Coughing!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!

Hi A.. My 3 year old daughter had that cough last month and the only thing I used was Mucinex. It worked wonders and is only for the cough with no other symptoms. It did not make her tired but relieved the cough so we could all sleep at night! I also ran a humidifier in her room and rubbed Vapor Rub on her chest! Hope this helps!
J.

Go to a health food store or some place like Sprouts. Ask for Umka. My spelling may be bad. It is made from a plant. I find it helps greatly -- especially from those coughs you can't stop once you get started. Only you can decide if it's bad enough to see a doctor.

I have been out of town and just saw this. You may already have the situation under control but my son (then 3 years) had a very bad coughing bout last winter. I found that a humidifier in his room really helped. I would also give him a warm bath with eucalyptus oil in it (just a few drops) before bed. I have heard that Vicks on the bottoms of their feet (with socks over) can really help but have no personal experience with this. Good Luck!

B.

Hi A.,

I completely understand how you feel. Each time my daughter(age 3) gets a cough it sounds terrible and it seems to last forever.

Her pediatrician recommended Children's Mucinex cough syrup. It also comes in chewables. I have had really good results and it allows my daughter to get some sleep without wicked coughing spells during the night. Occasionally when that does occur, I will give her the medicine and within 10 minutes the cough has calmed down and she is able to fall back asleep. I am also able to use it during the day to help control the cough.

When all the children's meds were recalled, my pharmacist also recommended Delsyum. I haven't had to use it yet but have it on hand just in case. It is long acting, I believe for 10-12 hours.

On a couple of occasions, my doctor has prescribed HC-Tussin for her cough. It is long acting and she only takes it at night and only a 1/2 teaspoon - this has also helped her sleep and reduce the coughing spells.

Also, I run a cool mist humidifier in her room every night. I keep her head propped up on pillows and I have also found that certain foods like milk, ice cream (most dairy products) and chocolate seem to irritate the cough so I avoid those foods when she has a cough.

Hope this helps.

L.

This might help- My 4 year old daughter recently had a horrible cough that just was hanging on- especially at night. Her preschool teacher recommended applying Vicks Vapor Rub all over the soles of her feet and then applying warm socks. (I heated them up in microwave for 30 seconds) I am telling you that it really worked. I also use a vaporizor in her room and prop her up on 2 pillows.
I have been a mom for almost 18 years and had never heard this one before. I've since tried it on one of my teenagers and it worked also!
God Bless,

D.

When my baby (13 months) had pneumonia recently (man, did THAT stink!) my doctor recommended that I add Mucinex syrup to his course of medication. I tried it without first because I didn't want to overmedicate him, but once I added the Mucinex, he was able to kick the cough. It won't happen overnight, but I had a cough at the same time he did, and mine lasted A WEEK longer than his - while he had pneumonia and I didn't! So, it turned out to be good stuff! You can buy it over the counter at any pharmacy, and my doctor said that the cough syrup version won't do anything more than the regular syrup (it'll just put a bunch of unnecessary drugs in your baby's system),so he said just buy the plain syrup. It made such a huge difference!

My grama used to mix warm water, lemon juice and honey in one of her not so fancy tea cups for me. There is no alcohol so your child can have as much as he wants. The lemon juice is full of vitamin C, the water helps flush out "the bugs" and the honey helps coat the throat and soothe the cough. I give it to my kiddos. They love it. They sometimes will fake a cough so they can have some.

Hi A. -

Have you tried any of the herbal remedies? You can make an herbal inhalant - by boiling water - remove from heat - add 1 T dried Thyme, 1 T dried Sage, and 1 T dried Anise seed. You can even add a little Chamomile or Lavender if he is having trouble sleeping. Set your son on your lap and put a big towel over both of your heads and the pot (peek a boo time - or hide and seek) and let him breath in the steam. Do this for about 5 or 10 minutes. Afterwards, strain out the herbs and you both can have a nice cup of tea.

If you prefer just the cough syrup type, many health food stores sell a child's herbal cough syrup. They usually have Wild Cherry Bark or sometimes Elderberry in them. Both are very effective and the taste isn't bad either.

M. M. Ernsberger
Certified Herbalist
Square Foot Gardening Specialist
www.wellnessgardening.com
www.hypno4kids.com

Put vicks vapor rub on the bottom of his feet and cover with socks. I use it on my 18 month old daughter and it works. Even works on me. I use the adult verson on the feet, but baby vicks on the chest. I personally think the smell helps calm a cough, not just stuffy noses. There was a recent study done that showed it works, but they have no idea why. I don't care why, as long as I have a sure fire way to get my girl to stop coughing.

