A runny nose after waking. [That] kind of cough. The cutest (but not so cute) rosy cheeks. These are signs of toddler sickness aaaaaaand every mama’s worst nightmare. I might not be at this parenthood thing long enough to know about best friend drama or boyfriend breakups, but ya girl can tell when there are sleepless nights and tissue-filled fights ahead from a mile away, and will do everything possible to keep Sloan’s (and my) tears to a minimum.
Of course we love our babies through thick and thin, for better or for worse, but sick Sloan is officially my least favorite version of her despite the extra snuggles and excuse to stay home from work. I want her back to her chatty, creative, and content self as quickly and holistically as possible, and in the last three years I’ve found some realistic remedies that are easy, effective, and now essentials in my medicine cabinet.
Before I go any further, I’m gonna go out on a limb and predict that you might not agree with everything I have to share here…and that’s ok! I’m not a pediatrician, I’m a pelvic floor physical therapist who values an alternative, natural, “less is more” approach to medicine, and this is what has worked for our family. As you read through my ideas for preventing and treating toddler sickness, confidently take what serves you and kindly leave what doesn’t.
We’re all doing the best we can in the season we’re in – I believe this to be true for both of us.
First a little FYI – there’s no such thing as “cold and flu season”
Told ya I’d be ruffling a few feathers in this post! While there may be more cases of sickness from early fall until spring, viruses are alive & active & all around us 365 days a year. Instead, that seasonal uptick in illness is due to increased opportunities for immune system weakness – thank you for nothing excess sugar, surges in stress, lack of sleep, limited Vitamin D, and far more close-quarter crowds.
I consider this mindset shift encouraging & empowering & exciting because we have far more control over our and our toddlers’ bodies than the bugs floating around us. Rather than enter the season in fear with our fingers crossed, we can prepare for and even prevent sickness by prioritizing immune health. To see what this looks like for my toddler, scroll a little further to find my top tips for avoiding sickness altogether.
How to prevent toddler sickness
Humble brag – I can count on one hand how many times Sloan’s been sick in her three years of life. She’s never vomited, never had an ear infection, never caught pneumonia or RSV or the flu or covid (*knocks on wood and says a little prayer of thanks*). While some would call us lucky, I consider us blessed AND boldly proactive with her immune health. The long list below might lead you to believe I’m afraid of Sloan getting sick, but in reality, life’s just more fun when she’s well. If you walk away inspired to implement a few of the following strategies, start with one (mayyyyybe two) and build from there for sustainable results.
FROM THE BEGINNING
I realize that if you’re reading this as a toddler mom, mentioning the infant stage might seem mute. But I truly believe these day-one decisions have paid off in dividends by establishing an immune-boosting lifestyle from the start. Each of these topics is its very own can of worms (that I honestly can’t believe I’m opening *takes a big breath*), but these are strategies I tirelessly researched and have ultimately proven successful over time.
Breastfeeding – Beyond the ~perfect~ amount of protein, fat, and sugar, breast milk contains antibodies and white blood cells that work to fight infection, and research shows that the immune-boosting effects last far beyond those first few months or years. In fact, “the longer an infant is breastfed, the greater the protection from certain illnesses and long-term diseases” per the CDC. This stat alone was my incentive behind breastfeeding Sloan for two years, and in hindsight I can now say it was worth every second.
RELATED POST: My Holistic (& Realistic) Breastfeeding Tips After Nursing for Two Years
Prioritize sleep – Sleep is essential in building a baby’s strong immune system because it’s when memory cells grow to help the body remember & adapt & respond to illness. We used the Taking Cara Babies online courses to set a healthy sleep foundation for Sloan, and she’s been sleeping for twelve hours straight since she was three months old (with obvious regressions and occasional rough nights sprinkled in). The entire family is happier and healthier when Sloan sleeps, so I consider this a win-win-win.
Few to no vaccines – It’s worth noting that Sloan was born during the Covid pandemic, because it’s unlikely I would have questioned the safety and efficacy of vaccines otherwise. But as I started digging deeper into the inserts – realizing what’s actually in vaccines and the reported adverse reactions on the immune system (and cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, digestive, nervous, urogenital, and respiratory systems too) – we chose to forego many of them. You can disagree with this decision, roll your eyes, or call me crazy, but the frequency and severity at which my (mostly) unvaccinated toddler gets sick is significantly less than all of her vaccinated friends.
