If you’re a parent, you’ll likely agree that seeing your children unwell is a distressing experience, even if it’s just a common cold.
While there are numerous medicines available to alleviate symptoms, sometimes people swear by more traditional remedies. A woman named Madina, known online as the ‘Mum hack guru’, took to TikTok to share her top five tips which she adheres to whenever her children feel under the weather.
The first thing she was seen doing was freezing a large bowl of water until solid. She then places this in her child’s bedroom to cool the air, which might help the child in breathing more comfortably.
Madina was then seen applying a thin layer of iodine solution to the underside of her child’s foot. Topical iodine is used to prevent and treat infections that may occur in minor scrapes and cuts. It works by killing bacteria that can cause infections.
However, there is no evidence that applying it to the bottom of someone’s foot will allow it to be effectively absorbed into the body. She then reached for baby-safe vapour rub, but instead of using it on her son, she put a dollop of it into a candle and spread it out before lighting the candle.
The final thing Madina did was take a sock and fill it with rice to create a homemade heating pad which she microwaved to warm it up before placing it in the crib with her baby. Despite the video garnering thousands of views, several viewers were critical of Madina’s actions.
One person warned: “The candle is super unsafe. Put the Vic in a humidifier,” to which another cautioned: “Don’t put it on either! It doesn’t break down like you think and clogs the humidifiers filter,” suggesting the use of a wax melt burner instead. An additional tip was shared by someone else: “The rice does work as a heating pad of sorts; we use them all the time. However… DO NOT USE MINUTE/INSTANT RICE. It will burn and/or catch fire pretty much the first time you microwave it.”
Another voice added: “Maybe some medicine? Or a doctor.”
It’s important to remember that there is no scientific evidence confirming the efficacy of these home remedies, and professional medical advice should be sought if your child is ill.