My popsicles combine throat-soothing ingredients and herbal remedies in delicious, kid-friendly flavors. When your child has a sore throat or cough, top priorities include providing comfort and hydration - and these popsicles do both! These homemade recipes include mucilaginous herbs, zinc, gelatin, and comforting botanicals to soothe mucus membranes, support the immune system, and keep even the pickiest kiddos well hydrated! In this article, you’ll learn about my top functional ingredients for soothing sore throats, and you’ll find three kid-approved popsicle recipes you can make at home! Why I Love Popsicles For Sick Kiddos Everyone talks about chicken noodle soup for sick kids, and don’t get me wrong, I love chicken noodle soup - especially when it’s made with homemade bone broth - but I think popsicles just don’t get enough attention for being a sick kid staple! Here are a few reasons why I love homemade popsicles for sore throats (for tummy bugs and fevers, too!) Hydration Made Easy: When kids are sick, getting them to drink enough can be tough. Popsicles feel like a treat and encourage fluid intake. Cooling and Soothing: Popsicles may help numb sore throats and temporarily reduce inflammation. Sneaky Nutrients: Homemade popsicles can be packed with fruit, broth, herbal remedies, honey, and more. Kid-Approved: Even picky eaters tend to enjoy popsicles, making them a great way to sneak in all these great ingredients, even when kids don’t feel like eating or drinking much. Let’s face it - most kids are more likely to eat a popsicle than soup when they’re feeling crummy. If you’re dealing with respiratory illness, check out these articles: Bronchitis, Bronchiolitis, Pneumonia, & Mycoplasma Pneumonia – An Integrative Perspective, What Every Parent Needs To Know About Febrile Seizures, and The Wet Sock Treatment: A Home Remedy For Colds & Flus. Throat Soothing Ingredients You Can Find in Your Kitchen The following kitchen staples not only soothe irritation but also offer additional benefits — like reducing inflammation, thinning mucus, and supporting the immune system — and they work wonderfully in popsicles! Bone Broth & Gelatin: Gelatin coats sore throats, and the amino acids present in gelatin can help repair mucus membrane tissues (1). I like using unseasoned bone broth as the base for popsicles (I promise, you won’t taste it!) or, I’ll just add some bloomed gelatin powder. Pineapple: Pineapple contains bromelain — an enzyme that may help thin mucus buildup (2). I reach for pineapple for sore throats that are accompanied by chesty coughs. Sore throats that already feel "raw" may sting when pineapple is eaten. Tip: make sure to use fresh pineapple - canned pineapple does not contain bromelain. Honey: Honey soothes irritated tissues and provides antimicrobial support (3)! (Please avoid honey for children younger than 12 months old.) In addition to the above ingredients, I love adding herbs to popsicles to really maximize their benefits. Whether it’s supporting healthy airways, providing comfort, or working to maintain a healthy immune system, herbal additions will take your popsicles to the next level! My Top 3 Homemade Sore Throat Popsicle Recipes These popsicles combine throat-soothing ingredients and herbal remedies in delicious, kid-friendly flavors. Each recipe offers hydration and comfort. These recipes are very forgiving, so feel free to adjust the ingredients to your family's preferences! These recipes were created for children aged one year and older, though they can be modified for infants who are consuming solids by removing the honey and replacing Nature Tussin™ syrup with infant friendly alternatives like Bronchial Calm™ or Immune Liquid Vitamin C™. Dr. Green Mom’s Orange, Honey, & Bone Broth Immune PopsiclesThese soothing popsicles combine bone broth and orange juice with Nature Tussin™ syrup to support respiratory health. Honey adds sweetness and helps soothe the throat naturally. ⏲️ Prep Time: 10 Minutes + 4 Hours Freezing 🍴 Serves: 6 Ingredients 1 cup unseasoned bone broth (cooled) ½ cup organic orange juice 1 tbsp honey* Nature Tussin™ syru ** (adjust to your dosage as indicated on the bottle) * For infants under 1, leave out the honey. ** Nature Tussin™ includes