If your child is congested, I highly recommend saline rinses. Both of my girls have asthma, and anytime they catch a cold we have to be wary of broncitis. We have avoided antibiotics this year because we have discovered rinsing their nasal passages. What happens is when a child starts coughing too much, his lungs get very irritated, and when they have drainage it can get into a viscious cycle. Our pediatrician recommends claritin, in addition to asthma meds, and using nasal rinses.

A physician who is the head of pediatric asthma in our city strongly suggests doing this. Use a clean and disinfected rubber bulb. We use about a tblspoon of bleach and water, and let it sit for about five minutes, and throughly rinse inside and outside the bulb until it no longer smells of chlorine. Get a cup of warm water, and 1/4 tsp of salt, and put it into a bowl. Draw up some saline solution in the bulb and put into babes nose, and squeeze. Do it into each nostril for a couple times. We also do one other thing. It's just a trick. We have a sonic toothbrush (the cybersonic toothbrush works great). We hold it on their nose, it tickles, and makes them sneeze. They'll cough less when their nose is clear. (If the discharge is yellow, watch for infections.)

The doctor gave me one last really great suggestion. Have your child sleep over a pillow so his head is sorta hanging over at a downward slant. If he drains forward, the mucus doesn't go toward his chest, and he won't cough as much. If your child wakes up coughing, rinse his nose.

My daughters didn't like the rinses at first, but they know it gives them relief. If your child has difficulty getting over colds, I would have them evaluated for asthma. I'll pray for you. We've been where you're at so many times.

One last thing, if you have coughing with throwing up with mucus. Your child is having an asthma attack. Call 911.

Try rubbing Vicks (the kind in the jar) on the bottoms of his feet.. It works!

Since your son is so little, maybe some of the best things to help him would be things he can breath in, like the new plug-ins from VICKS and some of the other medical companies. That way he can get help with out really ingesting something at a harmful dose. Also, some soothing is given by using warm towels on his chest or something called a Thermafore which is like a heating pad but uses moist heat to help the chest and break up congestion. The heat also calms little ones and helps them sleep. You might also look for a special stuffed animal that has a pouch with a re-heatable pillow in it. A friend of mine makes these, but I know you can buy them too. The pouch has dry grains, rice, and herbs for aromatherapy. You heat the pouch in the microwave and stuff into the plush toy. When your child hugs it the heat and herbs help sooth your little one. Also, while your little one is not feeling well, you might want to limit his intake of dairy. My mother did that with me and my siblings when we were small and we we rarely ever sick with congestion. A good substitute is soy milk until he feels better. Hope these ideas help you, good luck.

Hi A. -- there is a product by Nature's Way called Umcka. I have used it for my girls and not only does it work, but they LOVE it! It is cherry flavored and does not taste like other cough syrup. I will tell you that it isn't really a cough suppressant, but it is an expectorant. Give it to him during the day and it will clear up the congestion in his chest. It really does work! I have found it at Frye's, as well as health food stores.

My daughter had a HORRIBLE cough earlier this winter. I called the Nurse Advice New Mexico line and they suggested a table spoon of Corn Syrup to sooth the cough and throat as needed. They also suggested a warm drink (such as camomile tea or warmed up apple juice). Then, of course, the cool mist humidifyer. They said NO cough medicine. It doesn't seem like much, but a cough is actually a productive symptom to get rid of the virus as well as keep the lungs free from gunk overload.
Anyway, I LOVE the Nurse Advice Line- it has saved me from running to the doctor unnecessarily SO MANY times!!! And the advise has always seemed sound. Here is the number if you are interested: 1-877-725-2552. It is available 24 hours a day/ seven days a week!
I hope your little one feels better soon!

I recently tried baby vics rub on the bottom of my sons feet( then put socks on) before bed, and it worked. It didnt get rid of the cough, but it let him sleep through the night.

It can depend on the type of cough he has. If it is a dry barking cough the mucus can be stuck around lungs and throat. That is what they call an unproductive cough. In that case you need to break it up. Tapping his back like you used to do to burp him when he was a baby can help break it up. Also give him plenty of clear fluid especially water. Have his stay away from dairy as that makes more mucus.

Hi A.,

It is a home remedy but it works.....warm lemondade. It will relax the airway and thin out any mucous that is causing the coughing.

Ihope your son feels better soon!

A tablespoon of honey. Sounds crazy, but my 2 1/2 year old also has a horrible cough. I didn't want to give her any medication due to recalls so my dad said he read an article that said honey. I tried it and it worked like a charm! You can also mix it with a little lemon and it will ease his discomfort. Good luck!

