A Parent’s Guide – What You Can Give Your Child for a Sore Throat

Having a sore throat is miserable, especially for a kid, and can really throw off a family’s everyday life.  So, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you help your kids when a sore throat hits.

It can be hard to find child-friendly pain relief, and you’ll want solutions that act quickly to help get your child and your family back to normal. As the #1 pediatrician-recommended sore throat spray brand, we know how to do that and list some easy options for you to consider here.

How to help a child with a sore throat

Kids can get sore throats from colds, flu, strep throat and sometimes even from dust or allergies. Luckily, depending on the age of your child, you have a range of options for helping them manage the pain. There are a number of kid-friendly medicines you can use, as well as some tried and true tips that can help them get better at home.

It’s important to note that if your child’s pain is severe or they’re suffering from other symptoms such as a headache, fever, nausea, or vomiting, you will want to seek help from their doctor or pediatrician first.

Sore throat medicine for kids

Sore throat relief treatments such as throat sprays, lozenges, and cough drops get right to the source of the pain and are often highly effective and get to work quickly. If your child’s throat is so sore they are having trouble swallowing liquids, you can try numbing the pain first with a kid-friendly spray or lozenge to help them stay hydrated.

While some sore throat medicines are safe for children, others are not made for younger children. Always check labels and packaging carefully and be sure to follow the directions.

Sore throat sprays                                                                                                                                                                          

Throat sprays are one of the best ways to quickly soothe a sore throat. Spray, let sit for 15 seconds, then spit. The area you apply the spray to immediately numbs, which can help make it easier to swallow liquids and soft foods. Keep in mind, while the throat spray numbs the throat, it does not take away the inflammation, so more solid or hard foods may bring back the pain more quickly. In light of our warning above about checking to see if sore throat medicines are suitable for kids, be assured that Chloraseptic sore throat sprays are currently the only kind that are safe for children as young as three years old.

Understandably children can be a little wary of or uncomfortable having medicine applied directly to the throat, but you may find that Chloraseptic’s fruit and honey flavors sweeten the deal!

If you choose to use a kid-friendly throat spray, make sure to follow the directions and always supervise your child while they use it if they are under 12. They do need to be able to spit it out once it sits for 15 seconds.

Kid-safe throat drops and lozenges

For slightly older children, throat drops may be soothing for a sore throat. Better yet, throat lozenges are specifically designed to relieve the pain and discomfort and often come in fruit flavors, with or without sugar.

Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to find throat drops or lozenges for kids. For very young children (those under six) lozenges and throat drops can be a choking hazard. But if your kids are aged six or above, you can give them Chloraseptic throat lozenges safely, as long as you supervise them and know your child can suck on the lozenge until it becomes small enough to swallow.

As with all medicine, be sure to keep them out of reach of young children.

Kid-friendly painkillers

Under the direction of your child’s pediatrician, both ibuprofen and acetaminophen are typically safe to give to children and babies over six months old, so long as you carefully follow the directions for their age group and never go above the recommended dosage. For young children, it’s best to give pain relievers in liquid suspension form and you can get chewable tablets for kids under 10, helping reduce the risk of choking.

Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are highly effective for relieving mild to moderate pain, but some people find them more useful for aching pain than the raw sensation and irritation associated with a sore throat.

Always check with your pediatrician before giving your child any kind of pain reliever, especially if they have other health conditions. You should never give acetaminophen to babies under three months old and never give ibuprofen to infants under six months.

Other ways you can help a child with a sore throat

Make sure they stay hydrated

Getting plenty of fluids can make a big difference in shaking off a sore throat and to help prevent the pain from getting even worse. You know your child best, and any hydration is better than none, so go for fluids they enjoy (or are at least willing to drink).

If your child is struggling to swallow liquid due to the pain in their throat, it can help to numb the area with a throat spray first. You can even choose a flavor that matches the drink you want to give them.

Have them gargle with salt water

For kids aged eight or over, a salt rinse is a great and easy way to soothe a sore throat. It’s a classic home remedy that is both cheap and effective—you just need warm water and a half teaspoon of salt. Mix, gargle, spit, repeat.

Just remember, children under eight shouldn’t try this and, for kids who are old enough, stick around and supervise to make sure they spit out the salt water when they’re done.

Encourage rest

For some kids, encouraging rest is much easier said than done, even when they’re not feeling well, but it’s key for healing. If they’re not able to nap, help them at least stay calm and quiet, with gentle activities like story time or cartoons and movies.

We hope these tips help your child feel better and help your family quickly resume the activities you enjoy!