Is your baby or toddler suffering from teething pain? If so, I hope to shed my experience with these nine natural teething remedies for babies and toddlers.

My son, Lennox, was a late teether. He didn’t start teething until he was almost ONE! By then, he had already been eating a ton of solid foods from baby led weaning. I hypothesize that the baby led weaning solid foods toughened his gums, because boy, when the teeth start to pop through, it was an absolute nightmare.

Not only were those first teeth bad, but the molars got even worse with drooling, multiple wake-ups, and never-ending fussiness.

After trying anything and everything under the sun, I found a few that helped soothe Lennox’s teething pain, and today I want to share those that did work with you today! I hope these nine natural teething remedies for babies and toddlers help you out! If they do, let me know in the comments below!

*This site may contain affiliate links. To real the full disclosure, click here.

Natural Teething Pain Remedies for Babies 

1.    Breastmilk/formula popsicles 

If your baby hasn’t started solids yet, this is an awesome teething remedy. I breastfed so I took some of my pumped milk and stored it in ice cube trays. Once they were frozen, I put them into the Boon Infant Feeder. 

Lennox not only enjoyed his milk in a different consistency, but the cold felt nice on his teeth.

2.    Frozen Homemade Puree Popsicles

Once we introduced purees to Lennox,  one of my favorite techniques was to freeze some of the few homemade purees that I made for him; Apple, carrot, sweet potato, etc. This allowed Lennox to gnaw away while exploring with the tastes of new foods. 

Just like the breastmilk popsicles that I mentioned above, I would place the frozen puree into the Boon Infant Feeder and let him gnaw away!

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Related post: What to Know About Purees and Baby Led Weaning

3. Frozen fruits

Put some frozen strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, anything you desire into these mesh feeders and let your chomper chomp away. Just make sure to put your baby in a high chair or area you don’t mind getting dirty. All of my experience with frozen fruit has resulted in stains. 

Nuby Nibbler Mesh First Soft Foods Feeder, 2pk, Colors May Vary

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Related: Baby Led Weaning Must Have Products

4. Pacifier Icepop

Lennox always took to Advent Soothie pacifiers. I used to place water in the nipple of the pacifier and freeze it. Make sure you monitor your baby while he is using this teething method. You don’t want him to get the ice cube in his mouth once it has started to melt. 

Natural Teething Pain Remedies for Toddlers 

5. Veggies- Celery, Cucumber, Corn, or Carrot stick

We did baby led weaning with Lennox; thus, I felt comfortable giving him sliced celery, cucumber, corn, and carrot sticks. Make sure you wash the vegetables, and you can even peel the skin off of them.  

When Lennox was getting his first molars, I would freeze longer celery and cucumber sticks and watch Lennox go at these frozen vegetables. This causes a lot of drool, so don’t forget the bib to avoid a rash!

6. Not-So-Ripe, Cold Fruits:
Apples, Mango seeds, Nectarines, pears

Cold fruit, especially apples are a great teething resource. In addition, according to Pediatric Dentistry, “Eating apples can help cleanse and clean teeth, and fight bad breath.”

I remember when Lennox was getting his first molars, brushing his teeth became a battle; therefore, I would try to offer him apples as much as I could throughout the day, and try to brush his teeth as best as I could at night.

7. Homemade juice popsicles

Fill these popsicle molds with 100% juices mixed with water or honest company juices.

When I would see Lennox drool or is extremely fussy, I offer one of these, and it calms him down for quite a while.

8. Pedialyte Pops

Not only are Pedialyte Pops a household essential in case your toddler gets sick, but they always are a great teething remedy.

Stick this in a mesh feeder, and your baby will happily gnaw away for a while!

Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution Freezer Pops, Variety Pack, 16 Count(Pack of 4)

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Related: 12 Tips for When Your Toddler Has the Stomach Flu

9. Chicken Bones

I know this might sound crazy, but chicken bones are great for teething babies. Makes sure is a durable piece of bone that way it doesn’t splinter, and keep a close eye on your baby/toddler. Do not leave them unattended bones, or any of the items listed above. 

Well, these were some of the natural home teething remedies that worked for Lennox, and we hope they work for you too because well, teething sucks!

I would love to hear what were some of your best teething remedies. Comment below! Don’t forget to follow us on social media for our daily updates and activities!

Keep reading:

• Baby Bath Time Tips and Hacks
• The Pros and Cons of Infant and Toddler Pacifier Use
• 5 Ways I Helped My Baby Who Did Not Sleep, Sleep Through the Night

The post 9 Hacks To Alleviate Infant and Toddler Teething Pain appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

Bathing a baby was one of my biggest fears before becoming a mom, but once I was past the fright, I found ways that made bathtime fun for Lennox and the whole family.

Today I want to shed some tips on how to bathe your baby throughout their first 12 months, all while making it enjoyable at the same time!

