Over-the-counter decongestants can cause infants and children to become either overly active or quite sleepy so they are not recommended for traveling kids. Echinacea can very useful for the treatment of a cold especially as the cold first begins. A child's dose varies with age; consult a physician for proper dosing. Usually children under one year of age can take 5 drops twice a day and toddlers can take 10 drops twice a day. No particular brand is recommended over any other, but some products are flavored and are tastier for children. Echinacea is available at health food stores.

The mainstay of treating a cold is saline nose drops. They go in each nostril every few hours. Recommended brands include Ocean, Nasal, and Ayr. Saline gel is now available and is quite comforting. After using the saline nose drops, a bulb aspirator effectively removes the mucus. Many types of bulb aspirators are available. They are available at local pharmacies. Saline nose drops are great for adults to avoid excessive drying of the nasal mucosae while flying on a very long trip.