Detox bath – I try to give Sloan a detox bath at minimum once a month…because our kids come in contact with so many toxins through pollution, products, chlorine, mold, and more. The ingredients in this bath can improve sleep, support digestion, reduce stress, and increase the body’s nutrient absorption, all benefits their little immune systems love. Add 1 cup fragrance-free epsom salt, ½ cup baking soda, and ½ cup bentonite clay to warm water and let your little one soak for at least 15 minutes.
LET’S TALK DIET
We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat”, and there are countless research studies proving this applies to our toddlers’ immune systems too. There are foods that help and others that harm, and getting more of the former and less of the latter is the ultimate goal wiiiiiiiith the added challenge of appeasing a picky toddler and preserving our own personal sanity. In this unique season where we ultimately have control over what our kids eat, this is an opportunity worth taking advantage of. I’m living proof that a healthy, immune-boosting toddler diet can be done in a working mom’s schedule and on a budget, and I’m excited to share the three primary principles I follow to make it happen.
Limit sugar – I don’t subscribe to the whole “sugar is Satan” script, but there’s evidence to support sugar’s inflammatory influence, which adds stress to (and ultimately exhausts & weakens) our tiny toddlers’ already very active immune systems. Skipping sugar for our family looks like watching for added sugar on nutrition labels, opting for homemade options of our favorite treats, and swapping sugar for honey, maple syrup or coconut sugar in those recipes as often as possible. Sloan’s current favorite “dupe” treats are these cheezits, graham crackers, and ice cream.
All the whole foods – Processed foods often contain seed oils, artificial sweeteners, food dyes, thickening agents, preservatives, and other chemicals. These all cause an inflammatory response in the body, and just like the aforementioned added sugar, can compromise the immune system. While all food is technically “processed” these days, and living in America makes avoiding the above ingredients especially difficult, we implement these basic guidelines when choosing what goes in Sloan’s (and our) bodies to promote natural resistance to sickness:
- Shop the outside of the grocery store. This is where you’ll find meat, dairy, and produce.
- Always look at a product’s ingredients and ask 1) can I pronounce it?, 2) would my great grandma know what this is?, 3) can I buy this ingredient somewhere else in the grocery store?. If the answer is NO to any of the above, it’s a hard pass.
- Opt for homemade whenever possible…yes, it takes a little more time, but you’re 100% in control of the ingredients and it almost always tastes better.
Prioritize animal-based products – The primary thing we put on Sloan’s plate and the first snack we pack for her…is meat. Animal-based products like meat, eggs, and raw dairy contain almost all of the nutrients (healthy fat, protein, vitamins, and minerals) her immune system needs, and are far more bioavailable (aka easily digested and absorbed) than fruits and vegetables. We try to get red meat into our girl at least twice a day – sometimes this looks like steak or ground beef, other times it’s a chomps meat stick or uncured hotdogs.
ENVIRONMENT GOODNESS
Where we spend our time and what we put (or don’t put) on and around our toddler’s bodies can make or break their immune systems. Since it’s unrealistic for all of us to live like our favorite influencers – on a farm in the middle of nowhere without a toxic chemical in sight (and always in the cutest outfits) – we can use mindfulness and intention with where we are and what we have to set our kids up for success.
Encourage biodiversity – I’m not telling you to let your toddler lick the grocery cart handle, buttttttttt being exposed to a broad variety of organisms strengthens the immune system and teaches it to fine-tune it’s response. Encouraging biodiversity for Sloan looks like jumping in mud puddles, hiking in the woods (and stopping to touch every little thing), handling our and our local farm’s animals, and interacting with other kids as much as possible.
Avoid antibacterial products – A little PSA: not all bacteria is bad, and not only do antibacterial products like soaps and sanitizers kill off the good bacteria along with the bad, but many of them also contain endocrine-disrupting (and therefore immune-compromising) ingredients too. While washing with good ol’ soap and water is your best bet, it’s rarely convenient. We always have this all-natural hand sanitizer in Sloan’s diaper bag and love using a damp Norwex Envirocloth for those times that feel a little too biodiverse 😉
Get outside – I suspect that one of the reasons people get so sick in the winter is the lack of time outdoors. Fresh air, Vitamin D, plus nature’s rich sources of microorganisms all support the body’s natural resistance to sickness. The good news is that you don’t have to be outside for hours, go on long, grueling hikes, or even get dirty to see a difference (although this last one really does have its added benefits!). Even just a quick walk with a few deep breaths is enough to notice improvement in immunity.
