If you’d told me a few years ago that I would have bowls of sliced onions scattered around my home during sick season, I would’ve laughed and walked away. But then we moved to the Netherlands. Living abroad has a funny way of softening you, humbling you, and opening you up to things you hadn’t thought twice about. Even… onions.

My first introduction (the one I ignored)

When we first moved to the Netherlands, my elderly neighbor told me to put onions in my daughter’s room while she was sick. I smiled, thanked her, and quietly thought, Yeah, right. I didn’t think twice about it.

Fast forward a year and a half…

My daughter went through a stretch of back-to-back respiratory illnesses: colds, coughing fits, congestion, and sleepless nights. One day, a different Dutch neighbor said, “Have you tried putting an onion next to her bed?” I almost laughed right there and then. My first thought was, not again … But it lingered in the back of my mind for the rest of the day. Exhausted and desperate for a solution, any solution, I ran out to the store and bought some onions.

The night that changed my mind

I cut an onion, put it in a bowl, set it by my daughter’s bed, and expected absolutely nothing. But … it helped. Did it cure her? No. Did it stop the sickness? No. But she slept. Like… actually slept.

Breathing easier, coughing less, and without the dramatic middle-of-the-night wake-ups. That was enough for me. It felt like magic — or at the very least, something gentle and harmless that brought us a little relief. Since then, onions have become part of our “sick season” routine (even for me).

So what’s the deal with onions?

The Dutch (and many cultures historically) believe onions can:

• draw out bacteria and viruses from the air
• reduce congestion
• open the airways
• ease nighttime coughing
• soothe ear discomfort

Are there scientific studies proving every claim? Not really. But there is research showing that onions contain sulfur compounds with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties — and sometimes, lived experience is enough to convince you. It certainly convinced me. Plus, when you’re desperate for your child to sleep, scientific nuance is not the priority.

How We Actually Use Them — Practical Tips

1. For Nighttime Congestion

This is the classic method:

• Cut an onion in half
• Place it in a small bowl
• Leave it by the bed (but out of reach of tiny hands)

Tip: Yellow onions seem to work best.

It may smell strong the first hour, but you get used to it.

2. The “Ear Pain” Cup Trick

This was a lifesaver for us — and for a family member’s ear infection last winter.

Here’s how we do it:

• Warm an onion in the oven
• Slice it in half
• Place one half of the onion in the opening of a mug or cup
• Sit with the ear comfortably hovering over the cup, letting the steam rise

It sounds odd, but it’s been the only remedy to help my daughter.

3. For Cough Relief

Many Dutch families place onions:

• in the living room
• on the nightstand
• or scattered around the house during illness

It’s said to help clean the air and soften coughs. At minimum? It makes the house feel like it’s participating in your healing.

Why I’ve Become an Onion Mom

Not by personality, by necessity.

✔ It’s gentle

No chemicals. No medicine overload. Just a simple vegetable.

✔ It makes the house feel “cared for”

There’s something emotional about trying remedies passed down through generations.

✔ It’s inexpensive

You probably already have onions in the kitchen.

✔ It makes you feel less helpless

As a mom, small actions feel big when your child isn’t well.

Motherhood abroad teaches you to loosen your grip on what you think you know. Sometimes you just trust the 80-year-old Dutch lady with better sleep advice than Google.

Pet Disclaimer

Onions are toxic to dogs and cats if they eat them, so keep bowls:

• out of reach
• behind closed doors
• or in rooms pets don’t go into

You’re fine to use them — just be mindful.

Final Thoughts

I never thought I’d write a blog post about onions, but here we are. Motherhood abroad has taught me so much — including the fact that sometimes the simplest remedies, the ones shared quietly across cultures and neighbors, are the ones that stay with you. And the ones that help you get through the night. Even if your house smells like a deli.