Homemade Cough Syrup for Babies
Our son got sick a week or so ago. He feel asleep in my husband’s arms holding an uneaten cracker. I wrote about how hard it is to see your child sick. And, with babies, you feel a bit helpless when what you can give them is very limited.
As he was on the mend, he spent his nap times and night times coughing up a storm, which meant he got no sleep, which of course served to be a few, really long, days. Anytime I can, I’d rather give our family home remedies instead of medication. Of course, if the home remedy doesn’t work, then I’m all for the tylenol/advil/etc.
But, in this case, I’m stoked to say that the home remedy was AWESOME. Seriously. Cough was gone in about a day in a half, and I only had to give him maybe 4 teaspoons of this in that time.
I found this recipe on a myriad of websites, but was sold on the idea off of LIVESTRONG, which of course, means that Lance himself approves, right? I mean basically it’s safe to say that this cough syrup got him through the Tour de France.
I KNOW.
And here’s the deal people. This has two ingredients: onions and sugar. Yes, I just said that. Let’s be real for a minute though. IT TASTES LIKE ONIONS. Everyone on the internets is saying that this doesn’t taste like onions, but it does. How could it not? But, my son still drank it and actually really liked it. According to Lance, onions have components that thin phlegm (sick word) and cause coughing which forces your throat to get rid of it’s congestion that’s blocking your lungs and clear up rapidly.
I used this along with a humidifier during Chip’s naps and night times for 2 days, and it worked like a charm!
Homemade Cough Syrup for Babies
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
1 medium sized onion
1 cup granulated sugar
fine mesh strainer
funnel
air tight bottle for storing
Directions:
Chip onion into a few pieces and place into small pot. Add one cup of sugar and put over medium heat. Allow mixture to boil, and stir frequently. Reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes, and continue to stir frequently. The juices of the onion are being extracted during this process and combining with the sugar to create a syrup. Once finished, and syrup has formed and is thick, pour through a fine mesh strainer so that onion pieces are not in syrup. Using a funnel, our into an air tight container. Lasts for a week in the refrigerator.
Chip is one and I used one teaspoon per dose.
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Andrea — January 19, 2012 @ 4:30 pm
LOVE! I am keeping this on hand! Thanks, doll!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean — January 19, 2012 @ 6:05 pm
this is awesome! does it work for adults too?!
Bonnie replied: — January 19th, 2012 @ 8:24 pm
Yes! I tried it and it worked great! Just use a tablespoon instead of a teaspoon.
Julia — January 19, 2012 @ 7:09 pm
You’re amazing!!!! Homemade cough syrup, seriously, this is a keeper! Glad Chip’s feeling better too!
Rosie — January 19, 2012 @ 10:59 pm
Is the sugar for taste, or does it have another purpose? And can a substitute be used? (I’m just wondering because consuming sugar increases phlegm.)
Bonnie replied: — January 19th, 2012 @ 11:01 pm
Rosie! This is what I thought too! I think that it’s for taste, and helps coat the throat! I used sugar because my son can’t have honey yet. But, I read a few things that suggested soaking the onions in honey overnight and then straining them. Let me know if that works!!
Tammi — January 27, 2012 @ 4:45 am
Going to have to try this for sure! Any suggestions on the type of onion to use? Will also try the honey (when she’s older). Thanks
Bonnie replied: — January 27th, 2012 @ 7:01 pm
I used white, but from my research, yellow or white will work! Let me know how it goes!
Jacqueline — February 8, 2012 @ 6:01 pm
Thank you! I’ve been searching all day for a cough syrup to make for my daughter. She’s 1 1/2 weeks away from turning 1. How often should you give the dose?
Bonnie replied: — February 9th, 2012 @ 5:13 am
I am sorry that your daughter is sick!! I hope she feels better soon!! Because the ingredients are all natural, you can give her as much as needed! I typically did once an hour, more if the cough was super bad. Good luck and let me know how it goes!
MakingVanilla.com — April 14, 2012 @ 4:26 am
That’s a great idea. I noticed your bottles – I use the same when I make my own vanilla. Have you ever thought about trying it? It’s a few minutes worth of work and then you just let it age. It’s like a fine wine – it just gets better with age.