Warning: Extreme cuteness ahead

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but this comes at no additional cost to you. 

How to bathe baby in an entertaining, yet safe way.

In these tips, I will share tips on how to make bathtime entertaining for your baby.

However, entertaining should not be misinterpreted as careless, because bathtime is a serious responsibility.

According to the Consumer Product Saftey Comission, “drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1 to 4-years-old and it only takes a few inches of water for a young child to drown”.

Please make sure to follow CPSC’s advice regarding baby bathing. They are the following:

• “Never leave young children alone near any water or tub or basin with fluid. Young children can drown in even small amounts of liquid.
• Always keep a young child within arm’s reach in a bathtub. If you must leave, take the child with you.
• Don’t leave a baby or young child in a bathtub under the care of another child.
• Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. Toddlers are top heavy and they can fall headfirst into buckets and drown. After using a bucket, always empty and store it where young children cannot reach it. Don’t leave buckets outside where they can collect rainwater.
• Consider placing locks on toilet seat covers in case a young child wanders into the bathroom.
• Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). It can be a lifesaver when seconds count.”

Please take note that during all of our bath time experiences, there was always an adult present and at arm’s reach.

It is crucial to always be by your baby side, or in your child’s sight. You never know what what-ifs could happen if you step away, even for a second, so please stay at arms reach.

Now, onto the tips!

Baby’s first bath: A sponge bath

Once you bring your baby home, there is no specific time to give his first sponge-bath. Newborns do not get very dirty, so as long as you are wiping your baby well after each diaper change, especially the crevices, you do not need to give a bath very often.  

Also, babies have sensitive skin. Wetting it too much and over-applying soap will cause the babies skin to dry out. 

Until your baby’s umbilical cord detaches, you should only give your baby a sponge bath. Never submerge your baby in the water if his umbilical cord is still attached.

Read more: Tips for treating infant and toddler eczema

For Lennox’s first sponge bath on day 10, we took our changing pad, placed a towel over it, and laid them on the floor.

Then, we filled up a bowl full of lukewarm water (no soap), and with a baby washcloth, we dabbed water on his genitals, behind, and neck crevices from his frequent spit-up. Lastly, we then patted him dry as to not irritate his soft skin. 

This blooming bath lotus is great for baby’s first sponge bath, as well as future sink baths!

Make sure to have all your bathing essentials within reaching distant, that way you don’t have to scramble for them with a wiggly, probably unhappy, wet newborn. 

Blooming Bath Baby Bath Seat - Baby Tubs for Newborn Infants to Toddler 0 to 6 Months and Up - Baby Essentials Must Haves - The Original Washer-Safe Flower Seat (Lotus, Pink/White/Gray)

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How to bathe baby from 0-4 months

In the sink:

Once Lennox’s umbilical cord fell off after about 2.5 weeks, Lennox got his first real bath. I wish I had pictures of his sponge, and the first bath, but I was too scared to multitask, even though Carlos was with me. I am sad I don’t have the documentation but glad I didn’t attempt to take pictures for Lennox’s safety. 

For his first and subsequent baths, we use the Boon Soak 3-Stage Infant Tub in our sink. This bathtub is great because it has a drain. Therefore, you can fill it up first to make sure the temperature is perfect, put your baby in the seat, and have great control over the bathing experience at waist height. 

We also used the Boon bath tub in the actual tub once Lennox became less fragile.

From his first real bath on, we would always drizzle lukewarm water down Lennox’s head to get him used to the sensation. Once we started using baby shampoo, I made sure to cup his forehead to ensure that the soapy water did not flow down towards his face or body. Even though baby shampoo is tear-free, the soap can still irritate and dry out the skin. 

Make favorite baby shampoos are: 

• Aveeno Daily Moisture Shampoo 
• Shea Moisture Baby Head to Toe Shampoo

Ideally, I would have only bathed Lennox once a week due to the reasons mentioned above, but Lennox suffered from infant reflux. Therefore we bathed him two to three times a week. Over-bathing him triggered his eczema, so we had to find a middle ground and do sponge baths after he spit up to prevent further irritation to his Eczema. 

With infant reflux, colic and eczema, we had an absolute blast during the newborn stage. Can you feel the sarcasm? I won’t even put the icing on the cake and share how wonderful of a sleeper Lennox was as an infant :-P.

Read more: Understanding Colic. Tips on How to Survive the Fourth Trimester

Bathe with your baby.

Another great way to clean your bundle of joy is to bathe with him. Taking a bath with Lennox gave me a reason to relax and soak my sleep-deprived-self while stimulating Lennox at the same time. Not to mention, the skin-to-skin connection is reassuring for your baby.

If you breastfeed, you can easily breastfeed while you are bathing and knock two birds out with one stone. Now your baby will be ready for a luxurious nap, long stretch of sleep. Not that that happened in my case. 

