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This winter season is no joke when it comes to sick babies! We are here for you with all our favorite natural remedies for supporting your babies and little ones through the sick season. Get them all in this post!
Disclaimer. We are not doctors, nurses, or medical professionals of any kind- we are moms, just like you! We are in the thick of it with three under three between the two of us. Our goal is to share with moms while we are in the middle of this thing. We enjoy sharing all about pregnancy, birth, and babies from a fresh motherhood perspective. We are in no way making medical suggestions- that’s what your doctor is for! These are just some things that we do to care for our baddies naturally during sickness. We believe there is a time and a place for medical intervention when necessary.
Some Advice on Sickness and Babies
Occasional sickness is a normal, natural part of life. Yes, we as mamas want to avoid and prevent sickness as much as possible. However, getting sick as babies and toddlers is a natural part of life, even for the healthy, well nourished kiddos. Do not beat yourself up as a first time or young mom when kids get sick. Build their immune system, feed them nutritious meals, and leave the rest to God!
You can read here all about what to do to build your little ones immune system to help prevent sickness!
Fevers are good! The temp station as a first time or young mom is to freak out when you see the first sign of a fever. Of course you should always go with your gut, however most fevers are not dangerous and actually help your baby to fight the illness effectively. Because of this I usually do not use medication like Tylenol or Ibuprofen that mask a fever and other symptoms. If there is something going on in their body I want to know it is going on. As long as the fever is not extremely high (103 +) or lasting for several days I just let their body do what it needs to do.
Stock your medicine cabinet BEFORE the sickness comes! When your baby is sick is not the time to be scrambling for these natural remedies we are about to mention. You need to prepare for the “storm” ahead of time, not when it is already upon you! I have provided a much more condensed list at the end of this post so you can start purchasing what you need today!
Speaking of stocking up…Have you heard of Earthly Wellness? If you continue reading this post you may notice that we recommend several of their products and we are constantly referencing them. That’s because they are our number one go to for stocking our natural medicine cabinets with affordable, quality products we can trust! Be sure to check out our list at the end of this post and stock up your cart. Use code LITTLEWIFE10 at checkout for 10% off your first order!
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Standard Remedies for Baby Sickness
Here a few standard things we do for our littles wherever they do not feel well….
Sleep/rest. As with adults, one of the best remedies for sick babies is sleep! Let them sleep as much as they will let themselves sleep. Try to keep the environment as cozy and comfortable as possible. Newborns and babies up to a year are good at this! One year olds start to get tricky and two year olds are harder to keep down but try to encourage rest as much as possible.
Hydration. Dehydration is one of the leading causes for hospitalization in sick babies. If you breastfeed I highly recommend nursing on demand (when baby wants too and without any schedule) if possible. You can also bottle feed on demand. Try to encourage electrolytes if they will not drink milk. Add a fun colored (no dyes!), natural electrolyte drink mix to your toddler’s water to encourage hydration. Fruits and vegetables with a high water content like berries, watermelon, celery, and cucumbers are a great way to get extra hydration in them as well.
Sunlight. Vitamin D and fresh air are so healing. It is tempting when littles are sick to stay indoors but that is one of the worst things you can do. Sitting outside with them for even a few minutes will help boost their immune systems back up and fight whatever sickness they are dealing with.
Nutritional Food. Avoid super sugary snacks and desserts while sick. Instead try things like yogurt (watch the sugar content!), applesauce, and fresh fruit. Soups and bone broth are a great way to support the immune system and they are easy on the digestive tract.
Elderberry. I cannot say enough good things about elderberry to treat just about any common sickness your babies may have! Elderberry is safe for ages six months plus and safe for breastfeeding mother (you can take it yourself while breastfeeding for babies younger than six months to get the benefits). Elderberry is one of the best and safest remedies for colds, flus, respiratory illness, stomach bugs, and more! The biggest benefit is it’s ability to support the immune system so your little one can fight off sickness quickly and effectively.
Natural Remedies for All Kinds of Sickness
Cold Remedies
The most common sickness you should probably expect your baby to get is a cold in their first two years of life. Minor colds can be tricky to recognize in littles because symptoms can mirror things like teething, allergies, etc. The good part about this is that they usually require no treatment on our part because they normally just run their course without any complications. Some things you can do to help support them are…
- Saline for stuffy, snotty noses helps to dry up the extra snot. Am infant nasal aspirator with saline drops works amazingly (sounds gross but totally worth it!).
- Elderberry for immune support (6 months plus or through your breastmilk).
- Feel Better Fast from Earthley Wellness for colds, fever support (not suppression!!), and congestion, and immune support (safe for ages 6 months plus and breastfeeding mothers). Note: The combo of feel better fast and elderberry elixir from Earthley is hands down the most effective remedy for several sicknesses I have dealt with in my babies up to this point- colds, stomach bugs, etc.
- Extra sleep.
- Warm baths.
- Hydration. Sometimes babies struggle with feeding when their little noises get stuffy. Try timing your saline/snot sucking treatments before they need to eat to help them breathe well as they eat. This eliminates the frustration they feel! Feed newborns and young babies on demand.
