7 Easy to Make Homemade Cough Syrup for Kids

A cough is one of the most common ailments that affects children. A cough can make kids very uncomfortable and cranky, and it can be daunting for parents to see their kids in discomfort. Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medications account for most medication exposures in children, which many parents are skeptical about. Therefore, you may want to try homemade cough syrups for curing cough in children. Homemade cough syrups are not only safe for your kid, but they are also very easy to make. In this article, we’ll discuss various homemade cough syrup recipes that you can easily make at home to cure a cough in children.

DIY Homemade Cough Syrups for Children

You may try any of the homemade cough syrup recipes from the following:

Honey and Lemon Cough Syrup

The combination of honey and lemon is highly effective in helping ward off coughs in children. The Mayo Clinic recommends warm lemon water mixed with honey as a soothing concoction for a sore throat (1). Honey is packed with potent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which help reduce cough and help children sleep better (2). Besides a powerful anitmicrobial, it is also a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium Research has shown that honey is more effective than store-bought cough syrups in reducing the severity of nighttime coughing. Lemon, on the other hand, is a rich source of vitamin C. The ample amount of vitamin C in lemon helps keep the immune system healthy. Both ingredients in this cough syrup are highly effective in providing relief from cough symptoms.

Note: Any concoction containing honey should not be given to children below one year of age, as it poses a risk of infant botulism, which is a life-threatening infection for younger babies below 1 year of age (3).

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Ingredients

• ¼ cup honey
• 1 and ½ tablespoon lemon juice
• 2-3 tablespoons warm water

How to Make It

1. Keep the ingredients at room temperature (except water).
2. Mix honey and lemon juice in a glass.
3. Add warm water to the mixture to get the desired syrup-like consistency.
4. Store the contents in a sterilised glass jar.
5. You can administer one tablespoon of this homemade cough medicine to your kid three to four times a day as soon as you register the symptoms of a cold.

Milk and Honey

Milk and honey, when combined, work as an effective remedy to soothe a cough in children. The soothing properties of honey and the nourishing properties of milk work well in curing coughs in kids. This syrup will not only provide relief from a cough but will also help ease a runny nose. Both of these ingredients are readily available at home, and you can prepare this homemade cough suppressant for children as soon as you notice the first sign of a cough.

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1/8 spoon or a pinch of turmeric powder (optional)

How to Make It

1. Take milk in a heavy-bottomed pan and bring it to a boil.
2. After it boils, take the pan off the flame.
3. Once the milk gets warm, add honey and turmeric powder to the milk and mix well.
4. You can give it to your child as an effective cough remedy at any time during the day.

Anise Seeds and Honey Syrup

Anise seeds are well known for their healing properties. It is used in traditional therapies to treat upper respiratory tract infections, such as asthma and bronchitis, and is also beneficial in alleviating coughs in children (4). Anise seeds and honey are highly effective in treating symptoms of cough and cold in children.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon anise seeds
• 2 cups of honey
• 1 and a half cups of water

How to Make It?

1. Take anise seeds and crush them.
2. Boil water in a pan.
3. Once it starts boiling, add the crushed anise seeds to the water and boil it till it is reduced to one cup.
4. Turn off the flame and add honey to the mixture.
5. Once the mixture cools down, store it in a sterilised glass container.
6. Give your child one tablespoon of this concoction three to four times a day.

Honey and Ginger Cough Syrup

Ginger is not only anti-inflammatory but also possesses medicinal properties, including anti-nausea, antioxidant, and anticancer agents (5). Honey is loaded with anti-bacterial properties. Together, these two ingredients work wonders in fighting coughs in children. These readily available household ingredients can be used to make cough syrup for children. A 2022 study published in the International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology found that the group given a honey and ginger mixture performed better than the group given cough syrup, concluding that a mixture of honey and ginger is a promising treatment for productive coughs with fewer side effects (6).

Ingredients

• 1 cup honey
• ¼ cup ginger juliennes; alternatively, you can take ½ cup grated ginger.
• ½ fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup water

How to Make It?

1. Take a heavy-bottomed saucepan and add water, lemon juice, and ginger to it.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 5-6 minutes.
3. Take the mixture off the flame and let it cool.
4. Once the mixture cools down, strain it.
5. Add honey to the mixture and mix until well combined.
6. Store the contents in a glass jar in the refrigerator.
7. You may give your child ½ to one tablespoon of this cough syrup three to four times a day.

Mint and Ginger Cough Syrup

This is an excellent homemade cough syrup for infants sans the honey. Honey should not be administered to babies who are less than one year of age; rather, it is one of the forbidden foods for infants. This cough syrup contains mint, which is known to be loaded with methanol and also possesses antibacterial properties.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped or grated ginger
• 4 cups water

How to Make It?