Thanks for sharing.
Mcmim — August 10, 2012 @ 5:59 pm
Great idea and I’m excited to try it for my coughing baby right now! Do you ink it would be okay to substitute honey for the sugar?
Bonnie — August 10, 2012 @ 8:25 pm
Hi! I hope your baby feels better! You can use honey except that most pediatricians don’t recommend giving honey to a baby under 1 year old. My doctor said to even wait until 2. So I would double check with your doctor first! :_
Carmen — October 12, 2012 @ 12:48 pm
When my baby was 6 weeks old she caught a cold and her cough lasted more than 5weeks! I was pretty desperate, but didn’t want to give her any over the counter medications. A nurse told me to cut up an onion and put it by her bedside. I though it was weird but tried it anyway. Cough was gone the next day. Hurray!!! She is now 13 months old and just got her second cold (time of year thing?). I’m making the syrup this time. I know it will work.
Rocio — October 17, 2012 @ 8:56 am
Im trying this for the first time, ill make sure to keep you posted!
My baby girl is 6months old and its been 15 days of flue and now the cough!
Bonnie replied: — October 17th, 2012 @ 8:37 pm
Yes, please keep me posted! I hope your baby girl feels better soon! I am so sorry she is sick!
Mary — October 31, 2012 @ 9:21 am
Hi, My baby is 16 weeks old. Can I give him the remedy as well?
Bonnie replied: — October 31st, 2012 @ 9:06 pm
Hi Mary!
I am not sure about that. Usually for infants that tiny, dr.’s have a different recommendation. I would absolutely check with your dr first! I am sorry your little on is sick!
stephanie — November 10, 2012 @ 9:11 pm
Does the syrup need to be warm ir cold to give to the baby???
Bonnie replied: — November 13th, 2012 @ 10:44 pm
Hi Stephanie!
The syrup can be any temperature that you’d like. Just make sure that if you are giving it to your baby right after it’s made that it has a chance to cool down so that it wont burn the baby’s mouth. Otherwise, the temperature will not alter the effects that it has. I kept mine in the fridge, but it will also be ok at room temperature. Good luck!
Missi — November 13, 2012 @ 3:43 am
I am so glad I found this! I have been looking everywhere for a natural cough syrup without honey! My son is allergic to honey so I was desperately finding substitutes. That and the only other remedy I know without honey can’t be used until over the age of two (Rosemary Sage Tea). THIS IS A LIFE SAVER!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
Bonnie replied: — November 13th, 2012 @ 10:43 pm
Missi,
I am SO HAPPY that this is a life saver! I know how hard it is to see you baby sick and not be able to do anything! I am so very glad this helped!
amair — December 15, 2012 @ 12:52 am
hi, my son is almost 20 weeks old, he has had this cold cough flue etc. for almost 11 weeks, been doctors numerous times, A&E also twice with GP’s note, ended up being bronchiolitis, few days later, well enough to return home, unfortunately after around a week my son was back in the same state, he still has the cough, please please please, what can i do?
Bonnie replied: — February 1st, 2013 @ 4:03 am
I am so sorry, I just received this message! I hope he is feeling better! Unfortunately I am not a doctor so I can not help you!
hulda — December 21, 2012 @ 8:50 am
Just sugar nd onions,no water?but it would stick together without water…pls make it clear coz am seriously in need of this homade remedy for my son..thnks
Bonnie replied: — February 1st, 2013 @ 4:04 am
Hi! I am sorry I just received this. The sugar dissolves into a liquid.
Percigirl White — December 30, 2012 @ 1:16 pm
Hi, am so interested with your homemade cough for babies, but I noticed, in making no need of water in making the mixture, no water was added????
Thabk you so much for the reply
Bonnie replied: — January 10th, 2013 @ 4:38 am
Hi! No no water is needed, the sugar melts and creates the liquid.
Good luck!
Sneha — January 4, 2013 @ 8:43 pm
Does it really work? My son is almost 1 and is down with a cough. It’s a pain to see him cough like that. He can’t even sleep properly. How much of it should I give him and when?
