7 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Mucus In Children

7 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Mucus In Children

It is unpleasant to talk about and unpleasant to deal with, but invariably all parents at some point have had to clean it off their little one’s faces. We are talking about mucous.

Mucous is the slimy substance produced in every human’s body in the mucous membrane which serves some very important functions. It lines and lubricates the nose, throat, sinuses, and lungs and helps fight against infections. In the nose, the mucous along with the tiny hair is essential to trap and filter out dust particles, keeping infections out and ensuring we breathe in clean air.

Sometimes the body starts producing excess mucus causing a buildup of mucus in the nose, throat or chest. Excess mucus production in children and adults can be due to:

  • Allergies
  • Cold
  • Sinus infection
  • Air pollution

Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Mucus In Children

Seeing your child struggling to breathe and cough excessively because of mucus buildup is difficult for parents. We suggest a few home remedies to get rid of mucus in children which you can easily follow at home to provide your child with some much-needed relief.

#1. Warm Liquids

Warm liquids can thin out mucus and also soothe the irritated nasal passages and throat which might have become sore from blowing the nose or coughing. Give the child warm water, thin soups, non-caffeinated tea with honey or green tea. It is best to avoid milk when the child has increased mucus or congestion.

Also read: Homemade Kadhas To Treat Cough And Cold In Kids

#2. Steam

  • Warm moist air helps in loosening the mucous and reducing congestion. There could be many ways to inhale warm, moist air
    Place a steam vaporiser or humidifier in the child’s room while he is sleeping. This is good for children who have bronchitis or asthma and are frequently ill.
  • In a closed bathroom, sit away from the shower with the child. Run the hot shower so that it emits steam thus steaming up the bathroom and your child can inhale this hot, moist air. This is especially recommended for children who are too small to do steam inhalation.
  • Steam inhalation: Boil water and fill it in a large bowl with. Lean over the bowl and drape a towel over the head to keep the steam from escaping. Gently inhale the steam through your nose and mouth to loosen the mucus.

#3. Honey

Honey is a popular remedy for loosening mucus and it is one which parents didn’t have any difficulty in giving their children. If the child has a particularly bad case of cough, you could give him a spoon of honey with warm water at 4-5 hour intervals. A spoon of honey at bedtime also helped reduce cough and improve sleep.

Warning: It is not recommended to give honey to children younger than 1 year of age.

#4. Ginger

Ginger is a powerful herb with anti-inflammatory properties and also acts as a natural decongestant. Ginger’s antiviral and antibacterial properties help in easing chest congestion and helping the child breathe better.

You could brew some ginger tea by adding a few slices of fresh ginger to a cup of hot water and letting it steep for a few minutes. Add honey to this tea to sweeten it so your kids will like it better.

Also read: Home Remedies For Cough And Cold In Kids Caused By Air Pollution

#5. Salt-Water Gargling

Gargling with a cup of warm water in which half a spoon of salt is dissolved is recommended to loosen mucus, especially from the back of the throat. It also helps soothe a throat made scratchy because of excess cough.

Have your child take a small sip of the warm salt water and tilt his head back. Let the water remain the throat for a few seconds while trying to gargle, then spit it out. Repeat 5-6 times at least twice a day for relief.

#6. Lemon Juice With Honey

In a glass of warm water, add the juice of half a lemon and a spoonful of honey. Get your child to drink this warm liquid 2 times a day. Honey is a natural decongestant and helps soothe the child’s irritated throat. Vitamin C in Lemon helps boost immunity.

#7. Sleep Right

If mucus buildup in the chest is disturbing your child’s sleep and making him cough too much at night, change the way the child sleeps. Elevate the child’s upper body with the help of a soft pillow. Elevating the upper body prevents mucous from the chest irritating the throat and helps mucus drain reducing cough and discomfort.

Also read: 7 Useful Home Remedies to Cure Cough and Cold during Pregnancy

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