I bathed with Lennox a lot during his daunting witching hours. It really worked to calm him down. 

In the bathtub

If you don’t feel like getting wet, you can fill up your bathtub with an inch of water and lay your baby on his back. He will enjoy kicking and splashing the water. Again, never leave your newborn’s side, especially with this method where he could quickly turn his head to the side and intake water. 

How to bathe baby from 4-12 months

Bath seats WITH CAUTION

Once Lennox got reasonable head control and was showing signs of sitting up unsupported at four-months, we used and loved the Keter bath seat, but we always exercised caution.

We used this seat with NO WATER in the tub, that way the suction cups would suction properly onto the bathtub. We would run water from the faucet and let Lennox play and get sensory stimulation with the water. 

This seat has been discontinued due to safety reasons, keep reading, but there are alternatives like this one on Amazon.

** Kid’s In Danger recommends not using bath seats because they can be mistaken as safety devices, when in all actuality, they are bathing aids.

“Bath seats give parents a false sense of security Children can slip out of the seats or tip forward or sideways into the water and become submerged The suction cups on the bottom of a seat can detach from the tub, and the baby can tip over and become trapped underwater by the seat”.

 In the bath tub with a bath mat

Once Lennox was crawling around at six-months (every baby is different, so I wouldn’t recommend putting your baby in the tub by himself until he can fully crawl) we would fill up the water two to three inches and let him have free range in the bathtub. This was when we started introducing toys and when Lennox really started loving the bathtub. 

It is essential to have a bath mat because bathtubs are incredibly slippery, and your baby can slip and intake water in the blink of an eye. The bath mat adds extra support and friction so that your baby doesn’t slip. This was the bath mat we used. 

Along with the bathmat, I recommend getting a faucet cover, because if your baby accidentally hits his head— which is more common than you imagine, even for adults—it can be fatal. We use this whale cover.

Here are some toys Lennox loves in the bath:

• The First Years Stack Up Cup Toys
• Munchkin Little Boat Train
• Infantino 12 Piece Tub O’ Toys
• Disney Junior Music Lullabies Bath Toy Set
• Baby Bath Books

Bathe/shower with your baby

Again, you can still bathe with your baby at any age. It’s exciting and encourages confidence in your baby.

To this day, we still bathe with Lennox, and it is an authentic family bonding experience. On many occasions, we would turn the shower on and expose Lennox to the feel of the water falling on him. I believe this early exposure contributed to his love for water. 

If you can exercise caution, you can exercise creativity

One day I came home from work to find Carlos bathing Lennox. I heard nonstop Lennox giggles coming from the bathtub. I walked in to find Lennox in a big pot. WTF? There goes creative Carlos at it again.

I asked him what he was doing. He has always been grossed out by bathtubs, especially since we were living in an apartment at the time. He never thought it was clean enough, even if we scrubbed it until the enamel came off.. He said he didn’t like the idea of bathing Lennox in the dirty tub.  

At first, I was really concerned, but once I saw how much fun Lennox was having, I relaxed a bit. 

From then on, Lennox bathed in this pot until he no longer could squeeze his thick thighs into it anymore. 

See Carlos’ baby snow hack here

So the trick to this hack is only to fill up the pot with water, and not the bathtub. If you fill-up the bath, the pot can tip over. Once the pot is filled, we would turn the faucet or the shower on for Lennox to play with. Boy, did he enjoy himself! I am going to post a video of his fun bath times as soon as I figure out how to cover up his privates!! Stay tuned.

We hope you enjoyed our bath tips and hacks. Needless to say, Lennox is a water and bath fanatic. Now we have started implementing the Loose Parts movement in our household, so here is a bonus picture of Lennox today playing in the bath with his loose parts =)

Related posts you might find useful:

• 5 Tips to Keep Your Baby Warm at Night During the Cold Winter Months
• 9 Hacks To Alleviate Infant and Toddler Teething Pain
• 5 Ways I Helped My Baby Who Did Not Sleep, Sleep Through the Night

The post Tips and Hacks To Make Baby’s Bath time Exciting From Birth appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

Babies’ tummies are so tiny that if they over-fill them, they tend to regurgitate. However, what happens when your baby is spitting up so much that it appears they regurgitate their whole feeding? This may be one sign of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

            According to the NIH, 

“Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) happens when an infant’s lower esophageal sphincter is not fully developed, and the muscle lets the stomach content back up the esophagus. Once the stomach contents move up into the esophagus, the infant will regurgitate, or spit up.”

            Then there is GERD, which is when the baby spits up frequently because the esophageal sphincter “becomes weak or relaxes when it shouldn’t.” I will refer to both GER and GERD as reflux in this post.

Keep reading for 11 infant reflux home remedies.

How do you know if your baby has infant reflux?

