I love a good tonic for when the weather turns and you feel the sniffles coming on. But the last thing I’m going to do is get my babies to drink boiling water with lemon and ginger in it when they’re sick – so the last time I spied baby Smalls with a runny nose, I mushed her up this little baby cold and flu tonic concoction.
It has similar ingredients to my tonic, but in a baby-friendly package. There’s nothing like a bit vitamin c boost when your immune system is down, and the sweetness of apples helped to balance out the ginger and apple cider vinegar. Although my first batch was a bit mouth-puckering and Pepper didn’t care one whit. Tough kid.
Baby Cold and Flu Tonic
To 6 medium peeled and chopped apples, I added a grating of ginger, a squirt of lemon juice, a big teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, two peeled and chopped kiwi fruit (a vitamin c powerhouse) and simmered over low heat for about 20-30 minutes until soft enough to blend. I added a little water when I could see it was getting dry but the apples hadn’t totally softened yet.
If your kiddo is a little older, you can also pop in a dollop of raw honey for its antibacterial properties.
Biggie isn’t into eating anything that’s not a sandwich, so turned her nose up at this. I made her a green smoothie instead, using pretty much the same ingredients, but with banana in place of the apple and some Loving Earth Rainbow Superfood Blend. She will drink anything in smoothie form! She loved it.
I also mixed this with a little coconut yogurt to change it up a bit for Smalls and she loved that too. So did I, just quietly!
xx
MotherDownUnder says
Granted Toddler C is a bit older but when he is under the weather I serve him up the same tonic that I make for myself…a tea of lemon, ginger and honey. I add plenty of raw honey to his, put it in a sippy cup with some ice cubes and he is a happy chappy…or at least a happier chappy.
And since I am usually sick when he is sick…the joys of being a mother…it is easy since I am usually making a batch for me too!
I hope this recipe doesn’t mean that your little ones are sick!
Veggie Mama says
Wah, why won’t abby drink anything like this! Pepper is just entering sippy cup stage… cannot believe how grown up she is 🙁
Naomi @ Not Just A Mummy says
This sounds amazing! Totally bookmarking for next time my toddler is struck down with a case of snotty yuckiness (and for me as well!)
Veggie Mama says
Yep I totally ate a whole bunch!
Lisa Mckenzie says
That is a great idea Stacey,it is amazing what you can hide in food and drink when the little peeps don’t know it is good for them,You are a clever Mum.
Veggie Mama says
haha those smoothies have been our saving grace x
Bek @ Just For Daisy says
Love the power of a smoothie! My 3yo is similar… not very experimental but lately her smoothies have includede spinach, chia and avocado and she LOVES them! 🙂
Veggie Mama says
same! we’ve just started putting avocado in ours too, and abby thinks they’re the best thing ever x
Real Housewife of Annandale says
Smoothie Operator! I make rosehip tea & blend it with apple juice then offer it in a sippy cup. It’s yum.
Veggie Mama says
Thank you for the earworm…
Sus says
This has come at a perfect time! My little Buddha has rivers of snot and a hacking cough so I will get onto this tomorrow and see how we go. Thankyou!
Veggie Mama says
Oh sad! poor baby Buddha x
Brittany Cucinello Sherlin says
Is this safe for a 5 month old? She’s had a few fruits and veggies but not ginger or acv yet.
Veggie Mama says
Oh yes! Ginger isn’t a problem, and I only put a little bit of acv in. If they’re already eating fruit, they should be fine x
Brittany Cucinello Sherlin says
Great thanks! I believe she’ll be cutting teeth soon and a runny nose always goes along with that! 😉
I assume Bragg’s acv is suitable?
Veggie Mama says
That’s the one I use!
Peps has a runny nose and I thought it was teeth too.. until it turned green. Wah! Sick babies are sad x
Andrew John says
You are a true star! I think it is a brilliant way to provide kids with Vitamin C and other nutrients while they are sick and have had enough their runny noses along with sour medicines. I love your smoothie idea as well!
Veggie Mama says
Oh thank you! Yes, it’s a pretty delicious “medicine” haha!
Danica Burrows says
I saved this recipe when you posted it… a mere 9 days after Hunter was born, thinking ‘yes, this will come in handy’. Well i have been lucky and waited almost 14 months before i cracked it out and it’s a winner!
Veggie Mama says
Mine won’t eat it now!
Amanda says
I was searching for home remedies for colds for toddlers on Pinterest and found you which is so ironic because my daughter’s name is Pepper also. So funny! Just thought I’d share 🙂
Bec Senyard says
I’m bookmarking this because we’ve had our first colds for the season and I’m hoping it will be our last! x
Kiki A says
Do you keep leftovers in the fridge/freezer? Thank you!! 🙂