How to Get Rid of a Cold in Children

A simple cold can make a child feel awful. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to help your child get through this common illness. Always take a sick child to the doctor to make sure it is not the flu.

Things You'll Need

• Tylenol Cold
• Sudafed
• Robitussin
• Sports drinks

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Instructions

• 1

  Make your child drink a lot of sports drinks. Fluids are the best treatment for a cold. Sports drinks are better than water because they include potassium and sodium.

• 2

  Give your child an expectorants medicine such as Robitussin or Vicks. These medicines relieve congestion and break up phlegm.

• 3

  Give your child antihistamines such as Sudafed or Benadryl. Be sure to check the box to see what area the antihistamine targets. Some are designed to fight congestion in the throat, while others target a runny nose, or both throat and nose.

• 4

  Give your child pain medicine such as Tylenol Cold or Dayquil. Choose pain medicine made with acetaminophen rather than aspirin. Pain medications will not cure a cold, but may help relieve your child's pain.