If you have a toddler child, you should expect him or her to get approximately 8 to 10 colds each year. When a toddler has a cold, he or she can get crabby and irritable, and there is not a lot you can do as a parent to ease these symptoms in terms of medicine. Colds must run their courses, but there are some natural ways you could use that may ease the symptoms a little bit.

Run a Humidifier

Colds are much more common in the winter months when the air is cold and dry. Cold, dry air tends to irritate nasal passages and sinus cavities, and that is why you will want to make sure your home is warm and moist. The easiest way to do this is by running a humidifier. By adding moisture to your air, it can help loosen up the mucus in your child's nasal cavity. The moist air will also be less likely to irritate your child's nose, which means your toddler might find some relief from the cold symptoms.

Give the Child a Spoonful of Honey

If your toddler is coughing, there are not a lot of good options in medicine that are safe for kids this age. Because of this, you could try something natural to help your child stop coughing, and one great option is honey. Honey is sweet, so most kids are not opposed to eating it, and it can be an effective way to reduce coughing in toddlers and with adults too. You can give a child two teaspoons of honey before bedtime, but you should not give honey to kids under the age of one.

Use Saline

You can purchase bottles of saline at any pharmacy, and you can find these bottles in the infant and toddler section. Saline is something you can spray into your child's nostrils, and the point of this is to loosen the trapped mucus. This can help the child eliminate some of the mucus that is in his or her nose, and it may help your child breathe a little easier. After using saline, you may want to use a baby syringe to suck the mucus out of the child's nose, but this is only necessary if your child cannot blow his or her nose.

These are some of the best natural remedies you can try to help your toddler find some relief from a cold. If your child is running a fever or has any symptoms that concern you, contact a pediatrician today.