GO TO THE DOCTOR! My son started a bad cough this past weekend. I took him to the doctor because he couldn't sleep and I wanted to get a good cough medicine. He had influenza and strep! I never would have guessed! We got antibiotics for the strep and a prescription cough medicine for night and he has actually slept through the night the past few nights. Better safe than sorry - there is SO much going around.

HONEY!! When my daughter has had a cough we run the humidifier in her room and give her honey before bed. It sooths and coats and helps her to sleep throught the night. I only give her a little over a teaspoon and that is enough for her. You can read about the study's done on the web to see how it is proven to help kids with a cough. Good luck!

My 3 year old daughter recently recovered from a battle with a bad cough. To help her sleep all night, I set up a humidifier in her room and rubbed the children's Vick vapor cream on her chest. I'm not sure which did the trick, but the combination helped us all through the night.

Rub the bottom of his feet with Vicks VapoRub. Rub his chest with it also.

My suggestion would be that you stop by New Life Health Foods (they have several stores). I have always found them to be very knowledgable about any symptom or supplement I have asked them about. Most of my experience has been with the store on E. Speedway. They will know what your son can safely take in the way of natural treatments.

I'm also really leary of medications and try to find some natural remedies. We've had good luck with Boiron Honey cough syrup. My 2 year old daughter actually loves it because it tastes like honey and it's even worked on my cough. I got it at Sprouts. Good Luck!
A.

Eucalyptus is good for respiratory problems and it is anti-bacterial.

First off do you live in Kanarraville? I thought it said something about that. I'm not sure what it is that is causing the coughing, have you been to the Pediatritian because RAD ( Reactive Airway Disease) is VERY common in children and if you do in fact live in Kanarraville there could be a GREAT chance that your babe has allergies which then would cause RAD or even more so Asthma my son has asthma and has many coughing attacks. This could be very serious or very minor but I would definetely consult your pediatrition.

It's time to call the doc! Not getting any sleep isn't helping him get well!

T. C.
Spa Girlfriend Parties
www.spaescapescottsdale.com

Hi A.,
Have you taken him to the doctor yet? He may have croupe or need an inhaler. If it is a loose cough, you can always try children's Benadryl.
Good luck.

If you do not want to use over the counter medicine I would suggest long sitting in a steamy bathroom before bedtime or investing in a vaporizer for the bedside. These always comforted my kids. Check out WedMD.com for other info. There are different kinds of coughing so it's really hard to recommend anything specific. Hope the steaming helps.

Your son is old enough for honey. Mix one part honey to one part lemon juice (even the kind in the bottle is okay). One teaspoon every three hours will help. Also, what can't hurt, is to rub Vics Vaporub on his feet at night, put his socks/footed jammies, on, and that can help alleviate the cough.

Dyselem ... I've heard from SEVERAL moms that this has been recommended by their drs and really dries a kid up! Good luck ... be sure to see a dr to make sure it's nothing more serious!

Take him to your pediatrician, they may need to give him antibiotics or steroids, and they can prescribe a safe cough medicine.

It is tough since they removed the recommendations for children's cold medications, but doctors have reverted to an old remedy...honey. I don't know what is about the honey but my doctor, my mother, and Good Morning America all say that you can give a spoonful of honey to your child (1 year and older).

I also spoke to a pharmacist about it and she recommended giving my 3-year-old Claritin. She said that a lot of times children develop cold-like symptoms when it's actually allergies. Also, the cough can be a result of mucus draining down the back of his throat so you do not want to suppress the cough. I've used Claritin even when I thought my son might have a cold and it really worked.

I hope that helps!
K.

vicks on the chest and bottoms of the feet at night

First, get a room humidifier and keep it running in his room. Put it high up on a dresser or something because the mist will just soak the floor if it is too low and doesn't have time to dissapate into the air before it falls. Before setting it up, cover the dresser with plastic and then towels to prevent any damage to the furniture from the mist. Humidifying the air will help if his cough is dry and will help him loosen up if he's congested or croupy. And it is drug-free. My son gets allergies and stuffs up so badly that he can't blow his nose so it sometimes ends up going down his throat and making him croupy. He also seems to pick up every cold going around since I got him into preschool this fall. And I've found the best thing I can do is keep the humidifier in his room 24x7 for a week or so and it ends up usually kind of nipping it in the bud.