In my case, for instance, ever since I brought my son, Lennox, home from the hospital, his spit up became my new perfume. It was non-stop, and it wasn’t necessarily after feeding either. 

Sometimes he would wake up from a nap and immediately spit-up. It got to the point where I always draped a receiving blanket on top of me when I was holding him. I also always precautioned all of my family and friends to be careful before holding or bouncing him. It was OUT OF CONTROL.  

We were no longer talking about spit-up. We were talking about non-stop projectile warfare. 

Sometimes I was scared Lennox was going to shower me in my sleep from his bassinet. Let’s say it was NOT, let me repeat, NOT pleasurable. 

With Lennox’s constant spit-up, his refusal to sleep, and colic; I felt like a mombie, a great smelling one at that. 

Related: Understanding Colic. Tips on How to Survive the Fourth Trimester

When Lennox was around eight weeks old, I took him to see his pediatrician.

We were hesitant to diagnose Lennox with reflux because he was a BIG BOY, growing at an extremely healthy pace. However, once he projectile-vomited all over the Ped, he started asking me if Lennox suffered from any of these other signs common of GERD:

• Arching of the back, often during or right after eating.-YES.
• Colic-crying that last more than 3 hours a day with no medical cause– YES!!! Especially in the evening, but I wrote it off as it being his witching hour.
• Coughing or hiccuping- YES!
• Irritability, especially after eating. -YES and during the entirety of his breastfeeding. He would always fuss at the breast, and I could not understand why.
• Poor eating or refusing to eat.- Quite frequently, yes.
• Poor weight gain, or weight loss- NO.
• Wheezing or trouble breathing- NO
• Forceful or frequent vomiting- HECK YES!
• Disturbed Sleep– YES, YES, YES!!!!!!!!!

Lennox had 5 out of 7 of these symptoms. Therefore, the pediatrician was pretty sure he was suffering from reflux.

I was so relieved that I finally had a diagnosis and that I could work towards alleviating Lennox’s condition. The doctor did prescribe Lennox to Zantac, which did help a bit, but I found that changing his eating and sleeping habits did the trick.

Keep reading for 11 infant reflux home remedies. 

Infant Reflux Home Remedies: Adjust the way your baby eats.

To alleviate your baby’s discomfort from reflux, it is crucial first to help him eat appropriately. Learning how to eat correctly will help mitigate the other symptoms that stem from reflux. 

1.    Feed your baby in an upright position.

Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, it is essential to feed your baby in an upright position, that way the milk travels to the stomach and doesn’t stay in the esophagus.

I breastfed Lennox; therefore, I would put myself into a comfortable position, leaning back, and I would place Lennox into the curve of my elbow and let him breastfeed in an upright position. 

Feeding in an upright position gets much easier to do the older they get. Then you can sit your child on the surface you are sitting on and they can self-support themselves while they eat.

Related: The Two Reasons My Baby Is Fussing at the Breast

2. After a feeding, keep your baby in an upright or inclined position for 30 minutes after feeding to let the milk digest properly.

4. Use the correct feeding supplies.

My favorite bottles by far are the Dr. Brown Bottles, which come in 2 ounce, 4 once and 8 ounce bottles. These bottles have a fully-vented system that reduce air intake relieving your baby from gas and colic.

Also, out of all the bottles I have tried, the Dr. Brown bottles have the slowest-flowing premie nipple. The preemie nipple is great for breastfeeding mamas because it mirrors the flow of the milk from the breast, which helps prevent overfeeding and spit up.

5. When bottle feeding, practice paced feeding to prevent overfeeding.

Paced-feeding is essential, especially if you breastfeed. It entails feeding your baby precisely as you would as if your baby were on the breast.

Keep your baby in an upright position, make sure his lips are adequately latched to the bottle’s nipple; lips flanged and nipple entirely in the mouth.

Then, let the baby feed 20 seconds from the bottle, then drop the bottle down to all your baby digest, but continue to suck. This will allow your baby to realize when he is full and not gulp down the rest of the bottle. I will go into further details in a future post =)

6. Burp your baby after every 1 to 2 ounces

When Lennox was a newborn, I used to burp him after a feeding. He would always spit up so much that I thought it was from me burping him, so I stopped.

Consequently, from not burping him, his spit up got worse.

Babies need to get the air out of them, and if they suffer from reflux where their little bodies want to push everything back up, air is only going to make it worse, and gas, even worse.

That’s why it is imperative to burp your baby after EVERY 1 TO 2 OUNCES. Even if it takes a while to get that burp up, work it out of your baby. It will help him tremendously.

7. Use Probiotics

As soon as Lennox was diagnosed with reflux, I started giving him probiotics. I gave, and still give him, Mommy’s Bliss Probiotics.

I add five drops into his milk each morning. It helped not only with his Acid Reflux but also regulating his bowel movements and preventing constipation.

