Croup. It’s a serious condition which can close off bubs airways and make it difficult to breathe. If you are concerned about your child’s breathing, then please, take them to your closest emergency department or call your GP.
For management of ongoing issues, you can try these remedies at home:
Brew a tea made of equal parts marshmallow root, mullein, elder, and licorice, and give your child a cup of tea, twice daily, for as long as symptoms are present.
If I could choose just one tea- I would pick elder!! It is my fave for children’s respiratory issues- works to clear ear aches, asthma, sinus, colds, fevers, and flus. It has such a pleasant taste that kids actually enjoy drinking it. Give it to them warm or cold (but warm is best while they are sick).
Be on alert for croup after sinus, sip warm tea as a precaution!!
Some kids get really scared when they have an acute attack of croup. The key is for us parents is to stay calm and keep our kids calm, while taking action..Giving rescue remedy for fear and anxiety may just take the edge of while you are implementing your treatment plan.
Cold air or warm air?? Well, it depends on your child.. as both may help.. Cold air often relieves croup. If it is a cool night, bundle up your child well and take for a short drive with the car windows open. Cool air decreases inflammation and swelling, opening the respiratory tract so that air moves in and out more easily. Although, you may find cold air makes the symptoms worse, so do what works for your child.As warm wet air also relieves croup. Let the steam from a hot shower fill your bathroom, and sit with your child and encourage them to breathe slowly and deeply. Or use a humidifier in room…
Be mindful of mould growth if using a humidifier- wipe any moisture off furniture and walls frequently, open the windows during the day, and wipe clove oil over surfaces to prevent mould growth.
Encourage your child to stay calm, and drink lots of fluids, especially warm teas. Even add camomile in the tea blend for its calming properties.
A beautiful thing to look into if your child is prone to croup is guided breathing or meditation. Practice being calm together on days that they are feeling good, so if an attack comes and you really need them to settle down, you know what to say, it will trigger feelings of calm with bub.
And I would love it if this didn’t have to be mentioned, but unfortunately it does. DON’T SMOKE AROUND YOUR KIDS!! This study shows that recurrent croup is a risk factor for childhood asthma, whilst this one shows that if you smoke around your bub, they will have a higher rate of respiratory illnesses. A friend was told by a specialist not to let people who had smoked even touch her baby as it would increase the risk of croup developing into asthma. So just putting that ciggie behind your back whilst pushing the pram or having it outside the car while it goes directly into the lungs of your kids will not cut it. Get help here!!
Boosting your child’s immune response may assist, so think vitamin C rich foods, lots of colourful fruits and veggies, zinc, probiotics or fermented foods, and herbs like echinacea.
One more thing…poor old puddy cat will also intensify croup symptoms. So kick puss puss out..