1. Take water in a pan.
2. Add ginger and mint leaves to the water.
3. Boil the water and then let it simmer over the flame for five to six minutes.
4. Once the water has reduced, remove it from the flame.
5. Strain the water and refrigerate the contents.
6. Bring the syrup to room temperature before giving it to your baby.
7. You may give your baby one teaspoon of this syrup two to three times a day.

Onion, Garlic and Honey Cough Syrup

The antibacterial properties of ginger and the antimicrobial properties of garlic can be combined to make a natural cough syrup for kids.

Ingredients

• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 onion
• ½ cup honey
• A pinch each of oregano, thyme, and sage
• ½ cup water

How to Make It?

1. Take water and honey and mix well.
2. Crush the garlic clove and chop the onion.
3. Add onion and garlic to the honey mixture.
4. Add thyme, sage and oregano to the mixture.
5. Stir all the ingredients well and cover them.
6. Let the mixture sit overnight.
7. Strain the contents and refrigerate them.
8. You may give one teaspoon of this syrup to your kid at the onset of a cough.

Cinnamon and Honey Cough Syrup

Cinnamon and honey are soothing ingredients that are helpful in taking care of a sore throat. Try this recipe for a medium-dry to medium-wet cough.

Ingredients

• 1-2 tablespoons of honey
• 1-2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
• Warm water (optional)

How to Make It?

1. Mix the honey, cinnamon powder, and freshly squeezed lemon juice well in a clean container.
2. Let the mixture sit overnight for the essence of the ingredients to infuse together.
3. If your child finds the mixture too strong or thick, you can dilute it with a small amount of warm water to make it more palatable.
4. Store the mixture in a sterilised, air-tight container.
5. Offer this mixture to your child, giving them a small spoonful every few hours as needed for cough relief. Do not exceed the recommended dosage. If the cough persists, seek medical attention.

Disclaimer: The recipes that include honey are only recommended for children above the age of 1, considering the threat of honey for young babies under the age of 1. Make sure not to give honey to children under 1 year old due to the risk of botulism (7). For children above the age of 1, honey is safe to administer. However, we recommend checking for an allergy to honey first before introducing honey-related recipes to your child.

Other Ways to Alleviate Cough in Kids

Certainly, there are several ways to alleviate cough in kids apart from cough syrup and medication. Here are 5-6 effective ways to alleviate cough in children:

• Hydration: Ensure your child drinks plenty of fluids, including water and warm soups. Hydration is very important in the process of soothing the throat and thinning mucus to make it easier to cough up (8).
• Humidifier or Steam: Use a cool-mist humidifier in your child’s room during dry or cold weather to provide relief from an itchy, sore throat. The added moisture can help loosen mucus and ease coughing (9).
• Honey: For children over the age of 1, a teaspoon of honey before bedtime can be soothing and reduce nighttime coughing better than many cough syrups (10). Do not give honey to children under 1 year old due to the risk of botulism.
• Warm Saltwater Gargle: Gargling is an excellent addition to treatment practices for cough. It eliminates bacteria, helps reduce throat irritation, and eases coughing. For older children, you can have them gargle with warm saltwater.
• Elevate Head While Sleeping: If your child has a cough, elevate their head with an extra pillow under the head of the mattress. This can prevent postnasal drip from irritating the throat.
• Avoid Irritants: Keep your child away from pollution, tobacco smoke, and other environmental irritants that can worsen coughing. Ensure the air quality in your home is clean and healthy. For example, keep air-purifying plants in your home. This will also give your home an aesthetic look.
• Steamy Shower: A steamy shower can work wonders in decongesting the chest and provide relief from coughing (11).

Remember that if your child’s cough persists, worsens, or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

All the above-mentioned homemade cough syrups are very effective in treating cough in kids. However, if you notice your kid’s condition not improving or deteriorating further, you should seek immediate medical help. Sometimes children may be allergic to certain ingredients. Therefore, it is recommended to consult your doctor before administering any homemade cough syrup to your child.

Infographic – 7 Easy to Make Homemade Cough Syrup for Kids

Image Credit : AI Generated Image

Also Read:

Home Remedies for Cough in Children
Best Home Remedies for Fever in Kids
Effective Cough Remedies for Kids at Night

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Sources References

1. Mayo Clinic – Symptoms Cough Expert Answers

2. PubMed Central – Honey for treatment of cough in children

3. Nemours KidsHealth – Infant Botulism

4. ScienceDirect – Aniseed (Pimpinella anisum L.) essential oil reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulates mucus secretion in primary airway bronchial and tracheal epithelial cell lines

5. NIH – Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition.

6. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology – Effect of honey and ginger mixture on productive cough in pediatrics patients

7. PubMed Central – Infant botulism following honey ingestion

8. The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne – Cough

9. Children’s Health – Home remedies for cough in kids

10. Seattle Children’s – Coughs: Meds or Home Remedies?

11. CHOC – Calming Your Child’s Cough