As much as it’s awesome to know about herbs, essential oils, and homeopathics to treat illness and injury, it’s even better to just use food and manual means to get better when you’re down.

Rest, fluids, chicken broth, garlic, avoiding sugar, blowing your nose a lot, productive coughing – all these things are probably your best line of defense once a cold gets a foothold in your system.

Give your body the tools to fight the germs on its own and then help to get them OUT, and you shouldn’t be sick for very long.

What About Babies?

Babies and toddlers under age three can’t really figure out how to blow their noses – although it’s awfully cute when John, 18 months, tries to mimic a nose blow. It’s a lot of sound and not much productivity.

Mighty Nest, a longtime KS sponsor, is offering a chance for a reader to try out the nosefrida, a big improvement in the snot category for a few reasons over the bulb aspirators:

• It doesn’t go inside the nose
• It’s easy to clean
• The suction is caused by a parent sucking on a straw, not the unfamiliar squeeze-and-release motion of an aspirator
• Don’t worry – there’s  no way the boogies get all the way to your mouth…
• It seems less scary and more appropriate for big kids.
• Developed by ear, nose and throat specialists, which I really appreciate

I don’t have my own review, because when Mighty Nest offered, I replied with, "Well, I hope we don’t have any need for it before March, so I might not be a good tester…"

Murphy’s Law, of course, said that we would have had at least one chance!

Read tips for easing colds in young ones, including using the nose frida, at Mighty Nest’s natural cold remedies post.

And from a regular mom:

"Who knew snot could be so exciting? Wait, let me re-phrase that – what non-male over the age of say, 15, finds snot so exciting? Well as it turns out, my whole family does.

Let me explain.  My 5-month old recently came down with a cold. I ran down the checklist of things to do – Steam, check. Hydration, check.  Sleep, check (for baby but not mom). Snot removal…uh-oh. 

Read the rest at Snot Sucker: A New Form of Entertainment…

Here’s the Nosefrida at Mighty Nest, and here’s the giveaway!

ENTER HERE – GIVEAWAY: Nosefrida

One reader can win a nosefrida from Mighty Nest, so you’re prepared for all those baby congested nights!

Giveaways at Kitchen Stewardship are run via a survey, which means comments on this post do not count (and will be deleted). In the long run, this is quicker for you if you go for extra entries.

There are 11 possible entries! Here’s what you can do to win:

1. *Mandatory entry: What is/was your biggest challenge or question as you transition(ed) to a more natural approach to family health?

2. Subscribe in a reader or via email to Kitchen Stewardship (or tell me if you already do).

3. Subscribe to MightyNest’s blog.

4. Tell me if you “like” Kitchen Stewardship on Facebook.

5. Tell me if you “like” MightyNest on Facebook.

6. NEW: Repin any image from Mighty Nest’s Pinterest page.

7. Follow Mighty Nest on Pinterest.

8. Follow @MightyNest on Twitter

9. Tweet this: The nose frida from @MightyNest sucks–really well. I mean, if baby is stuffy…get it? Win it @kitchenstew [URL here]

10. Subscribe to MightyNest’s newsletter.

11. NEW: Subscribe to the KS Monthly newsletter. (This is different from a regular blog email subscription – once a month only, new information NOT found on the blog, plus special offers and coupons from time to time.)

Remember, comments here DO NOT COUNT. You must use the survey form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will use random.org’s integer generator to choose the winner, who will be announced on the blog and will receive an email.  The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.  Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, March 18 and I’ll post the winners that week.

About MightyNest

Founded by two parents, MightyNest is an online store, resource center, and community dedicated to helping parents create healthy, safe homes. Our mission is to give families the ability to research, get advice, and buy natural, non-toxic products all in one place.

From kitchenware to skin care, MightyNest‘s safety experts have built the web’s broadest selection of products that are free from known toxic ingredients such as BPA, PVC, Phthalates, Lead, Melamine, Formaldehyde, Parabens, and more.

MightyNest is a place where people feel motivated and welcomed, not discouraged or judged; somewhere people are empowered to make changes in their lives, whether large or small. For the growing number of parents seeking high quality, healthy and safe alternatives to everyday products for their family, MightyNest is their most trusted resource.

If you missed the last Monday Mission, click here.

Kitchen Stewardship is dedicated to balancing God’s gifts of time, health, earth and money.  If you feel called to such a mission, read more at Mission, Method, and Mary and Martha Moments.

Disclosure:  Giveaways are paid advertising and a great thing for my readers, so I’m happy to include it separately from the review. See my full advertising disclosure here.

Official rules and small print stuff: 1) No purchase necessary to win 2) must be 13 or older to enter and have a mailing address within the sponsor’s boundaries (see above) 3) only one survey entry per person 4) odds of winning depend on number of entries 5) employees of Kitchen Stewardship, LLC or sponsoring company not eligible for participation 6) contest sponsored by Mighty Nest in CA 7) prizes must be accepted as is and are not redeemable for cash 8 ) Kitchen Stewardship, LLC and sponsoring company are not liable for any injury or damage to persons and/or things as a result of the acceptance of the prize offered. 9) This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.