Mommy's Bliss Baby Probiotic Drops + Vitamin D, Supports Digestive Health and Immunity, 400IU Vitamin D for Healthy Bone Development, Newborns +, Flavorless, 0.34 Fl Oz (30 Servings)

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Livestrong quotes:

A study published in the “European Journal of Clinical Investigation” in 2011 looked at the effects of probiotics on reflux in infants. The study showed that giving the babies the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri seemed to help with reflux by causing food to move through the stomach quicker.

Infant Reflux Home Remedies: Help your baby sleep comfortably.

The follow tips on helping babies, with reflux, sleep more comfortably are recommendations that worked for Lennox, but are not deemed as safe by the AAP.

Once you have helped your baby change his eating habits to alleviate reflux, there are a couple of steps you can take to help your baby sleep longer and more soundly.

If you have ever suffered from reflux as an adult, you know that it does not feel pleasant, especially when laying down.

I had AWFUL heartburn during pregnancy, and I used to sleep propped up on two or three pillows.

Babies with reflux feel this same uncomfortable sensation, especially since it is AAP recommended that babies lay on their back on flat surfaces. Please see the American Academy of Pediatrics to see guidelines for safe sleep practices.

8. Incline one side of the crib.

Since laying flat is not comfortable for babies with reflux, the safest way of elevating their head is inclining one side of the crib mattress.

We did this by rolling two of his baby blankets and then putting a hair tie or rubber band around them so that they would not unroll. We then placed them under his mattress, elevating one half of the crib at a slight incline.

9. The Rock ‘N’ Play

The Fisher-Price Deluxe Auto Rock ‘n’ Play Sleeper was a LIFESAVER for us.

It is recommended only for nap times, but we used it instead of our bassinet until Lennox was three months old. We had him tightly swaddled and at hands-reach. The incline was perfect to help Lennox sleep comfortably, and it also has a vibration and rocking function.

I would not recommend using the rocking function for nighttime sleep because the rocking could cause your baby’s head to go forward; however, the soft vibration was perfect for keeping Lennox in a slumber.

*Update 3/30/2022 The Rock ‘N’ Play sleeper that we used has been discontinued. It it’s place is the Rock ‘N’ Play that the link will take you to. I have not used that product.

10. Stomach Sleeping

STOMACH SLEEPING IS NOT RECOMMENDED BY AAP.

Babies with reflux feel more comfortable sleeping on their tummies, but some experts even recommend stomach or side sleeping for infants because if they regurgitate it will flow out of the mouth.

I made sure Lennox always slept on his back until he was able to roll over which happened to be early, at eight weeks. After eight weeks I let him nap on his tummy, but I would still swaddle him at night. His naps started becoming more prolonged and more profound.

Each baby is different; therefore, make sure your baby has enough head strength and can roll over before letting him sleep on his stomach.

11. Pacifiers

According to WebMD “ pacfiers apparently work the same way lozenges and chewing gum do in adults: by stimulating the flow of saliva and downward contractions of the esophagus. Together, these actions help to more quickly move the highly irritating stomach fluid back where it belongs.”

Related: The Pros and Cons of Infant and Toddler Pacifier Use

I hope these tips help you help alleviate your baby’s infant reflux. They did for Lennox and I. I would love to hear any questions or comments you might have.

Keep reading:

• 5 Tips That Helped My Baby Sleep Through The Night
• Why Does My Baby Always Cry At The Breast?
• 9 Hacks To Alleviate Infant and Toddler Teething Pain

The post 11 Solutions and Remedies for Reflux in Infants. Help Your Baby Spit Up Less and Sleep Longer appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

As much as I love fall and season changes, I do not care for the colds that come shortly after. Lennox and I just got over a case of bronchitis last week, and boy did it knock us on our butts. Add allergies and asthma into the mix; we were intertwined with our nebulizer all week.

Now that Lennox has started preschool, common colds are going to be even more prevalent in our household. That’s why I have done a lot of research on the best home and store-bought common cold remedies, and I would like to share some of those with you today.

I love hearing new ideas, so please make sure you share your natural common cold remedies or hacks in the comments below so I can add your idea to this post!

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but this comes at no additional cost to you. 

How to treat the common cold: 13 remedies

1. Vicks VapoRub      

 Lennox’s first symptom of having a cold is a runny nose which quickly turns into a stuffy nose. Those early couple days of the sniffles, I lather Lennox’s chest and back in Vicks VapoRub before nap and bed. I even put it on his feet, underneath socks. An old wives’ tale my MIL insisted I do!!!

Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment that helps with nasal and chest congestion. Applying it before bed can help open up the air passageways, and soothe the urge to cough.

Please make sure to never, ever apply Vicks to a child under two years of age. There is a Vicks Baby Rub for children three months and older.

