Hydration
Dehydration worsens almost any sickness, including croup. In some cases, soothing beverages such as warm milk will help your child feel better. You can also give your child jello, sips of water, and popsicles to keep your child hydrated. If your child cries without tearing up or doesn’t have wet diapers, this means they’ll need more fluids. You can contact your pediatrician if you cannot get fluid for them to drink. It is important to note that adults with croup need to stay hydrated too. You can sip fluids frequently to help stay hydrated.
Over-the-counter fever reducers
If your child’s croup symptoms are accompanied by a fever or sore throat [1], you can give them over-the-counter drugs to reduce the fever. Children older than 6 months can take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Ensure you follow all the instructions for dosage. Children younger than 6 months should only use acetaminophen [2]. You can call your child’s pediatrician for a dosage based on the drug’s concentration and your child’s weight.
Carom seeds
You can boil water along with carom seeds (ajwain) and tulsi leaves to help manage the symptoms of croup. Studies show that carom seed also helps reduce chest congestion.