If he's pretty bad, check with your pediatrician about dosage but try children's diphenhidremine (benedryl or other brand). Cough suppresants don't really do much good - just ask the pharmacist - and benedryl has been around forever and it's still one of the best things out there. It's actually known as an antihistimine but is often what you'll find as the cough ingredient in over the counter medications like Pediacare, because it is a dryer-upper. On the one hand it inhibits allergic reactions so it is helpful for allergies and asthma but, because it is an anti-histimine, it helps to dry up the mucus production so there is less to cause coughing. One caution, though, pharmacists and doctors vary some on whether or how much should be given if he's got a really "productive" cough (lots of phlem) because coughing is the only way to expectorate it. Kind of a catch 22. You could try it during the day when you are awake and keeping a close eye on him and not at night if you feel more comfortable. It may make him sleepy so it also helps him nap and get the rest he needs.

K.

Don't Laugh, or think that I am crazy. I have used this method myself and with my children. I read about it in a newpaper column called "The Peoples Pharmacy". Rub Vicks vaporub or Mentholatum liberally on the bottom of the feet and then put on a pair of socks to keep floors and sheets clean. That will keep the caugh quiet durning the night. I don't know how it works but it works!

I think it would be best if he was seen by a doctor since croup and bronhitis have been going around - and if he has either, a prescription will be needed. Very important since he could end up with a chronic issue if it's not treated.

Our whole family and all of our kids had bronchitis recently and we all had meds.

Good luck and hope he feels better SOON!

Goodmorning, When My little ones have a bad cough I rub a bit of the Vicks vapor rub on the bottom of their feet and then put their socks on afterwards. It only takes mintues and then they're out, the coughing stops, they sleep alot better. I am serious you should try this it really works.

If you son has already been seen by a doctor and you know he just has the common cold then I have to agree with one of the other moms..... Sounds weird but Vicks works WONDERS!! Rub on chest and feet, cover up and keep warm... IT WORKS!

all three of my girls have a horible cough. My doctor suggested to give my 2 year old dark honey in some juce or anything your child will drink. Also you can still get childrens nyquil only 5ml for a 3year old, and the vicks hot vaporizor with the vicks liquid medicine in it healps alot. But if you use the hot vaporizor make sure you put it up on a dreser so he can't touch it and put a towel under it. you can get it anywhere and if i remember it is only 13.00 or something. All of these things combined has helped all of my kids. Another note the make sure you turn the heat off, or close the heat vent in the room with the vaporizer, or open the childs door after they fall asleep. It puts off alot of heat that you won't need the heat on in the room. Another sleepless mom Dena

Hello,
We have been through a terrible cough recenly as well. I tried cough medicine but it seemed to prolong the cough. Then I tried Vicks Baby Rub on the chest, back and neck. I also use the portable Triaminic vapor fan. I also have the kids in the bathroom with the hot shower running before bed. ( for a good steam) I was told that that this keeps the cough loose and productive. Tylenol will keep him comfortable in order to sleep through the night. Warm juice keeps the throat from getting sore and finally Little Noses Saline Drops for the nose keeps the nose from getting dry. Everything combined should make him more comfortable.

Good Luck
From Mother of Three

I read and use:

Hot water with cinnamon and honey.

I have also used the vicks vapor rub on the bottom of both of my children, ages 7 and 9 along with a vaporizer in their rooms and it has worked great. Good luck!

Hi A.,
If you rub Vicks Vaporub (or other similar product) on the bottom of his feet and put his socks on - it should help a great deal. It is absorbed through the skin and works wonders...I have found this more affective than cough syrup.
Hope this helps...and I hope he feels better soon.
J.

I have heard vicks vapor rub is great for coughs in kids. Put it on their feet and put socks on over it before they go to bed.

My former pediatrician posts symptoms and what to do on their website at http://www.nspeds.com , they'll have information about what drugs you can give him and at what point you need to call the doctor, bring him in, call 911 etc. Also try steaming up the bathroom. My daughters and I play Go Fish in the steamy bathroom when they have coughs.

When we went through that last month dyslem is the only thing that got close. Two diffrent Pharmasist recommended it.

Hi A.-
Have you ever tried essential oils?
I love them!
Oregano oil is great for coughing spells and colds.
Eucalyptus oil is great to open the air ways. You can put a drop or two in the bath. Also rub this on the cheats, dilute it a little with Olive oil first.
I get my oils from Sprouts and information on-line also.
Raw honey is great too.

Good luck, M.

Honey...my pediatrician told me to give my 4 year 1/2 tsp of honey before bed (she weighs around 33 pounds). I didn't hear any coughing all night long!

Our ped. told us to give Delsym (good for both adults and children, which is a good thing, because it's expensive. Today's bottle was $11.00. Works better than Robitussin, too.