2. Incline the bed/crib

When Lennox has the sniffles, I put a pillow/stuffed animal/books under his crib mattress to elevate his head and help drain the sinuses. It is vital to incline the entire bed, and not just add more pillows as that can cause discomfort in your toddler’s neck. 

3. Humidifier

Humidifiers add moisture to the dry air. During the winter and summer, I keep two humidifiers going throughout the house. A cool-mist humidifier will help soothe a case of the coughs if appropriately used.

*To properly use a humidifier, you need to keep it clean. If you do not clean it frequently, it can become moldy and carry bacteria that will foster future colds. The filter also needs to be changed regularly and must be moist during each use.

We use the Vicks Starry Night Humidifier which has a nightlight that Lennox cannot sleep without, and it has a slot to add these Vicks Vapo Pads which disperse Vicks into the air. As for the filters, I have these on my Amazon Subscribe and Save to come every two months, that way I don’t forget to change them.

 4. Boil Water

Another way to release moisture into the air is by boiling water. When we are sick, I do boiil water once a day. I add a tablespoon of Vicks VapoRub to the boiling water to disperse the aromatherapeutic vapors.

5. Steam Bath

“The warm, moist air is thought to work by loosening the mucus in the nasal passages, throat, and lungs. This may relieve symptoms of inflamed, swollen blood vessels in your nasal passages.”

While I use the humidifier to open up the airways at night, during Lennox’s wake time, we do steam baths. We take Lennox’s favorite toys/books/objects into the bathroom. I turn on the shower to the hottest temperature possible. I place a towel at the bottom of the door to trap the steam inside. Then we play, sing, dance, do anything to keep Lennox entertained for a solid 15-20 minutes to decongest Lennox’s chest.

Sometimes I clear the vanity of all products and dangerous items to toddlers and let him play in the sink to really get the full effect of the hot air which rises.

Now that Lennox is two-years-old, I have added Vicks VapoShower Soothing Tablets to the process. I place a tablet in the shower (make sure it’s at the focus point of the water’s stream) and practice breathing exercises with Lennox so that he inhales the aroma therapeutic vapors.

6. Nosefrida the Snot Sucker

The steam bath helps to break all the fun snot up, so the next step is to evacuate it with the Nosefrida the Snot Sucker.

This thing is impressive, but gross. 

First, you will restrain your tot. Second, you will put the Nosefrida at the entrance of one of his nostrils and lastly, you will suck. It is amazing how much snot will come out. Repeat on the other nostril.

I do this after the steam shower because most toddlers will not be happy about their nose being “sucked”, so not only will you be fighting the tot, but the stubborn snot as well. Therefore, it’s best to use the NoseFrida after loosening the phlegm for easier evacuation 

7. Saline Spray

A spray will also help to thin, loosen, moisturize and dry mucous. 

8. Honey and Lime

*Do not give honey to a child younger than one-years-old. Experts say that giving honey to infants is not safe because it can lead to Infant Botulism. You can read more about this here.

Honey is sticky, and this makes it a good mucus thinner. Honey also soothes the throat and chest. To add vitamin C to the mix, I add lime and mix it with the honey (it is quite tasty if I might add). Lennox goes wild for this, and it really is a quick, but unfortunately temporary remedy.

I try to buy local honey. Even though it still needs further research, there is a theory that local honey can help prevent allergies. Also, I enjoy buying locally as much as I can.

9. Hydration

Staying hydrated is critical for a quick recovery. Some of the ways I keep Lennox hydrated during a cold is by Pedialyte, and decaffeinated teas or simply hot water with honey and lime.

The nutrients in pineapple juice are also great at soothing coughs.

Last week we replaced his morning and evening cup of milk with hot tea/water and kept him hydrated on Pedialyte and water throughout the day.

10. Steer clear of dairy products and sugars.

Mucus looooves dairy and sweets. Eating dairy and sweets will cause the phlegm to thicken, which will worsen the cough and congestion. Avoid giving milk and juices during this time, among other sweets.

11. Nebulizer

I think Lennox might be inheriting my seasonal asthma, but regardless if not, having a nebulizer machine is a terrific instrument to have on hand. Ask your pediatrician for a prescription for he medicine for the machine. sooner than later. The nebulizer has been our most faithful friend during our most recent colds.

On Amazon, you can purchase a portable, handheld nebulizer machine that is perfect for children to hold themselves.

At first, your toddler might not be too happy to use it, but If you use it and make it a fun game, your toddler will want to imitate it.

We had a turning point this cold. Last week, all of a sudden as a big two-year-old Lennox decided to love the neb. He would have a tantrum if he couldn’t use it. Last year, he would scream bloody murder in objection.

Introduce it, and eventually, your tot will want to use it.

12. Medicine

I try to leave medicine as a last resort. If Lennox has a fever or appears to be in pain, I alternate Tylenol and Motrin. Seattlemamadoc.org has a comprehensive post on how to safely alternate Tylenol and Motrin here.

