Winter colds are a fact of life for many children but they don't have to be. Savvy parents are using natural remedies to avoid colds and flu or shorten the duration of the irritating illnesses. Children under six have an average of seven colds a year while older children tend to have four or five. They can catch a cold anytime but most colds occur between October and February. If a child's temperature goes above 102°F, the child is likely suffering from the flu and not a cold. You can break this cycle by building your child's immune system with diet, herbs and vitamins. Then they will be less likely to fall victim to the viruses that cause colds and flu. Here's how you can sidestep sneezes and curtail coughs this winter.

To Avoid Cold and Flu:

• Boost your child's immune system and ease a sore throat by giving a total of one dose of Zinc in chewable tablet or lozenge form each day for three days. Birth-6 mos. 4 mg.; 6-12 mos. 6 mg.; 13 mos.-11 years 10 mg.; 12-18 years 15 mg.
  
• Administer another immune system booster - American Ginseng. As long as fever or other signs of acute infection are NOT present, give your child one dose, once or twice weekly
  during the winter months.
  
• Keep Echinacea and Goldenseal on hand. Both stimulate the immune system and keep the body clear of infections. Echinacea is antibacterial and antiviral. Goldenseal is an antibacterial noted for healing irritated mucous membranes. Give your child one dose of an echinacea-goldenseal combination formula twice weekly during cold and flu season. If a cold occurs, give one dose three times a day for five days to a week.
  
• Give your child one dose of Beta Carotene daily during cold and flu season as a preventive measure. The body uses beta-carotene to manufacture vitamin A which helps heal mucous membranes. Should a cold occur, give a double dose of beta-carotene twice daily for five to seven days. Birth-12 mos. 2,000 IU; 13 mos.-4 years 2,500 IU; 5-6 years 3,000 IU; 7-11 years 4,000 IU; 12-19 years 5,000 IU.
  
• Supplement with 150 mg. of Vitamin C a day during cold and flu season, especially if your child resists eating fruits and vegetables. Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties and will help ease the course of a cold. If a cold occurs, administer one dose of vitamin C three times a day for three days. Birth-6 mos. 40 mg.; 6-12 mos. 60 mg.; 13 mos.-2 years 100 mg.; 3-6 years 150 mg.;7-11 years 200-500 mg.; 12-18 years 300-500 mg.
  
• Prepare soups with chicken and vegetables and add the herb Astragalus in dried or tincture form to boost immunity during cold and flu season. Children with a cold and fever are easily dehydrated so be sure they drink plenty of liquids. All fluids, including soups, help thin secretions making it easier for the body to clear them. But steer clear of drinks containing sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, honey or orange juice. These greatly reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria.
  

• Give your child one odorless Garlic capsule two to three times a day for one week. Garlic has antibacterial properties and helps detoxify the body.

• Make sure your child drinks Ginger tea to increase perspiration. This helps cleanse the body and reduce the intensity of a cold. Give one dose every four hours during the acute phase of a cold.
  
• Try a cup of Sage tea which helps break up congestion and bring down a fever. Give your child one dose of sage tea up; to three times daily for three to five days.
  
• At the very first sign of a cold, give your child 1/3 tube of the homeopathic remedy Anas barbariae (sold under various brand names including Oscillococcinum) three times daily for one day. As a preventive measure, administer one dose of Anas barbariae once a week during cold and flu season.