Considering I have been out of commission for almost 2 weeks because my entire household had the flu, I can safely tell you what all natural cold remedies actually work! (I won’t bother mentioning all the things that don’t work in this post, let’s just focus on what is actually helpful and worth buying and trying!)
First off…
STUFFY NOSES & BOOGERS
Nothing worse than a kid with boogers all over their face. I don’t like seeing them all over my own kids faces, never mind on some stranger’s grubby little kids!
If you have an infant or a toddler that can not blow their own nose yet (or even understand the concept of trying to blow) then you absolutely NEED to get Nosefrida!
Okay so I know it sounds gross, but seriously, this one of those absolute must-haves and a life saver. Nosefrida Snotsucker Nasal Aspirator will save you and your baby a LOT of frustration during boogie season.
The Nosefrida retails for about $15.99 (less on Amazon) and you can read more info about the product and how it works by clicking here.
For everyone else, there is Boogie Mist! It’s a gentle saline nasal mist that helps soothe and clear nasal passages. Sterile saline helps flush blockage from the nose while moisturizing the tender skin inside your nostrils. Available in grape and fresh scent Schnozzles.
Whether you are dealing with a cold, the flu or just seasonal allergies, Boogie Mist can help. We use it a lot in the winter because our wood stove really dries out the air and gives us all painfully dry noses and congestion. It’s just not practical for us to have a humidifier in every single room of the house, so Boogie Mist has helped us get through these last few winter months. It’s natural and can be used as often as needed for relief throughout the day and night.
Boogie Mist is available at retailers nationwide including: Target, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Walgreens, Kroger and Buy Buy Baby. Boogie Mist retails for around $6.29 per bottle. For more information, visit: www.boogiewipes.com.
COLD & COUGH
During the winter months when getting a cold is almost inevitable, we stock up on a few key items to not only help build our immune systems to fight colds but also help deal with the symptoms as naturally as possible.
Here is my list of must-haves…
Hyland’s Cold ‘n Cough 4 Kids (Daytime Formula)
and Hyland’s Nighttime Cold ‘n Cough 4 Kids
. If your child has a laundry list of cold symptoms then you need a multi-symptom solution like Hylandโs 4 Kids Cold โn Cough. It is our go-to cold symptom relief we have come to depend on. It’s unique formula is designed for kids 2 years old and up so it’s great for the whole family. It eases the sneezing, soothes the sore throat, and loosens up the congestion with ingredients that I feel good about giving to my kids. No food dyes, artificial sweeteners or chemical crap I can’t pronounce.
You can purchase Hylands products in most grocery stores and you can get a wide variety of Hylands on Amazon too.
My second line of defense is elderberry syrup! Oh my goodness is that good stuff. If I can’t get my hands on locally, homemade elderberry syrup than I grab a bottle of Nature’s Way Sambucus Black Elderberry Original Syrup
on Amazon. Elderberry syrup is extremely effective at fighting viral infections so it’s crucial if you think you have something like the flu. I take it every single time I even *THINK* I’m getting a cold now because I often end up with pneumonia. I have moderate to severe asthma that I take a daily medication for. Unfortunately when I get sick, the first place it really hits is my upper respiratory system and makes my asthma symptoms twice as bad. I definitely notice a huge difference when taking the elderberry syrup. My colds are quite noticeably shorter and less intense.
Want to make your own? Find out how here.
Last but not least, Cold-EEZE Cold Remedy Oral Spray
. Nothing boosts your immune system faster than some good ol’ ZINC! Since Zinc often upsets your stomach, I prefer the Cold Eeze spray as I find that it settles in my stomach easier and works fast. What could have landed me in the hospital ended up only lasting a few days and I know the zinc definitely helped. If you don’t want the spray, Cold Eeze also makes some yummy Cold Remedy Lozenges
in several delicious flavors.
CLEAN AND SANITIZE
I try to keep things as chemical free and all natural as possible in my home so I turn to CleanWell when cold season hits. Their Botanical Surface Disinfectant Sprays and Wipes get things clean and disinfected without harmful chemicals. The line offers 35-Count Botanical Surface Disinfectant Wipes, Botanical Disinfectant Bathroom Cleaner, and a Botanical Disinfectant Household All-Purpose Spray that will help you clean up when the flu hits your household.
The CleanWell line of products is unique in that it is the only botanical household cleaning collections that also actually disinfects using a patented blend of thyme oil to kill over 99.9% of germs. And, unlike traditional disinfectants, with CleanWell you donโt have to rinse the surface after use, even on food contact surfaces or children’s toys!
CleanWell products can be purchased online right here and in stores like Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Whole Foods Market and more. Use the store finder to locate a retailer near you.
SPREADING GERMS
When my husband got the flu, he could only take so many days off from work before they really needed his help again and he had to go back into the office. I told him to be super careful about hacking and coughing all over his co-workers because if they all get sick, that’s more work and more out of town business trips for him! It would have been super handy if he had some of these…
Tutem Masks are stylish, individually wrapped single-use mask that come with all-natural hand sanitizing wipes that help to prevent the spread of cold germs. Smart and chic, the patented comfort mask developed by Jody Vitelli, comes in 10 stylish prints to help keep travelers, commuters, co-workers, families and everyone around us from getting sick during this cold & flu season.
Tutem 2-Packs are $8 (10-Packs are $30) and can be purchased online atwww.tutemmasks.com.
What are your cold season must-haves? Let us know!