The recent voluntary recall of several children’s medications including several types of infant and children’s Tylenol and Motrin struck fear in the hearts of parents across North America. After all, what parent hasn’t, at one time or another, turned to infant Tylenol to help relieve their little ones’ pain, such as that from teething?

While the FDA downplayed the situation and said the chances of any serious side effects were “remote,” more than 40 affected products were involved in the recall, so it’s safe to say parents may be looking for alternative options to provide relief for their children’s aches and pains.

Unfortunately young children are pretty helpless when they’re sick and require extra attention and care (hence the reason even adults claim to want to be “babied” when they’re under the weather). And while drugs may provide temporary relief and seem like the easiest options, these medications are generic and don’t actually target specific symptoms, nor are they particularly helpful when your child has a cold. Instead of reaching for a medicine dropper the next time your little munchkin isn’t well, try a natural solution instead.

Drink up
Babies or young children may not be able to tell you if they begin to feel dehydrated. Heck, some adults may not even be able to identify what it feels like. This makes it especially important to ensure your little patient is taking in lots of clear fluids, such as water or juice. If you are breastfeeding, offer additional feedings as needed – you’ll not only be giving them helpful antibodies, but comfort as well.

Wash away teething pain
Teething can begin as early as three months and last up until around the third year. That’s a long span of time, especially since some children find the process more painful than others. To help relieve the pain and discomfort, place a wet washcloth in the freezer for 30 minutes and allow your baby to gum away on it.

Clogged noses suck
Unfortunately, blowing the nose is an art and one which most kids can’t pick up until they’re around two years of age. However any parent who’s ever had a sick baby with a clogged nose can attest to how miserable experience it is for both parent and child. Try using a nasal aspirator to clear those passageways. HydraSense makes a phenomenal one that provides a mouthpiece so an adult can suck the gunk out – don’t worry, it’s a lot less disgusting than it sounds, and completely sanitary!

You can also make your own saline nose drops by adding a half-teaspoon of salt to one cup of boiled, cooled water. Administer a few drops to each nostril before using the aspirator to loosen the mucus.

Say goodbye to dry
Nasal passages may also become extremely dry when a baby (or any human for that matter) is congested. A humidifier will release moisture into the air and can help thin the mucous in the nose to make breathing easier.

It is recommended that parents with small children use a cool mist humidifier, since the warm mist variety release hot water and steam and can cause burns or pose a burn hazard. If you do choose a cool-mist model, be sure to take proper care and clean it to avoid the gathering of bacteria and mold.

Head to bed
The amount of sleep required among children will vary greatly, however babies under six months will usually sleep a whopping 16 to 20 hours per day. By the time they reach the toddler years, those hours are reduced to 10 to 13 hours, and then 10 to 12 hours each night for preschoolers. It’s especially important for kids to get their required sleep (and more) when ill to help strengthen their immune systems and speed up the recovery process. Unfortunately when a stuffy nose makes breathing difficult or a cough continuously wakes up the child who just drifted off, it can make for a very long, restless night.

The aforementioned nasal aspirator and humidifier may help aid some of the discomfort. If baby is having difficulty breathing, you can also prop up their crib mattress so they aren’t laying flat. A pack of diapers, a rolled up town or whatever you have that is sturdy and provides good support will work.

Adequate rest is probably the most natural remedy you can provide to your child, so even if it means curling up and taking a nap with them while you stroke their hair to help them sleep, go for it. Cuddling a sick child is one of the many privileges of being a parent!

» Reuters

No matter how good your intentions to religiously apply sunscreen, inevitably sunburns occasionally occur. Whether it's you experiencing the discomfort of the burn or someone you live with, it can be a painful experience for all those involved (especially if you're the one who has to hear all of the ensuing whining and complaining). Besides sipping ice water and staying well-hydrated, there are natural ways to soothe sunburn and make the healing (and peeling!) process a little less traumatic.

For starters, forget about store-bought aloe vera gels and lotions; get yourself a real aloe vera plant instead for the most effective relief. If it's too time consuming to use the plant for large burned areas (ie, your legs) and the gel is a simpler option, make sure it is pure aloe vera gel with as few additives as possible.