However, check with your ped, just in case. Some nasty things are going around, and they may want to see if it's allergies or a virus.

How long has he had the cough? Even without a fever, a persistant cough should be looked at by a pediatrician. I have no special remidies so sorry I can't help in that department.

Hope he feels better soon!

A.,

Rub him down with metholathem on his chest. Be sure that the area is cover with more than one shirt or make sure his chest is cover all night. Once at bed time and one more time when the coughing picks up again. Also, make sure that his head is higher than the rest of his body, a pillow is good. I wouldn't use during the day unless he is staying inside where it is warm.

Hope this helps. J.

I just read in a health magazine the a spoonful of honey for kids over 1yr. is as effective as cough medicine without all the side effects. Honey's antiseptic properties are good for curing sore, itchy, raw throats.

M.

Our 3 1/2 year old daughter has the same thing going on and her pediatrician said it is allergies. We now have her on 2.5mg of Children's Zyrtec once a day, and we are actually getting some sleep again. You should ask your doctor about it. We were tired of giving her cough medicine.

My mom just passed this on to me a few months ago. My kids are teenagers, but it still works. Put vick's vapor rub on the bottom of his feet then put socks on him at bedtime or anytime he's actually going to be relaxing. I was the first one to get to try it & it works. I put in a movie and made myself stay on the couch the vick's really made a difference. He'll probably feel it working in the back legs too. It's a lot better than having it burn your chest too:). It really soothes the cough I don't know about getting rid of it, but I sure did sleep better. good luck
K.

Try a spoonful of honey before bed. No drinks after you give it to him.

Hi A.,

I have a 4 year old who catches a cold about every 2 to 3 weeks. Delsym seems to work great for him and there is no alcohol in it.

K.

Coughing is annoying, but not harmful, unless it's interfering with sleep or it's croup. I have never found a medicine that works, and they are dangerous. If it's croup (sounds a bit like a barking seal) you can relieve it at night by having him go out in the night air, or fill your bathroom with steam and have him sit in there for a while. Otherwise, just let it run it's course.

I put Vicks Vapor rub on the bottom of their feet with socks (especially while they sleep) I do this for myself too. It works wonders.

Our son has a humidifier going in his room every night throughout the winter because of his chronic coughing (mostly due to asthma and allergies). Our doctor also recommends 1 part Apple Cider Vinegar to 3 parts water in the humidifier. I don't particularly like the smell, but it seems to help.

Our son was born, basically, without an esophagus..thank God it was able to be repaired. Anyway, when he gets a cough, it is absolute misery for all of us because it is incessant. We ask the doctor for codeine (I know, I know...it's a narcotic) because it just simmers everything down and we all sleep like babies. The coughing would get so bad that he would burst an eye vessel from time to time so the option of codeine is a much better one. Usually 24 -48 hours of codeine and things are back on track. If he's coughing because of allergies, you may need to give him allery meds. Anyway, Delsym and all the dextromethorphan in the world would not relieve the painful, nonstop coughing our son would have and codeine was the best option for his comfort and ours.

I have never tried this myself, but everyone I know who has tried it has said it works wonders. Spread Vicks Vapo Rub on his feet and the put socks on him. Can't explain why it works, but from everything I have heard it really helps. Hope he's feeling better soon!

Hey momma! My 3 year old had a but of a cough to and never seemed to go away. I have a Nebulizer I had gotten from the Hospital when she had ammonia the year before. The dottor said to give her some breathing treatments a couple times a day and that it would help. You use Albutertol that the Doctor prescribes. It has gone away. I also used it on my little 4 month old who had gotten a cough and it nipped it in the butt before it got worse. Hope it works your you and your Son!

Try going to a store like sprouts. They are wonderful and should be able to help you and the things there are natural.

my standard cough medicines that work better than anything:

in small bowl mix 2 TBSP. honey, 1/4 teaspoon of ground turmeric and same amount of fresh ground pepper. mix well. give it to your child/anyone in the family older than 2 yrs old. it lasts for hours!

for nighttime relief, i do a double thing: the honey/turmeric combo and i apply vicks vapor rub on the soles of their feet and i put on the warmest socks they have. also rub on their chest.
their cough will be relieved before you leave the room. try elevating his head with extra pillow and have him lay on his back rather than his stomach.

not even codeine works this fast. it's amazing. (don't do the vapor rub in the daytime, you don't want him to slip and fall.
have a restful night of sleep!

you can try a spoon ful of honey,, it does suppress the cough

I would suggest that if your sons cough is keeping him up because of it being so severe to get him to a doctor. my doctor has always told me that cough medicine will cover up a cough that is serious. so just in case i would stay away from the cough medicine until you speak to a doctor

we gave our daughter a tsp of honey or corn syrup it is thick and coats the throat..just make sure not to give to much too often..

