C-omfort
The first thing I do when one of the kids is sick is to comfort them. This may mean holding them or just finding a quiet place on the couch that they can rest and still be close to you. the key is to keep them near to you.
O-il in the ears
If they are old enough to talk, I ask them if their ears hurt. If so, or if I suspect it, I put a drop of oil in their ears. You can use warm (cold-pressed) olive oil – plain or with garlic oil or tea tree oil.
L-ight the stove
I make haste to start a good soup and a tea. I prefer chicken soup, but the most important ingredients are: a rich stock made from bones, sea salt, easy to digest vegetables such as carrots, celery and potatoes, and LOTS of onion and garlic. (I often use the Vita-Mix for the latter so that they don’t see the onions!) For a tea, I have a bag of pre-made herbs. It includes: red raspberry leaves, chamomile, elderberries, astragalus, echinacea, and rose-hips. I sweeten it with either raw honey or stevia then add 1/3 orange juice to 2/3 tea. This is all that they drink until I know they are better! This will often chase the cold away before it gets ugly.
D-ecide which remedy to give
I also use Homeopathic remedies. “ABC” is good to remember for kids. Aconite for sudden onset of colds/fevers, Belladonna for fevers with pain, and Chamomile when they are fussy. (although, chamomile is in the tea too.)
S-tay at home
I try to never take a sick child out of the house. I trust the comfort, oil, soup and tea and remedies will “nurse” them back to health within a day or two.