It’s a fact of life—our kids get sick, and they get sick more often when they start school or daycare. Even with all those shots available, and whether they’re vaccinated or not, they will still get viruses that their little bodies need to learn how to deal with.

I’d like to share some ways of caring for them when they really need our help to feel better. Also things you can do to prevent the illness from going into a secondary infection. I believe both common-sense actions and homeopathic remedies will lessen the time our children are sick and help strengthen their immune systems.

Parenting a Sick Child 101

Not all of us know how to handle it when our kids get sick, perhaps because our parents aren’t around to show us or talk with us about it. Also, with the advent of vaccines, there has been a societal push to lessen the role of us as parents tending for our kids because it’s inconvenient; we have to work; they have to be at school everyday; it’s just not productive.  Even though we do get sick from time to time, the media message is that this is a waste of time and we shouldn’t allow it.

Of course I’m not saying that illness is necessarily a good thing! We worry about our kids when they’re sick, they may feel awful, and we may become both physically and emotionally exhausted caring for them. But acute illness is also a time when their bodies are strengthened and detoxed and they get to slow down and just be. My understanding is that the childhood diseases we don’t see much of anymore, like measles and chicken pox, have the benefit of increasing the development of the child’s physical body and emotional psyche. Many people, including myself, have seen our kids recover from these illnesses and then exhibit a big cognitive shift and growth spurt. This can happen after the flu or an intense cold as well.

So, when your kids start to feel ill, do your best to slow down with them, have some quiet activities you can do together or that when they’re older, they can do by themselves—like books, or puzzles, or drawing, even napping! Try not to resort to the screens, this is really not restful and can wind them up! Some kids, especially the younger ones, need you to sit with them, need your contact and want to nurse more often, or sleep on your chest. Take the opportunity to rest with them! Enjoy the break from the everyday commotion of life as much as you can.

Here are some specific things you can do to lessen the impact of viral infections:

At the beginning of symptoms:

Homeopathically:

Ferrum Phosphoricum 6X at the first sign of any illness. A little fever, cheeks may be pink, a little less energetic, but usually no other symptoms yet. You can give 4 tablets up to 4 times a day for the first day or two. This may help them avoid the illness altogether or help them get over it sooner. If the child is better, at any point, then stop. If their symptoms progress, then look at other remedies after that first day.

Oscillococcinum: At the first sign of a flu – they are tired and feel achy and may have a sore throat. This remedy really works! You may completely stop the illness if you give it at the first signs. Again, give up to 3 doses over the day they first seem ill, this remedy comes in tiny pellets, so give about 10 of them as a dose.

Belladonna: If a child gets sick suddenly and dramatically with a high fever, dilated pupils and very hot, dry, red skin. This can happen with a virus! They may seem fine and be playing, or be out of it. They may not be thirsty at all or just ask for lemonade. Give 30C strength 2 pellets as a dose every 1/2 hour until the fever goes down or they seem less ill. If this remedy doesn’t help bring down the fever within two hours, or you suspect something more than a flu or bad cold, call your doctor.

If the cold or flu has progressed:

Call your homeopath if you don’t feel certain about choosing remedies, but if you have a good acute care homeopathy book and access to homeopathic medications, you can at least give it a try. You may be able to help your child quickly and without side effects. If you observe these traits with your child (or yourself), and they fit well, give the remedy you choose in the 30C strength, every 3-4 hours for a day or 2 or until they feel better. If you don’t see any improvement in a day or two, either look at your homeopathy book and choose again, or call your homeopath. There are dozens of other homeopathic medications available, but these are the most common for basic colds and flus.

Pulsatilla: This is a great remedy for the child who becomes weepy, whiney, and clingy when they get sick. They tend to have lots of thick, yellowish mucus that runs a lot but doesn’t make the skin around the nose irritated. Sometimes a cough will start from all the mucus running down their throat as soon as they lie down, or when they first wake up in the morning. They don’t tend to be thirsty and feel better when they’re outside or have fresh air coming in the window.

Bryonia: They feel worse for any movement and just want to lie still in a quiet room. They’re very thirsty, and their throat feels dry. They tend to be irritable and ask for things, but then throw them away.

Gelsemium: Anyone who has the combination of feeling dizzy, drowsy, droopy, and dull may need this remedy, whether for the flu or a bad cold. The child (or adult) may be so sleepy, they can barely keep their eyes open. The muscles may feel sore and achy and they’re generally weak and even tremble from weakness. They may have flushes of heat alternating with sweats, with chills running down the back.

Common sense:

Make sure your child has plenty of water, chicken or vegetable broth, herb teas with lots of honey, miso soup, and diluted juice to drink. Have them take the time to rest more than usual – longer naps and getting to bed earlier are a must. Give them chewable Vitamin C, avoid wheat and dairy to lessen mucus, try Naturade Expec for lingering mucus causing tickly coughs and sore throats. Be in contact with other parents whose kids may have similar symptoms and let them know what remedies helped your kids, they might help theirs as well.