Hi A..

I had the same problem with my 7 year old. Finally, I gave her children's advil and a drink of cold water. I also had her sleep at a slight incline. This worked great. My doctor always suggests a humidifier as well.

Good luck! :O)
Suzanne

You might try putting some Vick's Vapor rub on his chest and his throat and then wrap him with a towel around his neck down tucked into his shirt to keep the vapor rub in. Good luck!

Greetings,

You might want to try MUCINEX cough. I use Mucinex Cough with my son, who frequently gets Croup. He does really well with any MUCINEX product.

I've been there. For me I try to avoid drugs of all kinds. But depending on the severity of it I use hot steamy showers to breathe in the steam, vaporizors (steam w/menthol in it) as well as the vicks rub on. You'll want to keep him from running around & playing in dirt that will irritate his lungs any more. Rent some cool movies & have him enjoy a new flavored water or healthy liquid that he'll drink lots of & just make the best of a tough stay-still time while his lungs heal. Also if you haven't gone to the dr yet it may be time to just get him checked. There is a time & a place for medical care, my daughter has had to use a steroid inhaler at times to treat a persistent cough. So, be smart & use that mom-intuition that you've got going on! Take care & be well. D. SAHM of an 8, 6, & 3 yr old.

There are some homeopathic cough syrups that do get the job done that have more natural ingredients than the over the counter pharma brands. They can be found at your local herb store or health food store. We have found them to be very effective.

I have been dealing with this cough too ALL month with my 3.5yr old son!!! 1st the drs thought that it could be walking pneumonia but it ended up being a SEVERE sinus infection on top of a right ear infection. Antibiotics for 15 days!!! Prior to taking him into the dr. I tried Tylenol Cold and Cough, Robitussin Cold, Cough and Flu and Triaminic...NOTHING worked! The dr. advised me not to give him anything except for the Augmentin (antibiotics) and run a cool mist humidifier. It seems to be helping some. When my 16wk old got a cough he had a respiratory infection and is on albuterol 3x a day...it could be anything so just to be safe I would take him in!

We've got a 2-year old who has had coughs off and on all winter. The only things that have worked for us are kids' ibuprofen (for inflammation) and using Vicks steam inhalant with a vaporizer. It doesn't completely cure the cough, but it helped him get through the night with fewer disturbances. And do get the Vicks instead of the store brand - we figured they were all the same, but the generics smelled terrible and didn't seem to work as well. Good luck! I know how miserable it is when no one's sleeping.

I am a SAHM of 2 also. My oldest girl is turning 5 and my son is 2. My girl is in preschool this year and has been sick more times than I can count. She always ends up with a really bad cough. The thing I use for help is a children's tea from Just for kids. It is called "Throat Coat". I just add a little honey. I also use Vick's vapor night light. Both of these things seem to sooth that constant cough.

Hi A.,

My family tends to veer away from pharmaceutical drugs, so we try to stay up on our daily vitamins and supplement in our diet for a healthy immune system. But when we do get a cough, we use Breathe Easy tea from Traditional Medicines. The kids like the taste. I seep the tea in hot water, then add a little cold water to cool it for them I add some honey, which is natural cough suppressant. Sometimes I give my kids a spoonful of honey to eat while the water is boiling for the tea. That boosts their immune system, soothes the throat, and they enjoy the sweet treat! You may also want to stay clear of dairy products - they increase mucus build-up and make it harder to breathe.

peace, Dee

p.s. keep him hydrated! water, water, water

Hi, my 7 year old has asthma and will spend whole nights coughing, but someone told me to wet a wash cloth, sprinkle it with ginger, put it in the microwave for about 15 seconds(make sure it's not too hot!) and put it on their chest. I tried this and it worked wonders. If that doesn't work for your son try rubbing his feet with lavender oil mixed with a little lotion. This relaxes him and his cough. Good luck! C.

put vicks vapor rub on his feet and put socks on him. i have told this to several people, they tried it and it worked.

I have always found that Tylenol pain reliever helps better than just about anything. It seems to numb the nerve endings where all the irritation is and they cough less. This works immediatly. But to get rid of a cough for good we recently put vicks vapor rub on the bottom of our 3 year olds feet at night and covered with socks and the cough that wouldn't go away, was gone in a few days!

Our pediatrician recommended Delsym cough syrup, and the pharmacist told me it is the most effective cough medicine you can get OTC. It works well for all of my boys, and I've used it myself too.