You can also try making your own soothing lotion using one chopped cucumber, a quarter-cup glycerin and a quarter-cup rosewater. Squeeze the juice from the cucumber with a lemon-squeezer and mix well with the glycerin and rosewater. Or try a relaxing bath using two to four cups of colloidal oatmeal (not regular breakfast oatmeal), a half- to full cup baking soda, one to two cups powdered chammomile flowers and (optional) one cup of buttermilk. Add these to running bath water and soak.

And don't forget to apply that sunscreen next time. If you need refresher course on how to properly do so, check out the video tutorial with instructions!

» Chiff.com

In a perfect world you wouldn't have to worry about sunburn. You could go outside without religiously applying lotion to any and all exposed skin and never have cause for concern. However, this isn't a perfect world and few things in the world compare to the discomfort of a sunburn. Anytime you stretch or move the wrong way, you feel it. If a friend claps you on the back - well, let's just say you would probably be forgiven for clocking him or her.

Unfortunately vacations are ripe with the potential for sunburns. If you're in a warm, sunny climate there's a good chance you're probably spending a great deal of time outdoors, whether you're lying on the beach or doing a lot of walking. If you apply sunscreen properly and frequently, especially after going in water, you should be fine. However there's always the chance your sunscreen application may be neglected and even just one time can leave you with a nasty, painful burn.

If you're far from home, you'll want the most convenient option to treat a sunburn. Watch the video below to see a natural way to do so, and even though it's not covered in this tutorial, be sure to travel with aloe vera gel. The general rule of thumb is you hopefully won't need it if you have it, but as soon as you go away without it, you'll be wishing, praying, crying for the cool relief.

» Video Jug

Unlike many of the products in your local pharmacy or salon, baking soda isn't flashy or sexy.  It can usually be found in a plain utilitarian box and most of us only buy it to put in our refrigerators to remove odour.

But did you know that adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo can help remove styling product buildup from your hair?  Or that a mixture of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part liquid soap can wash fish, garlic and onion odour off of your hands?  Baking soda can even be used as a natural under arm deodorant: first apply corn starch with a powder puff and then baking soda!

This is only a few of the amazing uses for this handy product.  Hit the jump to read the full article.  After you read it you'll likely feel compelled to go buy a few more boxes of Arm & Hammer to use around the house.

» How Stuff Works

Like it or not, it's bee season. Those little guys (or in some cases, frightfully large) will be out and about conducting regular bee business like pollinating and making honey and producing wax for beeswax candles. No matter your outdoor activity of choice, you'll inevitably encounter them. With all of the news surrounding massive bee deaths last year, you might feel guilty killing one should it land on you. It would of course be preferable to avoid getting stung altogether, but sometimes it's unavoidable.

Thankfully there's a simple and natural process for removing stingers and treating the pain of stings. The bonus is, if you're on vacation and not close to your hotel or a pharmacy, a local restaurant and your wallet should hopefully have what you need to take care of the problem. Intrigued yet? Watch the video below to see how you can easily and effectively treat a bee sting.

» Video Jug

One of the least favorable aspects of winter is the shorter days. Less sunlight can contribute to a whole host of problems. For one thing, it can contribute to depression. Another side effect is feeling a level of tiredness not experienced during the warmer months when the days are longer and unfortunately the effects of this can filter into other areas of your life such as work performance. After all, it's hard to do your best when you're feeling lethargic.

Fortunately there are natural ways to combat exhaustion and help you perk up throughout your day - and hopefully prevent you from feeling like it's time to go to bed at 6:30 p.m.

Exercise
It probably sounds cliche and completely obvious, but physical activity can help you feel more alert. A study released earlier this year showed that sedentary people can increase their energy levels by 20 per cent and reduce fatigue by 65 per cent with consistent, low-intensity exercise.

Take a walk
Fresh air can act as an instant pick-me-up and have you feeling more alert than any cup of coffee will ever. Instead of staying at your desk or in the lunchroom for your entire break, take a few minutes to head outdoors. Alternatively, use your coffee break to spend a few minutes outside if lunchtime doesn't work for you.

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