Cough Remedy for My Son?

Updated on September 05, 2012
H.1. asks from Des Moines, IA
14 answers

Hi ladies - My son is 2.5 yrs old and has a terrible cough. He's been to the doc and it's a viral thing that just needs to run its course (tho he is on antibiotics right now also treating an ear infection.) Im running a cool mist humidifier at night and giving him motrin (sore throat) and putting vapor rub on his chest and soles of his feet. Still, he cannot stop coughing all night long and having trouble sleeping through it. Doc said cough medicines do almost nothing for little ones - any suggestions for some sleep!?

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S.H.

answers from Des Moines on

I would call the dr back and see if he needs a nebulizer for some breathing treatments. How long ago did he see the dr?

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T.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

TRy Hyland's Cough & Cold. You can get it in the pharmacy or Target (probably WalMart too) in the cold medicine aisle. It's good for kids 2 and up. It's homeopathic. I use it for my son and it works amazing for his coughs, but not so much for runny nose .They also have a nighttime version of it as well.

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

This works for kids of all ages and adults too. When its time for bed, spread a THICK layer of Vicks Vapo Rub on the bottoms of their feet. Put on cotton socks. If the kids are very small and can pull off their socks, put them to bed in a footed sleeper. They will not cough at night at all. Good luck!

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M.G.

answers from Seattle on

Have you tried a natural remedy such as honey? You can either have him just have a tablespoon be poured into his throat or you can add some to some warm water and have him drink that to help soothe the irritation.

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

We use a nebulizer for our kids when their coughs get bad (they are now) and we also get Bromfed from the doctor. It's the only cough medicine that really works for them.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Coughs... are often worse at night because:
1) a young child cannot spit out their accumulated mucus... which accumulates and pools in their throat. Hence, while laying down, it makes them cough, and triggers the gag reflex.

Post Nasal dripping... also causes coughing. It triggers the gag reflex, tickles the throat, hence coughing.

2) Try, elevating his head, when sleeping.

3) Coughs, can originate from:
(a) Post Nasal Drip or, (b) from the chest. or, (c) both the sinuses and chest.

Give him lots of liquids, to loosen the mucus.
But, giving orange juice when sick, will cause more mucus/make it thicker.

Also try: "Little Noses" nasal decongestant. It is a nose spray, for kids. It helps. You can find it at most drug stores. It will help lessen congestion and mucus in the nose.

Keep an eye on him... if it worsens or a fever occurs, take him back to the Doctor. Colds like this, can sometimes get worse. ie: Bronchitis/Pneumonia etc.
If you can, and if he can spit out his mucus, look at the color of his mucus, too.

My Mom had that same thing. Only she didn't go to the Doc right away, and so now she has Bronchitis. Which is contagious.
And now, my Son... has that same thing. He is home sick, today from school.

take your son back to the Doctor if he does not get better. I assume the Doc also ruled out other things like Pertussis etc.

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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Steamy shower before bed
Elevate the mattress so your child is higher while sleeping
Spoonful of honey before bed will coat throat and help with the coughing---Your child is 2 1/2 right? As long as he/she is over age 1, you can do honey. You can use the honey as much as you need to.

Good luck!

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Does the doctor know he is up all night with the cough? Sounds like your son needs some kind of medicine. FYI... My daughter was diagnosed with pertussis (whooping cough) in August although she is vaccinated. Kids are often misdiagnosed with this illness.

N.G.

answers from Dallas on

Delsym for kids works great. It's a cough suppressant.

Unless it's a productive cough, then you want to give an expectorant (I usually give mucinex for productive coughs).

Whenever my daughter has a cough, we give her asthma treatments (only we don't use a nebulizer, we use an inhaler) with the delsym or mucinex.

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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

I second Angeles lemon tea, except I drink it for any cough I get. I boil water and add it to half a lemon and about 1.5 tablespoons of oregano. Let it steep for 3 minutes only. Add a spoon of honey to the liquid. Drink it morning & night. He is a little guy, so I would take it easy on the oregano. I drink a large cup, but you will probably only be able to get him to drink little bits at a time.

It doesn't taste wonderful, but it works without all of the meds.

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Steamy shower before bedtime can help.
Have him drink plenty of water and go easy on milk since it can thicken the mucus and make it harder to cough up.

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C.U.

answers from Omaha on

I got the best ever fix, fill a coffee mug 1/4 way with water put it in the microwave until it is pretty hot, add about 2 tablespoons of honey i add more because my son likes honey, stir and fill the rest of the way with apple juice. We use V8 fruit juice, pretty much any juice other than orange juice will work. Have them drink this warm drink.

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E.B.

answers from Duluth on

I would second the sitting up thing...in my experience, though, my kids have at most 3 nights like that, where they're coughing so much they're not getting enough sleep to get better, and then they crash. Usually it's not three nights, though. :) Coughs are hard. Even if you don't find something that works, most likely it won't be for too many more nights. Here's to more rest in your house!

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A.T.

answers from New York on

Productive or dry? Productive cough, lemon tea with honey. Lemon will break up mucus and he'll poop it out. Make tea with 1 whole lemon, boil water with slices of lemon in it with the rind. Dry cough, warm the Vick"s slightly, put it on his chest and throat, his back and soles of his feet. Cover all the areas with something warm, like flannel and put socks on his feet. Under no circumstances is he to go out, bathe or catch a draft. When sleeping, make sure he is 3/4 of the way up on 2 pillows. Delsym cough syrup is really great, as is Mucinex, give them a try.

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