Good luck!

-S.

You could try Delsym cough syrup--talk to any pharmacist, and they recommend it (ingredients are not of the same "addictive" family of chemicals as those recalled )--do you have a humidifier in his room?

When my toddler had a cough his nurse told me that corn syrup is a natural cough suppressant, for a 1 ½ year old I could do up to 4 teaspoons in a 24 hour period. The other suggestions she gave us were to raise the head of his bed (put the pillows underneath the mattress), put a humidifier in his bedroom (she said cold mist is best), and clear out his sinuses with hot steam from the shower right before bed. All of that helped us, while the cough didn’t go away completely we were able to get more sleep.

This may sound crazy, but I just read it in a magazine and it really works. A tablespoon of Honey! It worked on myself and my children recently and we all got some sleep. The good news is that is can be administered as often as possible with no side efects. Good luck.

What works great for my kids is the Vicks Vaporizer unit that you can buy for about $15 at Walmart. I use it every time my kids get a cold and it seems to really help the coughing. Along with the unit you buy the "kaz inhalant steam activation" which is a clear liquid that you pour in the top of the unit, which produces menthol vapors. Make sure you keep their door closed while they sleep so they can feel the full affect of the steam and vapors. The only problem with this is that the unit produces hot steam so you have to be careful where you put it, so the kids don't get to it. The cool mist humidifiers might help too but I found them not as effective as the vicks unit. I also like to put "vicks baby rub" on their chest and on the bottoms of their feet when they have a cough. Good luck!

Rub Vicks Vapor on the bottom of feet and put socks on at bedtime and even during the day. I got over my cold (sickness) fast as an adult.

HI, A.....

Here is a remedy that I received from a friend. I personally have not had a need to use it yet, but she swears by it!

Good Luck!

VICKS VAPORUB...TRY IT, IT WORKS

I wish I'd known this when my family was young during winter colds and
coughs. I am going to try it myself. Share with young parents.

Isn't life strange. When we had a lecture on Essential Oils, they told
us how the foot soles can absorb oils. Their example: Put garlic on your
feet and within 20 minutes you can 'taste' it.

Some of us have used Vicks Vaporub for years for everything from chapped
lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I've never heard
of this. And don't laugh, it works 100% of the time although the
scientists at the Canada Research council (who discovered it) aren't
sure why.

To stop night time coughing in a child (or adult as we found out
personally), put Vicks Vaporub generously on the bottom of the feet at
bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing
will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of
relief. Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than
even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is
extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly. I heard
the head of the Canada Research Council describe these findings on the
part of their scientists when they were investigating the effectiveness
and usage of prescription cough medicines in children as compared to
alternative therapies like acupressure.

Just happened to tune in A.M.Radio and picked up this guy talking about
why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good due to the
chemical makeup of these strong drugs so,I listened. It was a surprise
finding and found to be more ef fective than prescribed medicines for
children at bedtime, in addition to have a soothing and calming effect
on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly. Polly tried it on
herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few
weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket
had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes and believe me,
this was a deep, (incredibly annoying!) every few seconds uncontrollable
cough, and she slept cough-free for hours every night that she used it.
If you have grandchildren, pass it on. If you end up sick, try it
yourself and you will be absolutely amazed by the effect.

I got an email once from someone's remendies and one was to rub Vicks Vapor Rub on the bottom of the feet and put on socks at bedtime and relieves cough. Worth a try....B. c

Hi A.,
We have been in your situation many times and finally I learned of something a little "out there" that seems to do the trick. Just before bedtime, rub VICKS Vapor Rub on your child's feet and cover them with socks. Somehow this keeps the coughing to a minimum. I hope it works for you as well.
Good luck!!

My son has a cough right now. turns out he has an ear infection. if there is a fever with a cough take your baby to the dr. recently his dr. says that over the counter cold medicine is not good for children under 6. Motrin is okay and i know that this sounds crazy but if you get baby vicks and rub it on his feet and put socks on that should do the trick. i really works as for the cough they do make lollipop cough drops and frozen pops. also there is a throat spray just like the ones for adults. The only thing with that is that my son likes to spray it like it is candy so just read the label and use accordingly. Good luck and hope you get some sleep. one more thing if the cough is a whooping cough you might want to get that checked because that is bad.

L.

I rub( I had Infant's formula) Vicks Vapor rub on my 2 boys feet and put their socks on! It works instantly! I know it sounds crazy, but it works for my boys. My youngest is 3 and he had a barking cough which is croup. It usually turns into a cold, but for him it turned into a sinus infection. Both my sons have sinus infections and the cough that goes with it. They both sleep soundly as I apply it to their feet and put their sock on. A Cool mist humidifier helps along with plenty of fluids. Please see the Dr. as well. SAHM to a 8yr. old and 3 yr. old!

