Gargling with salt water can make a sore throat more bearable (and your sick kiddo might find it fun). Mix 1/2 tsp of salt into a glass of warm water, and remind your child to spit!

Ice cream, popsicles, pudding and Jell-O go down a sore throat easily – and can make your little patient feel like being sick isn’t so bad. If your child is old enough, hard candies and throat lozenges help coat the throat too (but never give these to a young child, especially under age three, since they’re a choking hazard). Keep your child away from cigarette smoke, which can further irritate the throat, and use a humidifier.