Bonnie replied: — January 10th, 2013 @ 4:38 am
Yes it really does work! I am so sorry your son is having a bad cold! Good luck and I hope he feels better!
Dania Poblete — January 16, 2013 @ 9:33 am
humidifiers are really needed to ensure that we always feel comfortable inside the room.”
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baarbara — January 28, 2013 @ 3:05 pm
I have had a cough that I had taken meds for since Oct 2012, I made some of the onion cough syrup for babies and I am 74 years old and it worked, thank you.
Saraa — February 1, 2013 @ 4:00 am
My son is having a bad cold, hez 13 months and it’s been 5 days now since hez having this cold, will it be ok if I make this syrup using red onions???
Bonnie replied: — February 1st, 2013 @ 4:02 am
I am so sorry that your son has a cold! That is the worst! I do not know if red onions are ok, as I used white onions.
Natalie — February 10, 2013 @ 2:47 pm
Is it safe to use om babys12 months and under??? My baby is 5 months old and someone had already suggested this remedy, but i am a bit concered it may hurt her given she has never had neither sugar nor onions?????????
Bonnie replied: — March 3rd, 2013 @ 8:10 am
Hi Natalie! I am sorry, but I am not an expert or a doctor. If you are unsure about if something is safe, you should always check with your doctor. I hope she feels better soon!
deepthi — February 16, 2013 @ 7:07 pm
My daughter is suffering from cold and dry cough..since 5days . I have tried cough syrup… but my child doesnt like sweet.. and she is vomiting after immediate in take of syrup..
Can you help in suggesting a cough syrup with less or with out sweet
deepthi — February 16, 2013 @ 7:20 pm
And she is 9months old
YC — February 21, 2013 @ 2:48 pm
Hi Bonnie!
My baby is coughing badly and I am glad to find your homemade remedy.
I cooked the onion as per your instruction but somehow there wasn’t any liquid. I don’t know where it went wrong
. How much sugar precisely are we supposed to put in a cup?
YC — February 22, 2013 @ 1:11 am
Hi Bonnie!
My son is coughing badly with a lot of phlegm and I am glad to found your homemade cough remedy.
I tried to cook the onion as per your instruction but there wasn’t much liquid. How much precisely a cup of sugar I should put in?
Thanks.
Bonnie — March 3, 2013 @ 8:08 am
Hi! I am sorry that your son has a bad cough. You can always add more sugar if need be. I would do a precise cup and then go from there.
Hope he feels better soon!
Bonnie — March 3, 2013 @ 8:09 am
Hi! I am sorry you had to post twice! I have been out of the loop but am back now! Please see above!
Bonnie — March 3, 2013 @ 8:09 am
Hi! I am not an expert in cough syrups, and I also have read that any child under 2 should not be given cough syrups that are not approved by the dr. That being said, this syrup is not that sweet as it does really taste like onions!
Bonnie — March 3, 2013 @ 8:11 am
Yes, red onions will be fine! I hope he feels better!
Bonnie — March 3, 2013 @ 8:11 am
This is so amazing! I am so happy and overjoyed that this worked so well for you!
Bonnie — March 3, 2013 @ 8:12 am
Hi! How did it go? Is she feeling better?
Bonnie — March 3, 2013 @ 8:13 am
Carmen! I have heard of this onion trick, too! Did the cough syrup work as well?
Nanda — March 28, 2013 @ 6:05 pm
My finish product was nothing like the one in the picture , my once it was cooled , it was a white paste. What did I do wrong?
Row — April 6, 2013 @ 7:33 pm
Hello Bonnie!
I am really hoping this would work for my almost 11 month old son. He seems to be coughing every couple of weeks and I really feel bad for my poor little guy! I just want him to get a relief from coughing too much so he could get a good night sleep.
I will update. Thanks again!
Bonnie — April 6, 2013 @ 8:28 pm
I am so sorry that he is sick!! It’s the worst to seem them in pain! Please let me know if this works for you!
gwy — April 9, 2013 @ 9:50 pm
I just want to ask f that is fine to my 4 month old baby?tnx….
Bonnie replied: — April 10th, 2013 @ 3:19 am
Hi! I am not a doctor, so you should always check with a health professional before trying any type of remedy.