferably avoid all white sugar, ready-made fruit juices, and all dairy products until the child is well.
2. Extra water
Give the child plenty of extra water, lemon water, and small sips of warm water with ginger, lemon, and honey.
3. Beneficial herbal tea
Give herbal tea such as chamomile, peppermint, or elderflower. Elderflower syrup is also very effective, and children usually like the taste.
4. Supplements for children with fever
Good supplements for children with fever include vitamin C, zinc, propolis, and vitamin D in a child-appropriate dosage.
5. Soothing & cooling
Place a cold, wet towel on the forehead.
6. Cool bedroom
Air out the bedroom several times a day and change the pillowcase.
7. Soothing scents
Use essential oils in an aroma lamp in the bedroom, such as lavender or eucalyptus essential oil.
Remember!
Fever is the body's way of fighting infections; it is completely normal. But if the fever becomes very high very quickly or remains very high for more than 3 days, you should contact a doctor.
What can I do when my child has a cough?
1. Remove dairy
Remove all dairy products until the cough is gone.
2. Extra water
Drink plenty of water; small sips can be taken during coughing fits, and herbal tea with honey is also recommended.
3. What can the child eat?
Eat various kinds of soup, preferably with vegetables and cooked garlic.
4. Help for the cough
Rub your throat and chest with a carrier oil such as pure almond oil or jojoba oil mixed with a few drops of essential oils of peppermint (only for children over 3 years old) and eucalyptus or lavender. Use 2 drops per 10 ml of carrier oil.
You can also make your own “chest rub” ointment* with natural ingredients.
Recipe for “chest rub” ointment
Ingredients
4 tsp beeswax 7 tbsp coconut oil 3 tbsp shea butter 10 drops eucalyptus oil 8 drops lavender oil 2 saucepans, one that can fit inside the other to create a double boiler.
Instructions
- Place the smaller saucepan inside the larger one. The smaller saucepan must not touch the bottom of the larger one.
- Bring the water to a gentle boil.
- Add the beeswax to the smaller saucepan and let it melt.
- Add the shea butter and let it melt. Mix well.
- Remove from the heat.
- Add coconut oil and essential oils. Mix well.
- Pour into a glass jar with a lid.
- Let it cool; it will turn into a firm cream.
- Can be stored at room temperature for approximately 1.5 years; keep away from sunlight and heat.
5. Soothe the throat
Give the child 1 tsp of half freshly squeezed lemon juice and half honey. Remember that honey quality varies; we always recommend cold-extracted honey.
6. Supplements for children with a cough
Good supplements include vitamin C, zinc, and propolis for children, especially Lung Health.
7. Sleeping position
Raise the head of the bed with books so that the upper body is elevated at night.
8. Humidity
Try using a humidifier at home to make breathing easier.
What can I do when my child has a stomachache?
1. Keep track of what your child eats
If this happens often, write down what your child eats for a while and see whether there is a recurring pattern or a possible hidden allergy.
You can also take a food intolerance test; this differs from visible allergies, which cause rapid reactions. Food intolerances can cause delayed reactions that may persist for a long time and impair overall health.
2. Increase your child’s fiber intake
If your child often suffers from constipation or diarrhea, it may be due to an imbalance of fiber in their diet. Suddenly increasing fiber intake can also worsen the problem, so the change must be gradual over several weeks.
The best way to increase children’s fiber intake is to increase their intake of fruit and vegetables.
3. Good foods to eat when you have a stomachache
If your child has an ongoing stomachache, give them blueberries, boiled rice, boiled fish, cooked vegetables, and homemade soup.
4. Foods to avoid when experiencing stomach pain
Avoid meat, eggs, raw fruit, especially apples, white sugar, beans and legumes until the pain has gone away.
5. Tea for the stomach
Chamomile tea is soothing for children with an upset stomach. Peppermint and lemon balm are also good herbal teas.
6. Heat is soothing
Get a hot-water bottle or a wheat bag and place it on the stomach. We promise the whole family will want to use it.
7. Supplements for children with stomach aches
A good supplement is probiotics, also called lactic acid bacteria.
8. Fermented food
If your child likes fermented food, sauerkraut is good for the stomach.
What can I do when my child cannot sleep?
1. What is the bedroom environment like?
Review the sleeping area. For example, which way the bed faces, where the windows are, whether there are mirrors causing disturbances, whether it is dark enough, and whether the child feels safe. How can the bedroom be improved?
2. A cool bedroom for better sleep
Air out the room during the day so it is fresh at bedtime; it should not be too warm. Many children (and adults) sleep better with socks on.
3. Calming oils
Place lavender essential oil in an aroma lamp in the bedroom.
4. Calm the senses
Put on calming music or nature sounds such as waves. We recommend Dr Jeffrey Thompson’s wave sounds (available on Spotify).
5. Tasty tea that calms
Make your own evening tea for the children.
Ingredients
1 dl lemon balm, 1 dl peppermint, 1 dl chamomile
Place all the ingredients in a jar. Put on the lid and shake until well mixed.
For children: steep 1 tsp of tea in 1 cup of hot water for a few minutes.
For adults: steep 1 tbsp in 1 cup of hot water for five minutes.
Add a little honey if desired.
6. Review their diet
Food intolerances affect our sleep. It is important to make sure that children eat good food that does not upset their system. You can give them protein-rich food during the day and more carbohydrates in the evening, such as rice, potatoes and bananas, and see whether this supports their sleep.
Avoid sugar as much as possible, definitely in the afternoon and evening. Give them a banana instead.
7. Supplements for children with sleep problems
A good supplement is magnesium.
Children under 25 kg can have their legs rubbed with a pea-sized amount of magnesium cream, which provides magnesium through the skin. This is very good when they have “ants in their pants”.
Feel free to share your best tips!