honey. For infants, Nature Tussin™ could be replaced with Bronchial Calm™ or Immune Liquid Vitamin C™. Directions Combine cooled bone broth, orange juice, and honey (if using). Pour the mixture into molds and add your desired amount of Nature Tussin™ directly to each popsicle mold. Give it a little swirl to combine. Freeze for 4 hours or until solid. Dr. Green Mom’s Creamy Coconut Horchata PopsiclesThese creamy, kid-approved popsicles combine coconut milk, rice milk, and cinnamon for a sweet treat packed with soothing and nourishing ingredients. Gelatin makes it extra creamy and soothing, while Nature Profen™ Kids provides gentle comfort. ⏲️ Prep Time: 25 Minutes + 4 Hours Freezing 🍴 Serves: 6 Ingredients 1 cup canned coconut milk 2 tsp unflavored, grass-fed gelatin 1 cup rice milk 1/4 cup honey* 1 tbsp vanilla extract 2 tsp cinnamon Nature Profen™ Kids (Adjust to your dosage as indicated on the bottle) * For infants under 1, leave out the honey. Directions Sprinkle gelatin over coconut milk and let sit for 5 minutes. Warm coconut milk and gelatin mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the gelatin dissolves. Don’t bring it to a boil. Pour hot coconut milk mixture into a blender. Add rice milk, honey, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Blend mixture until creamy and well combined. Pour blended mixture into popsicle molds. Add your desired amount of Nature Profen™ Kids to each individual popsicle, following the dosage guidelines listed on the bottle. Freeze for 4 hours or until solid. Dr. Green Mom’s Pineapple Super Immune Popsicles These immune-boosting popsicles pack a punch with pineapple, zinc, elderberry, and echinacea to help support a healthy immune system.Ingredients 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks ½ cup liquid (I like to use herbal tea - but you could use your favorite juice, too) 5-10 dropperfuls of Zinc Defense (or adjust to your dosage as indicated on the bottle) 1-2 tbsp honey* * For infants under 1, leave out the honey. Directions Blend pineapple chunks and cooled herbal tea until smooth; add honey if using. Pour mixture into popsicle molds. Add in your desired dosage of Zinc Defense to each individual popsicle mold, and stir gently to combine. Freeze for at least 4 hours or until solid. Mom Tip: Make these sore throat popsicles ahead of time and store them in ziplock bags in your freezer so you’ll be prepared when sickness strikes! For more sore throat tips, read these articles: Brew A Sore Throat Tea With Common Spices and Botanical Steam Inhalation to Reduce Congestion & Soothe Coughs. You may also enjoy this product: Throat Soothe✝︎ Spray™. Summary These homemade popsicles are a fun and easy way to soothe sore throats, provide hydration, and support the immune system. Packed with nutrient dense ingredients like bone broth, gelatin, pineapple, and herbal remedies, they offer gentle relief while sneaking in nutrients. Whether your child is battling a sore throat, cough, cold, or fever, these popsicles are sure to help keep them comfortable and hydrated! PRODUCTS MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE See Product See Product See Product See Product See Product See Product SHOP & EARN REWARDS. JOIN TODAY! References: Vidal-Lletjós, S., Andriamihaja, M., Blais, A., Grauso, M., Lepage, P., Davila, AM., Viel, R., Gaudichon, C., Leclerc, M., Blachier, F., & Lan, A. (2019). Dietary Protein Intake Level Modulates Mucosal Healing and Mucosa-Adherent Microbiota in Mouse Model of Colitis. Nutrients. Feb 28;11(3):514. doi: 10.3390/nu11030514. PMID: 30823387; PMCID: PMC6471602. Mount Sinai Health System. (2016). Bromelain Information. Mount Sinai - New York. http://mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/bromelain Yupanqui Mieles, J., Vyas, C., Aslan, E., Humphreys, G., Diver, C., & Bartolo, P. (2022). Honey: An Advanced Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Biomaterial for Tissue Engineering Applications. Pharmaceutics. Aug 10;14(8):1663. doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081663. PMID: 36015289; PMCID: PMC9414000. Facebook Pinterest X Email Understanding & Supporting A Healthy Inflammatory Response Read more How To Calculate Supplement Dosages For Kids Read more