Cold and flu season has descended upon us. As parents, we are always inclined to "do" something for our children when they are sick.

It's our innate instinct. We want them to feel better.

However, relieving their symptoms and nursing them back to health does not always mean reaching into our medicine cabinet.

In 2008, the FDA advised parents against using over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children under age 6. It's a solid recommendation and one that Dr. Mom stands firmly behind. Why? Because the active ingredients found in children's cough and cold medicines have not been fully studied in children.

Not only do these medicines lack proven efficacy, they have the potential for toxicity, and safe doses have not reliably been studied.

What's a parent to do?

Plenty, actually. Here's how to relieve your child's cough or congestion … the good old-fashioned way.

Saline nose drops

Saline nose drops wash out your child's congested nose. For infants and young children, you can use a bulb suction to clear the nasal passages after applying the nose drops. An older child can simply blow his nose. Warm water works, too.

For infants, it's best to use these drops and bulb suction the nose before feeding and sleeping, so they can do so without any problems.

Humidifier

The onset of winter also means dry air indoors. This can exacerbate coughs and nasal congestion. Using a cool mist humidifier in your home or child's room is a great way to add some moisture back to the air.

The moisture prevents nasal mucus from drying up and plugging little noses, and it works as a wonderful lubricant for little airways, thus cutting back on coughing spells.

Exposing your child to the steam from a warm shower works in a similar way to ease dry airways and decrease coughing episodes. This is also a great nighttime "treatment" for the barking cough of croup, which, as luck would have it, always seems to worsen at night.

Honey

The thick, sweet, and natural elixir of honey has shown effectiveness in reducing both the frequency of coughing in children and in reducing the severity of nighttime cough.

One important caveat: Children younger than 1 year old should not be given honey due to the risk of botulism.

For children ages 2 and older give 1/2 to 1 teaspoon (2.5-5 milliliters) of honey as needed. The honey thins out secretions and works to loosen your child's phlegm, thus decreasing the cough.

Fluids

Never underestimate the importance of keeping your child well-hydrated, particularly while she is sick. Offer plenty of clear liquids frequently throughout the day.

Not only will this help thin out your child's congestion, it will keep him or her well-hydrated in the face of extra fluid losses associated with fever and coughing.

A word about fever

Fever often goes hand in hand with colds and the flu. However, parents should know that not all fevers necessarily need to be treated with a fever reducer such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

In fact, your child's fever is actually beneficial in helping your child fight off a particular virus. Just as I would recommend against reaching for the medicine at the first sign of a cough or congestion, I urge parents to watch their child before treating their fever.

Always treat your child, not the fever (or the cough or cold for that matter). If your child is uncomfortable, has decreased activity or doesn't want to eat, then by all means, give him the proper dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help him feel better.

Otherwise, allow your child's body to do its job. And remember, when it comes to the mild symptoms associated with the common cold or flu, it's best to think outside the medicine cabinet.

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Dr. Melissa Arca is a mother of two, a writer and a blogger. Her blog, www.confessionsofadrmom.com, is where her worlds of doctor and mom come together, and it is featured on The Bee's blog and community news network, Sacramento Connect.

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