We all know how bad we feel when we have a bout of the common cold. Our nose is plugged, we have itchy watery eyes and our head feels enormous, and all we want to do is breathe. Now imagine not being able to blow your nose or breathe effectively through your mouth. This is what infants and toddlers face.

Watching a child under the age of three can be excruciating when they have a cold. They're sick, tired and irritable, and I don't blame them. Often before age 3, they are still unable to blow their noses; hence, they have constant nasal drip and caregivers run behind them with tissues.

CAUTION REGARDING COLD REMEDIES AND CHILDREN

Over the counter medications, cough syrups and cold remedies have been available for decades. In December of 2007, however, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to parents, caregivers, and physicians to use caution in children under the age of 5, and a warning that cough syrups should not be used in a child under the age of two. As this is a new development, at this time it is just a caution until further information becomes available. Nevertheless, the FDA was concerned that there had been quite a few adverse reactions and health problems linked to over the counter cold medications for children.

After the warning was issued, there was much commentary and discussion among doctors and the media. It seems that there hasn't been much research done that suggests that these medications even work to lessen the symptoms of a cold or shorten its duration. Since we aren't even sure they work anyway, it may be wise to look for a non-drug way to relieve nasal congestion in young children and even yourself.

NATURAL WAYS TO RELIEVE NASAL CONGESTION

1. Nasal Aspirators. Most parents have one already, and if not this is the place to start. A nasal aspirator is simply a bulb with a tip on the end that you can insert into a baby's nose and suck out the mucous.

2. Room humidifiers or vaporizers. Extra humidity can help to relieve congestion but remember to clean them regularly and not leave water sitting in them when not in use. Room vaporizers can be a great breeding ground for bacteria and mold if water is left sitting and filters are not cleaned after each use. This means the next time you use it, you could be putting bacteria back into the room making things worse instead of better.

3. Diffusing Eucalyptus oil in a burner. Eucalyptus is simply a plant that is often associated with the smell

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