Colds are a fact of life. Remember that it is totally normal for children up to the age of 7 to have at least 6-8 colds a year. Also, the vast majority of colds are caused by viruses; thus antibiotics (used to treat bacterial infections) are rarely useful except when there is a complication such as an ear infection, pneumonia, or sinusitis.

Thus treatment for colds is largely supportive and includes:

1. Increase the amount of clear liquids in the diet.
2. Clear the nasal passages with a bulb syringe as needed.
3. Thinning the mucus secretions in the nasal passages with saltwater (saline) nose drops. You can make this in your home by taking 12 teaspoons of table salt, adding to it 1 cup of water, bringing this to a boil and then letting it cool to skin temperature. Then place 1-2 drops
   of this cooled solution into each nostril and later suck it out with the bulb syringe.
4. Consider using a cool mist humidifier to improve resolution of congestion