New Advice on treating cough and cold in children It's normal for children to get 8 or more colds a year. Gradually they build up immunity and get fewer colds. Most colds will get better within a few days and you may not need to do more than keep your child comfortable until they get over it. Because colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria, antibiotics don't help. If the symptoms are troublesome, here are 3 simple steps to help your child who has a cough or cold.
If they are uncomfortably hot or shivery: Increase the amount of fluid your child normally drinks. Lower their temperature with a paracetamol or ibuprofen medicine which has doses for children. (Paracetamol is not for children under 2 months, Ibuprofen is not for children under 3 months.)
For coughs: Although it is distressing to hear your child cough, in fact it helps to clear phlegm on the chest or mucus from the nose. Give the child plenty of warm clear fluids to drink. For children over one year, try a simple cough mixture with honey and lemon or glycerol.
To help with breathing: Plain saline nose drops can help babies with blocked noses who are having trouble feeding. Vapour rubs and inhalant decongestants can also help to make breathing easier.
Benylin Children's Night Coughs (125 ml) Benylin Children's Night Coughs provides cough and congestion relief for children, also relieves runny noses associated with hayfever and allergies. 125ml
£3.55
Benylin Children's Tickly Coughs (125 ml) Benylin Children's Tickly Coughs is a sugar free, apple flavoured non-drowsy syrup for the effective relief of dry tickly coughs in children. 125ml
Calpol Night Sugar Free 2+ years (100 ml) Calpol Night Sugar Free 2+ years Strawberry flavour, provides fast, effective relief from pain and fever and other childhood ailments such as teething pain. 100ml
£3.57
Calpol SixPlus Suspension 6+ years (200 ml) Calpol SixPlus Suspension 6+ years Orange Flavoured Suspension, formulated to relieve pain and fever in children over 6 years of age. 200ml
Hill’s Balsam Chesty Cough Liquid for Children (100 ml) Hill’s Balsam Chesty Cough Liquid for Children is a sugar and colour free, non-drowsy cough soothing liquid for children and children from 6 to under 12 years of age. 100ml