At 2 1/2 my oldest daughter developed a cough that would not go away and only bothered her at night. None of the over the counter meds or even prescriptions helped. We eventually figured out that it was an allergy. You might want to check into that. In the meantime I used to put a warm mist (not steam) vaporizer in her room and that made all the difference. I also tried cold and steam but they didn't work the way warm mist did. Vicks makes a warm mist vaporizer that you can get at a drug store like Walgreens. Recently I had a naturopathic doctor tell me that you can put lavender essential oil in with the water in a vaporizer and it's antiviral. Or you can use eucalyptus or chamomile oils as well and they help with the coughs too.
I hope that helps you.

vicks vapor rub on the bottom of his feet with socks at bedtime - worked for my 2 year old last month like a miracle.

My doctor prescribes a cough medicine called Ceron for my son when his cough is bad and it always works. I trust it because it is prescription and the pharmacy will double check everything to be sure that the doctor prescribes the correct amount and that it is appropriate for the child. I think it had a new name now because a new company makes it the new name is C-Phen I believe but it works great. My sons cough gets better within hours and goes away in a couple days. he has had to take it two or three times in the last two years.

I was told that you can put Vick's vapor rub on the bottom of their feet and then put socks on after. I have done it with my 5 year old son and it really worked.

Try Cough Free or Children's Chestal Honey you can get at Whole Foods

I have heard that if you put Vicks vapor rub on the bottom of his feet at bedtime it will keep them from coughing all night. I tried it with my son- it is hard to tell if it worked as good as I have heard. His cough wasn't horrible, so I don'y know if it worked really good or if his cough wasn't bad enough to be up coughing all night anyway. But
I never heard him cough that night. And remember, it might take a little time for it to start working. Maybe put it on a little before bedtime, then put socks on him and maybe by the time he goes to bed it will have set in. I have heard people swear by it. Good luck!

It looks like you have alot of help and I agree with most of what everybody has said. Just wanted to say try using an expectorant, it loosens up the junk and helps the cough be more productive. Other than that, what everybody else said sounds pretty good.

A couple things I would suggest (in addition to a doctor's visit!):

1. Prop the head of his bed up by putting a pillow under the mattress at that end of the bed. My mom always did that for me---and reminds me to this day to do the same thing for myself!

2. Warm steam bath to soften the passages of the throat and nasal passages that get tickled and irritated, starting a cough. You could also do a humidifier in your son's room, to keep the room moist enough for him.

Other than that, I really recommend seeing a doctor as these things can settle in and take forever to heal up right. Try to avoid milk, ice cream and cheese while he's getting over this cough---the dairy products seem to make phlegm worse and that's something he doesn't need with a cough!

Since some coughs come from drainage from the sinus cavities, show him how to blow gently---and blow one nostril at a time, so he's not "pressurizing" his head and pushing any congestion into his ears (ouch!).

These are just some things I can think of. Of course, you should talk to your son's pediatrician about any/all courses of action that are right for him.

Good luck---and sleep well!

A..

I had a child that no cough med. helped so I went back to what my grandmother gave us a mixture of honey and lemon, mixed so they could only taste the honey, she could not over dose on it and it worked she is 30 and still uses it.

I, too have had the flu with terrible coughing!
We solved this problem, I went 4 days with no sleep, by going to Wild Oats and using a homeopathic product.
The people at Wild Oats are very knowledgeable and can help you.
Borion makes a great line of products and has a child's line too.
It really works!
Good Luck!
The Mommie Mentor

A.,
Put a humidifier in his room. I know that most new numidifiers are cold air, but if you can still find one that blows hot and your son understands not to touch it, it will work better.
Put some honey in his milk, heat it if he will drink it that way.
Does he like to take a shower? The warm moist air there will help too.
And of course - chicken soup!

I have a couple of kids and a husband with asthma and we always use the humidifier to quiet the coughs.

Hi A., I have heard that if you put vicks vapor rub on the bottom of their feet and put socks on that will help the cough. So I did try that the last time that my son had a terrible cough and would not let him sleep.......IT WORKED!!

T.

Try rubbing Vicks Vapor Rub on the bottoms of his feet (not a lot, just a little to rub in)and cover them with socks. I've done this myself and it works for me. You can buy Children's Vicks at any Walmart, Target, or pharmacy.
Give it a try, see if it works for him.