Invest in an air-purifier – We got an air-purifier for Sloan’s room when she was diagnosed with asthma, and I can’t help but think its ability to remove bacteria & viruses & dust & mold & dander & smoke from the air helps keep her immune system from getting overworked. Toddlers spend a majority of their day sleeping (anyone else dread losing that afternoon nap!?), so their bedrooms are the perfect place to put this worthwhile investment.
TODDLER-SAFE SUPPLEMENTS
You *know* ya girl loves a “less is more” approach to life (especially when it comes to health) and I believe the basics I’ve shared above are the foundation to healthy little immune systems. But if you want to kick things up a notch with minimal effort and marginal expense, the following supplements are what we give Sloan regularly and the ones I consider worthwhile for sickness prevention.
Liver & organ meats – As a new mom I tried all the popular vitamin and probiotic drops I saw on Instagram, but they often expired faster than I could remember to use them. Since Sloan turned one, we started giving her desiccated organ meats — nature’s all-in-one, nutrient-dense multi-vitamin – and haven’t stopped since. She takes one beef liver capsule or one beef organs capsule every day mixed into her morning smoothie or yogurt.
Electrolytes – Electrolytes are minerals that have an electric charge when dissolved in fluids, and many of them play key roles in immune function. Potassium and sodium regulate what enters and exits the body’s cells, while calcium, magnesium, and zinc trigger the immune system into action. We make sure Sloan gets enough electrolytes by giving her one water bottle filled with LMNT that’s been diluted with filtered water every day. Mix one packet of LMNT with 32 ounces of water, give some to your little one and enjoy the rest before they ask for yours too 😉
Echinacea – While we definitely don’t seek out other sick kids on the regular, we don’t necessarily keep Sloan away from them either. Biodiversity is important for strong immune systems, remember!? But anytime she’s knowingly exposed to germs, I put a few drops of Echinacea tincture in her water for a day or two after and it seriously seems to work! Echinacea is a plant that helps the body create white blood cells and can both decrease the likelihood of getting sick and decrease the severity of symptoms. I swear after every play date or party at least one mom will message me saying her toddler is down for the count…but not my Lolo girl!
Holistic (& realistic) toddler sickness remedies
Let’s face it…despite all the preventative measures above, even the healthiest kids get ill. And while I’d love to say I follow the holistic toddler sickness remedies you’ll find on my Pinterest boards – warm onions on the chest & garlic in the ears & ice-cold wool socks & herbal teas — I’ve honestly never had much success with them. If you’re not quite ^^there^^ either but still want to keep things all-natural, the following are really realistic solutions to the symptoms that wear us down and keep our babies up at night.
Before I get into my favorite remedies, I’d like to propose a subtle mindset shift, m’kay? The symptoms our toddlers are experiencing aren’t “bad”. The fevers & coughs & runny noses are the body’s innate defense mechanisms, there to protect them and get them feeling better faster. Many western medicines inhibit that natural response where as the more homeopathic, eastern medicines simply support it, making this my chosen way of treating toddler sickness.
IN MY MEDICINE CABINET
This blog post is turning out farrrrrr longer than I expected it to (#sorrynotsorry), so there’s no time to list the many reasons you won’t find Tylenol or Ibuprofen or Dimetapp in my medicine cabinet. Let’s just say toxic dyes, chemical flavoring, preservatives, and dangerous ingredients like acetaminophen are not my first go-to when my girl is sick, especially when there are far safer and just as easy and effective options out there. At the end of the day, we’re all just doing what we feel is best for our babes, and these alternatives are what’s currently best for mine.
For stuffy noses –I tried nasal spray for the longest time, but Sloan just doesn’t tolerate it (if yours does, this nasal decongestant spray is my favorite), so we’ve upgraded to saline nose drops instead for that same immediate relief. Now that Sloan’s a little older, she also really enjoys these homeopathic cold relief meltaway pellets and they work like gangbusters.
For fever – First I want to remind you (like I always remind myself whenever it happens), that a fever is a good thing. Raising its temperature is how the body fights off infection, so the last thing we should be doing is immediately suppressing a fever. I’ve already shared that we give Sloan LMNT electrolytes everyday, but encourage her to drink at least twice as much when she’s running a temp. I also add lemon balm calm tincture to her water, which is a vasodilator that doesn’t stop the natural inflammatory process like acetaminophen does, but instead encourages the fever to break by increasing blood flow.
