The 3 Best Cold & Flu Tips I Could Give You: If I Wasn’t Scared To Hurt Your Feelings

I’m just gonna say it straight, no sugarcoating, no fluff.

1.  Stop suppressing symptoms.

Support the body instead. For the love of the Lord, please stop throwing cough suppressants, decongestants, melatonin and Miralax at every single symptom the second it shows up. (Yes, even you, my medical fams… I’m saying this with the gentlest heart, because you deserve root-cause healing more than anyone.)

That cough, the congestion, the fever, the snot river? that’s not the enemy. That’s your child’s body doing its job.

Sleep becoming an issue ? Maybe supplementing with sleep hormones for children isn’t the first line of defense… - Did you know melatonin was a hormone?

Snoring kid? Maybe the answer isn’t automatically “let’s just cut the tonsils out.” It’s actually insane to me that we look at massive inflammation, shrug, and say, “Welp, guess we’ll just remove the swollen tissue and call it fixed.”

Lingering symptoms aren’t a sign you need stronger meds…Or surgery. They’re a neon sign that says, “Something deeper is off…keep digging!!.”

(You may have realized by now this isn’t exactly specific to Cold & Flu… haha)

2.  Prioritize clean, natural swaps.

(Especially for our fragile babes). Those “inactive ingredients” listed on Children’s Tylenol and Motrin? They’re not inactive at all. Red Dye 40 is literally linked to hyperactivity, behavioral issues, and neuroinflammation… Yet it’s sitting in medicine we give for pain and fever. Artificial flavors, preservatives, and propylene glycol don’t fight viruses… but many of them do cross the blood-brain barrier. Why are we still okay handing that to our kids like it’s nothing?

There are clean versions of meds now. There are herbs, homeopathy, muscle testing, photobiomodulation (lol.. you’re probably like uh what?? - This is a therapy type also known as Low Level Laser Therapy, Ive seen a ton of neat things this therapy can do for all types of people!), all the “wild” things people side-eye. You don’t have to do them all (please don’t), but pretending the only options are cherry or grape-flavored petroleum syrup or nothing… that’s a lie we’ve been sold.

Talk to the moms and dads who’ve gone before you. Their 2 a.m. survival stories are worth far more than any textbook or double-blind study when your kid is screaming and you’re desperate.

3.  Build the foundation early… and never stop.

Sunlight on bare skin. Real food. Quality nutrients/minerals. Clean water. Low-toxin everything (not 24/7 - just realistically). Gut health like it’s your full-time job. And the one nobody talks about enough: real human connection. Put the screens down. Touch your people. Look them in the eyes. Be bored together. Sit in the quiet together.

I come back to these basics every single time someone in my house is sick, and half the time that’s literally all we need.

You can still hit Chick-fil-A and demolish a Costco pizza (Lord knows I do). This isn’t about perfection or shame. It’s about building a foundation so strong that illnesses or viruses don’t stand a chance.

Balance is real. Grace is real. And at the end of the day, this is YOUR family. You get to decide what is best - not the systems, not the schools, not even the loudest voices or influencers on your timeline. You.

You’ve got this.

Now go be dangerously healthy.

🫶 Katelyn

P.S. Just a quick note for my medical people:

I’m fully aware that some conventional treatments are completely unavoidable (and lifesaving) for many families. Every case is different, and complex pediatric diagnoses are one of the biggest gray areas in medicine. Everything I share comes from my current experience as a Pediatric Home Health RN, education (BSN), and genuinely good intentions. Hope the context helps! ❤️

Disclaimer: This post is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here. If you suspect a medical emergency, contact your doctor or dial emergency services immediately.