How to Prevent the Flu in Babies Naturally
The flu viruses, influenza A and B, can be easily spread from person to person by air or droplet. Understandably, the ease with which the flu is spread can cause parents to grow concerned over their baby's health, especially during flu season. With the flu, a baby generally experiences the same symptoms adults do; chills, dry cough and headache at first, followed soon by aches all over the body and a high fever. The best treatment for the flu is prevention, and there are many ways to naturally prevent the flu in babies.
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Things You'll Need
- Whole, unprocessed foods with vitamin C
- Zinc
- Elderberry syrup
- Rosemary oil
- Tea tree oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- Thyme oil
- A carrier oil (grapeseed, sunflower, olive or sweet almond)
- Chamomile
Instructions
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1
Make sure your baby receives plenty of sleep at night. Sleep allows hormones like cortisol and melatonin to provide your baby with a strong and balanced immune system that can stop a pathogen in its tracks.
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2
Feed your baby unprocessed, whole foods, making sure to limit her sugar intake as well. Foods rich in vitamin C are also a surefire way of keeping the flu at bay.
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3
Give your baby five to 10 mg of zinc and a prescribed dose of elderberry syrup. These are both proven, natural ways of staving off viruses. Ask your pharmacist or pediatrician for the correct dose of elderberry syrup for your baby.
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4
Combine 35 drops of rosemary oil, 25 drops of tea tree oil, 25 drops of eucalyptus oil and 15 drops of thyme oil to make a blend (developed by Anne Thomas for HealthAndGoodness.com) for many preventative uses. You can place one drop of the mixture on your baby's pillow or add a drop into a bowl or sink of hot water, allowing your baby to breathe in the steam through his nose.
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You can also make a massage oil that combines the oils mentioned in step 4 with one drop of a carrier oil for every 10 mL of the blend. Massage this new combination into your baby's body, concentrating on the feet, as they can absorb the oils and enhance the immune system.
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Have your baby take a chamomile bath by adding a cupful of chamomile tea to her bath water to calm your baby and relieve tension.
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Tips & Warnings
Talk to your baby's doctor about other natural ways to prevent flu, and get his advice on the preventative measures discussed in this article before attempting them.
If you suspect your baby has the flu, make sure to consult a doctor, especially if he has a fever higher than 100 degrees F.
