A persistent cough can make life miserable for both children and parents. Whether caused by a cold, flu, allergies, or dry air, there are effective natural remedies that can soothe a child’s cough and help speed recovery.
Below you'll find trusted home remedies from parents and holistic health experts, including garlic salve, vinegar tea, stinging nettle, and essential oils. These remedies can ease coughing, support the immune system, and improve sleep—naturally and safely.
Coughs often accompany cold or flu viruses. Supporting your child’s immune system while soothing the throat can bring noticeable relief. Here's what we do in our home:
Nighttime coughing is especially disruptive. These gentle remedies can help your child sleep peacefully:
Place a cotton ball with one drop of eucalyptus essential oil near your child’s pillow. The aroma can ease breathing and reduce coughing.
Chop a raw onion and place it in a bowl near the bed. The strong vapors can quickly ease coughing and often allow your child to sleep through the night.
Chronic coughs and throat clearing can sometimes be triggered by food sensitivities. One of our children had a “nervous-sounding” cough that turned out to be a food allergy. After removing certain foods, the cough disappeared. A year later, he was able to reintroduce them without problems.
Stinging nettle is a traditional herbal remedy that supports respiratory health and reduces inflammation. Taken regularly, it may ease coughing caused by allergies or asthma. One of our children took nettle daily for a year and saw significant asthma relief.
Dry indoor air can irritate the throat and trigger coughing. A cool mist humidifier helps moisten airways and reduce nighttime coughing.
Suppressing a cough with medication isn’t always a good idea. A cough helps expel irritants and infection. Overuse of cough suppressants may worsen symptoms or lead to complications like pneumonia. Natural remedies can often soothe the cough without suppressing this important immune response.
Garlic is a powerful natural antimicrobial and immune booster. Garlic oil or garlic salve applied to the chest or feet can help calm coughs and fight infection.
Tip: Use old clothes or a towel during application—the oil may stain and has a strong aroma!
If you need a faster remedy, make this garlic salve in just minutes:
Blend ingredients until smooth, then strain to remove garlic solids. Massage onto chest or back, or apply to the soles of the feet every few hours. Store in the fridge and use within a few days.
Recipe credit: Rachel Weaver, Be Your Own Doctor
Garlic’s natural compounds help fight infection and calm inflammation. Repeated applications every 2–3 hours can dramatically reduce coughing and shorten illness duration.
Whether your child’s cough is from a cold, allergies, or dry air, natural remedies like garlic oil, apple cider vinegar tea, nettles, essential oils, and humidifiers can make a big difference. These home treatments not only ease symptoms but also support the body’s healing process.
Have you found a natural remedy that helped your child’s cough? Contact us here to share your story, and keep reading below for helpful tips from other Earth Clinic readers.