Flu and Stomach Bugs
- Hydration is key. Stomach bugs/flus that involve throwing up or diarrhea can be the worst for keeping up with hydration but it is so important! Follow all the tips in the “hydration” section in the beginning of this post.
- Infant Tummy Relief from Earthley (safe for all ages) for gas, bloating, and upset tummy.
- Warm baths can be so calming.
- Sleep.
- Elderberry Elixir and Feel Better Fast Combo from Earthley.
- Probiotics help replenish the good bacteria in your baby’s gut and helps support the immune system.
- Activated Charcoal. If your little one has had diarrhea/vomit for several days you can administer a little activated charcoal (1/4-1/2 capsule depending on age) by way of mixing with apple sauce or yogurt. The charcoal binds to the toxins in your baby’s system and will help remove them so their digestive systems do not have to work alone.
Remedies for Ear Infections and Irritation
If your baby is unusually fussy (especially when you lay them down), they grab or tug at their ears, and they have a low fever you are probably dealing with an ear infection. As a first time mom this was reason to go to the pediatrician asap for antibiotics because they were miserable and I was miserable! I did not know you can easily treat most ear infections at home. Here’s how…
Breastmilk. Sounds crazy but if you put a couple drops of breastmilk in your babies ear it can help heal an ear infection (you should never put anything in your babies ears if you see extreme drainage or they are in severe pain as this is a sign of a ruptured ear drum).
Earthley Earache Ease. This remedy from Earthley is safe for all ages and works great! I have occasional issues with ear pressure, fluid, and infections so I have personally tested myself with this one. It relieves the pressure so effectively almost right away.
Warm washcloth. A warm washcloth can help ease the discomfort of ear pain.
Remedies for RSV, COVID, and other Respiratory Illnesses
Respiratory illness in infants and toddlers can be so scary! However, they are naturally treatable and often easily recovered from in most cases. Here’s what you can do….
Humidifier. Keeping a humidifier running can help your baby breathe better while trying to fight a respiratory sickness. Keep it close to them while they sleep, play- basically at all times.
Hydration. As always, keep them hydrated!
Sleep close. When my baby had RSV at two months I found it was most comfortable for both of us to sleep close. This allowed me to keep an eye on her and gave her comfort.
Feel Better Fast and Elderberry.
Cough-b-Gone from Earthley. This is safe for ages six months plus and helps clear a cough up, not by suppressing it but by helping support the lungs and respiratory system.
Cold air/Bathroom Sauna. The rotation of cold air and a warm, humid bathroom can help support breathing issues (especially at night!). I do this by going outside with baby (or standing in the door) when the nights are a bit chilly or placing them close to the open freezer during the summer/fall months. Create a bathroom sauna by allowing the hot shower water to steam up the bathroom (no fans). This allows for a humid environment that calms baby and assists their breathing.
Breathe Well Salve. A great, natural alternative to vapor rubs. Safe for 6 months +
As always, follow your intuition. If you think your baby needs medical assistance call your pediatrician or go to the ER immediately. If your baby has chest retractions (the skin sucks in between the ribs, belly sticks out while breathing), their color looks blue, or their skin feels clammy these are all signs of respiratory distress and you should seek medical help immediately.
Things You Need on Hand to Treat Sick Babies Naturally
Here is a master list of everything we keep on hand in our natural medicine cabinets to treat our babies with natural remedies! This can feel overwhelming if you are new to the natural remedy world. I have listed these items in order of importance (according to my experience!) and each item is linked for your convenience.
Elderberry Elixir from Earthley Wellness. Immune support for all illness. 6 months +
Feel Better Fast from Earthley Wellness. For immune support, fevers, headache, congestion, and upset stomach. 6 months +
Probiotics. We keep these on hand and give them to our babies regularly. 6 months +. Mix 1/2 capsule with applesauce or yogurt. The largest part of our immune systems are housed in the digestive system so keeping the good bacteria plentiful is very important. We use Plexus ProBio5 because it is proven to make it all the way through to the colon where it needs to go before being absorbed.
Infant Tummy Relief for upset tummy, gas, and bloating.
Electrolyte Mixes. Dye free, natural ingredient electrolytes for healthy hydration support. Thrive Market has some really great organic options to choose from! Click here to sign up and get $60 in FREE organic groceries.
Saline/nasal aspirator. For a clear nose to assist breathing during colds.
Humidifier for keeping the air moist for easy breathing (may help kill germs).
Earache Ease for pressure, fluid, and ear infections. Safe for all ages.
Cough-b-gone from Earthley, especially good to keep on hand during the winter months!
Breathe Well Salve from Earthley.
Lavender essential oil. Can be used to rub on the feet or added to bath water to calm a sick, fussy baby and may assist them with sleeping.
These are our go-tos! What would you add to the list? Share in the comments to help other moms. Don’t forget to subscribe to the email list for more mom tips, natural living, and real food recipes!