Kids Benadryl- Not recommended for children under two. I give this to Lennox occasionally during his colds. I will give it to him before bed to help dry out his symptoms and aid his sleep. I do not use this very often, and I would try the natural remedies first that I mentioned above.

Elderberry Syrup is great for additional immune support and also helps reduce the severity and duration of an infection.

13. Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup has an anti-inflammatory effect, great for clearing nasal congestion and the salt in the soup will help alleviate a sore throat.

Lennox also really enjoys Ramen Noodle soups, so sometimes if I don’t have the ingredients on hand to make a homemade soup, i’ll give him the salty broth from the Ramen Noodles soup, or any canned chicken noodle soup.

I hope these common cold remedies help to alleviate your tot. Please drop me a comment below telling me what works best for you and your family when the common cold makes its way into your home. Also, check out some of our related posts below.

Check out some of our other health tips posts!

• 11 Tips and Remedies for Treating Toddler Eczema
• 12 Tips for When Your Toddler Has the Stomach Flu
• Baby Bath Time Tips and Hacks

The post 13 At Home Common Cold Remedies for When Your Toddler Has a Case of the Coughs and a Runny Nose appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.

Summer has not been so nice on Lennox’s skin this year. Besides the multiple mosquito bites all over his arms and legs, Lennox has also been suffering from Eczema.

I have never experienced Eczema, so at first, I thought it was just dry skin. However, as the summer progressed, the dry skin started turning into circular, raised itchy rashes.

*Updated November 2, 2020 – The dry winter air is also a trigger for Lennox

I knew it had to be more than dry skin because Carlos (Lennox’s dad) also gets similar-looking rashes on his back. They usually appear after a beach trip, or from prolonged exposure to the sun.

I couldn’t bear to watch my little boy in a permanent uncomfortable state from all the scratching. So, I did a lot of research, changed our routine, and bought new products to help alleviate our little man’s Eczema. Here is what I found out, and here are the best remedies that have worked to treat our toddler’s Eczema!

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but this comes at no additional cost to you. 

First things first, what is Eczema?

“The itch that rashes”

-WebMD

Eczema is the umbrella term for several conditions that cause the skin to become red, itchy, and inflamed.

The most common type of Eczema is Atopic Dermatitis, which appears as a red itchy rash most commonly found on the arms, legs, and cheeks. According to NationalEczema.org, more than “18 million American adults have atopic dermatitis”, and most of the time, “it begins in the first six months of a baby’s life.” In most cases, atopic dermatitis will improve by age 5 or 6 and will disappear into adulthood, but flareups can still occur. 

Eczema is oftentimes genetic and is not contagious.

What are the symptoms of Eczema in infants and toddlers? 

• Dryness
• Tenderness
• Redness
• Scaly
• Cracked
• Itchiness
• Crusting or oozing
• Circular patches of red or light areas         

Lennox usually has circular patches on his chest and stomach, and he gets little dry bumps all over his body. When he has a flareup, he tried to scratch as his skin nonstop, and several times we have picked him up out of his crib to find blood.

It is heartbreaking to see him uncomfortable, therefore, we have tried many different products and remedies and here is what has worked best to sooth Lennox in the short and long term.

11 Eczema Remedies for Children

1. Know what triggers your child’s eczema.

Each child is different, for some, it could be a food allergy causing an outbreak and for others a reaction to a specific lotion.

For Lennox, the sun and excessive heat are what triggers his eczema. We have spent the majority of our time this summer at the pool or playing outside. His skin has paid the price.

Kids Health has a comprehensive list of triggers that might be causing your baby’s eczema:

• Pollen
• Mold
• Dust
• Animal dander
• Dry winter air
• Skin is too dry
• Certain soaps or detergents
• Certain skin care products
• Tobacco smoke
• Certain foods
• Emotional stress
• Excessive heat
• SweatingIf you are not sure what triggers your child’s eczema, try eliminating some of these products or foods to see if their condition improves. * Children with Eczema are more disposed to skin infections, so if your child is experiencing any of the following, fever, warmth around affected areas, or pus, it is time to give your doctor a visit. Blood and other testing can be done to see if your child is suffering from something more serious.

2. Stay out of the sun/heat/cold for long periods.

 Since the hot weather doesn’t agree with Lennox’s skin, we make sure to limit our time outside each day.

The hot weather and humidity from the summer can exacerbate the itch, so it’s essential to keep body temperatures regulated. Also, sweat is very cumbersome to eczema. If you know Lennox, or myself, we are sweaty, and our thick dark hair only makes us sweat more in the heat.

