Last Updated on September 17, 2024 by Natalie

This is for the mom looking for natural and effective ways to get relief from a cold for their baby.

When my breastfed toddler gets congested, she can’t breathe and drink at the same time and therefore, her usual seconds-long wake periods in the middle of the night become something much more disruptive.

And that makes us both grumpy.

So of course, when my little one is congested, I’m on a mission to find relief for my baby’s cold.

Why I Choose the Natural Route to Relieve Cold Symptoms

The first few times my little guy had gotten a cold, I found myself blanking a bit and needing to figure out how to best alleviate his uncomfortable cold symptoms as gently and naturally as possible.

I prefer to avoid the few, natural medications that exist for toddlers.

I think of how my mom became scared of nighttime baby cold medication when I was a baby because while it help my 3 older siblings sleep at night,  it had an opposite effect on me and I was bouncing off the walls.

Of course, while I want gentle, I am also not interested in wasting time with methods that are ineffective.

I need solutions, people!

So I’ve asked for advice about how to get rid of my baby’s cold from my trusted mom team: my sister, who has 4 children, is a great mom and super intelligent human and my cousin who is a mom of 2 toddlers and is also a neonatologist.

Natural Products to Alleviate Cold Symptoms

Side note: you’ll notice these are all FridaBaby items. Unfortunately, this is not a sponsored post and these items were not gifted. This post is just my honest, chosen approach to get relief for my baby’s cold. Of course, I did include my Amazon affiliate links for the products. So don’t be shy, click those.

Humidifier

I run the FridaBaby humidifier all night long when my sweet little boy is congested.

It really helps to loosen any boogers and get them out of the way. After much research and review-reading on the best baby humidifiers I got the FridaBaby 3-in-1 Humidifier.

Pro tip: If you are also a bedsharing family (or willing to be when your little one is sick), it also helps that I will prop his head up a little with my arm. Keeping him from being totally flat does wonders when combined with a humidifier.

Organic Vapor Drops

I inadvertently added the FridayBaby BreatheFrida organic Vapor Drops to my regimen because it was included in the FridaBaby Breathe Easy Kit when I was looking for boogie wipes.

I’m glad we met, though.

They are organic vapor drops (as the name states) that contain eucalyptus and lavender. You add 5 to 7 drops in the FridaBaby humidifier (or bathtub) and it further helps to open up the nasal passages. It has a soft, refreshing scent.

Organic Vapor Rub

This also was part of the FridaBaby Breathe Easy Kit. During my son’s bedtime routine, we put this under his nose, and on his neck, chest and back.

It smells nice and fresh, just like the FridaBaby organic vapor drops. I love that it’s not a super overpowering scent.

Saline and SnotSucker

The NoseFrida SnotSucker is a scary little tool but no, you don’t end up with boogers in your mouth and it’s quite effective. Though, I’m gonna be honest, it’s hard to do!

Who can inhale powerfully for several seconds? Not me. I go at it a few times and then both my son and I are happy when this part is over.

The NoseFrida Snotsucker Saline Kit brings everything you need for this task.

So one lesson I’ve relearned a couple of times is that no matter how runny your child’s nose is, yes, you DO need saline.

It makes clearing the nose easier. Admittedly, I still will think ‘nah, these are some wet boogers. They don’t need to be liquefied.’ Don’t be like me. I am wrong. It always makes it easier.

Frida Baby has now added the Electric NoseFrida. I was so excited about it and to be honest, I was a little disappointed the first time I used it.  Isn’t wasn’t as powerful as I anticipated. But it was gentle enough that I was totally unafraid to use it for my 8 week old. Since, I have gotten some booger gems out of my 5 year old and I take back everything I thought previously about it not be strong enough for older children.

---

My neonatologist cousin does all of the above when her kids get sick plus she diffuses a specific essential oil blend of doTERRA On Guard and Breathe.

I admittedly haven’t tried this myself. I don’t use any essential oils for anything.

She warned that they are a little pricey but worth it. Because it’s coming from her, I am interested in trying these. 

If anyone reading this has tried them, please let me know what you think. Helpful?

Also, let me know if you have any natural cold remedies that work for your little one!

---