For cough – Sloan has asthma, so anytime she does get sick it tends to always include a cough. Rather than suppress a cough like most medicines do (again…we need these symptoms to fight the illness), this homeopathic cough syrup has honey to soothe the throat and homeopathic remedies that loosen chest congestion to make the cough more productive. I like that it can be used for day or night, and it tastes like honey so there’s no fighting Sloan to take it.
TRICKS OF THE TRADE
I love having a medicine cabinet stocked with tinctures and tablets for when my girl’s not feeling well, but like you and most other parents, I’m willing to pull out all the (simple) bells and whistles to stop sickness in its tracks. On top of what I put in Sloan’s body to support her, I have a few other totally practical tricks up my sleeve to get her feeling better ASAP that I think you’re going to find just as powerful.
Humidifier – While we need coughs and runny noses to help rid the body of sickness, dry air (and airways) can keep them going longer than necessary. We’ve tried multiple humidifiers and this stainless steel one is the best – easy to clean, adjustable humidity levels, and convenient timer settings. Pair it with this humidity sensor to make sure your toddler’s room is sitting at about 50% humidity.
Elevate head of bed or crib – I learned this one from a fellow mama and it works every dang time. Raising the head of where your child sleeps helps keep their airways more open and makes it easier for the nose and sinuses to drain. No fancy Amazon links here…just cut two squares from a 2×4 piece of wood and put them under the top feet of the bed or crib, then remove once your little one’s feeling better and you’re back to nighttime pillow fights.
Acupressure – Acupressure is kiiiiinda like acupuncture in that it’s based on meridians and energy (Chi) from ancient Chinese medicine, but rather than place needles in the points, you push on them with your finger instead. There are toddler-approved pressure points to help relieve cough, nasal congestion, and fever. Simply apply moderate pressure at a 90-degree angle to your child’s skin and hold for about thirty seconds to watch the magic happen.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Past Amanda laughed at people who used essential oils…this is not something I’m proud of, but it’s the truth. Then I witnessed the voodoo mama juju magic of them when I was ill, and now the entire family turns to them for sickness, making the house smell delicious, and more. Even if you don’t totally understand how a few little drops of plant oil can be so potent (same girl, same), the results speak for themselves and are worth putting skepticism aside, especially when you’re at your wits end with toddler sickness.
Diffuser – Maybe it’s because I spent my teen summer years watching infomercials, but I straight up LOVE a “set it and forget it” approach to making our babies feel better. And that’s exactly what this is! Take a diffuser (Sloan goes feral for this one and it’s now her regular night light), fill it with filtered water, then add 2-3 drops each of lavender, tea tree, lemon, and eucalyptus essential oils. Whenever Sloan has nose or chest congestion, we diffuse this mix during bath, nap time, and through the night.
Chest rub – If you don’t like the idea of a diffuser, don’t have one, or simply want to double-up on those essential oil powers, making them into a “lotion” is just as effective. In a sealable glass container, combine 1 Tbs of coconut oil with one drop each of lavender, tea tree, lemon, and eucalyptus essential oils. After testing to make sure they can tolerate it, rub on your babe’s chest, back, and feet before bed to ease chest and nasal congestion.
Did I just jinx myself? Probably…
Will Sloan get sick as soon as I post this? Probably. But I feel this simplified & intentional & real life-approved approach to naturally preventing and treating toddler sickness had to be shared. There’s nothing enjoyable about our babies feeling under the weather, but it’s far more manageable when you feel comfortable, confident, and in control when illness arises. Can I get an amen!?
Now…I might be a doctor, but I’m not a pediatrician, so many of these strategies were gathered from blogs, social media, books, fellow mamas, and good ol’ intuition over the years. If this post has inspired you and you’re interested in learning more about natural and homeopathic pediatric medicine, some of my favorite resources are @the.holistic.mother and @dr.michelle_young on Instagram and “The Complete Homeopathic Handbook” by Miranda Castro.
Remember, sweet friend – you know your baby’s body better than anyone else ever will. Period. My hope is that you’re able to apply what resonated with you from this long list of actionable advice, and you see real, life changing results. Wishing you and your babes all the health and wellness.
– Amanda
Disclaimer: The content provided here does not constitute medical advice, nor is it a substitute for personalized healthcare. I’m a doctor, but I’m not your doctor. If you have concerns about a medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should consult with a licensed healthcare professional.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. No pressure, but I have a feeling you’re gonna like what I’ve taken the time to put my recommendation behind.