NationalEczema.Org states:

“human sweat contains trace elements of zinc, copper, iron, nickel, cadmium, lead, manganese, sodium and chloride, the build-up of these chemicals could irritate a person’s eczema, he said. In fact, the areas of the body where moisture accumulates most, such as the insides of the elbows, back of the knees and around the neck, tend to be hot spots for eczema rashes. So, if you sweat through your clothes, you should rinse off with fresh water and change into a new outfit.”

3. Take warm to cold baths.

The colder the bath, the better for your child’s skin because hot water dries out the skin.

 Also, if you are water bugs like Lennox and me, make sure you are bathing your baby immediately after the pool. The chlorine in the pool dries and stresses the skin, so you must bathe your child as soon as you get home. You don’t necessarily have to use soap, but make sure you are rinsing off all of the pool chemicals.

Also, avoid scrubbing or toweling your child during and after bath time. Use a bar of soap to lather your tot gently and when you take him out, pat him try to avoid further irritation.

I highly recommend these microfiber towels. They are very gentle on the toddler and adult skin and are great for frizzy hair as well!

Here is a list of our favorite bath items to alleviate eczema:

• Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Soothing Bath Treatment
• TruKid Bubble Podz for Baby– These are awesome bubble bath pods for kids prone to Eczema!
• SheaMoisture Baby Eczema Bar Soap
• Mustela Stelatopia Cleansing Oil – Baby Body Wash for Eczema

4. Moisturize, moisturize and more moisturizing. Did I mention to moisturize?

If you haven’t gotten the gist, dry skin is the issue here. Make sure you are moisturizing your toddler’s skin at least once a day every day — two times during an outbreak. I keep a bottle of moisturizer in my diaper bag, my purse, downstairs, upstairs, well, everywhere so that I don’t forget.

I also make sure to always moisturize before bed so the skin can heal overnight.

And don’t just use any moisturizer. Use unscented moisturizers that are made exclusively for eczema. I have used many delicious-smelling baby lotions that make Lennox smell great but irritate his skin all the more.

Here is list of lotions that I have found to be most useful to combat Lennox’s eczema.  

• Babyganics Eczema Care Skin Protectant 
• Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Nighttime Moisturizing Balm with Colloidal Oatmeal & Ceramide

5.  Avoid scented soaps and detergents.

Great smelling soaps and cleaning products are my favorite, but they do not coincide with eczema because they can cause your skin to burn or itch, or become dry and red. Avoid fabric softeners and dryer sheets as well.

Below is a list of great household products that are eczema friendly. Try them out to see if your baby’s flare-up subsides.

• Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent
• Dreft Baby Laundry Detergent
• ATTITUDE Baby Fabric Softener and Detergent

6.  Coconut oil and Aloe Vera

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I heart these two natural products. I have a jar of coconut oil that was halfway gone that I mixed with aloe vera straight from the plant.

What I did was run the jar of remaining coconut oil under hot water to liquidize the coconut oil. Then I scraped the insides out of an Aloe Vera plant put them into the jar and mixed both of the products.

I literally use this on EVERYTHING. I have used it on my stretch marks, sun burns, Lennox’s Ezcema (duh), I have even used it to cure my Yorkshire terrier’s skin allergy. It is a magical, healing potion!

7. Humidifier

Use a humidifier in your child’s room, especially during the winter months, to keep his skin moisturized. We use the Vicks’ humidifier with an added nightlight that projects stars onto the ceiling of your child’s room.

Related: 5 Tips to help your sensitive-sleeper sleep better

9. Keep fingernails short

I need to get better at this, but it is such a battle trying to clip toddler’s nails. However, Lennox would probably have fewer scars from itching if I cut his fingernails more often.

I have also read that putting gloves on your child during the night helps control the itching, but let me know how that goes if you try it, because I know Lennox would throw a fit. He doesn’t even like band-aids on his boo-boos.

10. Avoid aggravating foods

According to Medical News Today:

“For people with eczema, eating certain foods can trigger the body to release immune system compounds that cause inflammation, which, in turn, contributes to an eczema flare-up.” 

If you think your child’s eczema trigger is from food, try implementing an anti-inflammatory diet such a fish or foods high in probiotics.

Avoiding the following foods can help reduce eczema outbreaks.

• Citrus fruits
• Dairy
• Eggs
• Gluten or Wheat
• Soy
• Certain spices- Vanilla, cloves, and cinnamon.
• Tomatoes
• Some types of nuts

11. Lots of H2O

Water does wonders for the skin and the body in general. Drinking water will hydrate your toddler’s skin, which, as a result, will alleviate the itch.

I hope our tips help to control your toddler’s eczema. Please comment below with any suggestions or comments that have worked for your child’s or your own eczema.

More health tips for kids:

• Home Remedies for When Your Toddler Has a Case of the Coughs and a Runny Nose
• Toddler Stomach Flu Remedies
• How to bathe baby

The post 11 Tips To Alleviate Your Child’s Eczema Today appeared first on Bilingual Beginnings.