How do you shorten the lives of colds? (child ment)

[donnap72]

DD (who usually ends up with an ear infection after a lingering cold) & DH both have problems with colds hanging out longer than they should. I push vitamin C & chicken noodle soup, lots of hand washing & anti-bac surface wiping but their colds are hybrid or something --nothing works. DD just got another one this weekend (she's 2). How do you make your colds shorter?
Thanks!
D.

[Scarlett]

Zicam?

I've never tried it, but I've heard that Zicam works. My DH takes mega doses of Vit C when he feels sick, I'll have to ask him how much. How much do you take?

[Dancer]

I'm having a lot of luck with Airborn. I take it at the VERY first sign of a cold (and buy it when DD gets sick). I then take it every 3 hours until I've taken all the tabs (8 in total). At Christmas, I really never got the cold and of this morning, I'm not too far gone. I might not get this one either.

As for the kids, I don't do much other than make them as comfortable as I can - lots of vapor baths and tylenol. Colds here are almost always 7-10 days.

Good luck!

Julia

[kelley21]

Have had good luck with Airborne, too. Good luck nt

n

[kd1]

I've found that Zicam works well.

You really have to use it at the first sign of a cold, which I don't always remember to do. Other than that, pushing fluids and Vit C help a little.

[ans]

I've just knocked a cold (I hope!) with Zicam. But you

[have to start it as soon as you feel cold-ly. And follow the direcxtions well. It will often, for me, stop the cold in its tracks!
Ansley

[goodleg]

Try ColdEaze or some other kind of zinc (m)

I would check with your dr. about how much to give to kids.

[nmcd]

Think zinc

I would check with your dr. about how much to give to kids.

This ia a good idea. As far as I know, zinc is only thing that's been clincally proven to shorten the life of a cold. I tried it last time we were sick and it did seem to help. Sadly we have lots of opportunities for experimentation.

[fatcat]

I now LOVE Zicam!

I've been using it often. Maybe it's jsut coincidence, but my last two colds were extremely mild and I was usign the Zicam the second I thought I felt a bit of a cold coming. I also have TONS of the ColdEze (and the CVS generics) cough drops. I suck on those constantly too.

I'm a convert. I will always have Zicam in the cabinet now.

DH has been trying that Airborne stuff, and I don't think it's doing much for him. I was told it is jsut Vitamin C, which you can take as an extra vitamin every day for cheaper.

[donnap72]

Thanks, ya'll! I've never used Zicam...

But will get some to have on hand. DH hates lozenges but I'm tired of sick people! Sure as anything, he'll get this one DD has. I'm still have a pretty healthy immune system - all those years of teaching I suppose - so I don't get their colds too often. DD is pretty healthy herself except she does get several colds a year that don't break up easily.

So I found some vitamin C & zinc lollipops for her (Runny Rhino Cold Relief Pops) & I'm trying those today on top of everything else I normally do. If I can keep DH away from her & make this one a short one, maybe I won't have to take care of his whiney tail this weekend!

Thanks for all the replies!
~D.

[peaches68]

Alternative medicine?

Try E-mergen-C or Airborne. I give these to my kids when I suspect a cold.

Good luck! I would forget the anti-bacterial soap, though. It takes away good bacterial as well as the bad.

Good luck!

Oh! I also make my kids drink lots of WATER when they cough. It works!

Cynthia

[Nae3]

Zinc always works for me!! nt

Janae

[Christine S]

Zicam works well for me....

And I generally get knocked pretty hard with each cold. But you do have to take it ASAP.

C

[ReneeNJ]

Zicam and Vitamin C (always, not just at cold)...

My 4 yr old is the cold queen. We use the Zicam nasal swabs (don't have to buy the kids version which is more expensive!). It is zinc based and safe for kids 3 and up I believe. You might want to check w/ your ped. Eliza doesn't mind the swabs at all.

When we are religious about the Zicam, her colds are much shorter. I also always load Vitamin C. I am immunosuppressed so I try to avoid colds at all costs. The Vitamin C I swear has saved me from a lot of colds and that is w/ two kids in daycare/school.

Good luck (and I hope you can avoid the colds!)

Renee
(who is still mastering threading her posts appropriately!)