Seeking Home Remedy for 12 Month Old's Productive Cough

Ditto, ditto and ditto...Saline drops, cool mist humidifier, a “bugger sucker” (love that!). With a gurgled cough though you want to be careful about doing the shower steam method…you can relax the lungs too much and the warm moisture can allow the mucus to settle into the lungs and cause pneumonia. Also croup is going around…so do take her in ASAP if she seems to struggle with breathing. Also elevating the head of the mattress in the crib can offer relief for nighttime breathing.

Jen has some great suggestions!! Cold mist humidifier, saline nose drops - then suck out with what we affectionately refer to as "the buger sucker" lol. (my 6 yr old named that, lol) Also you can make rub on some baby vicks to clear her airways. Nice warm tubs. And you should also, if haven't already check with your pedi, just to make sure it is not croup or anything. It could also just be a simple cough in which case there really isn't much we can do for our little ones other than the things mentioned, and letting it take its course. It's hard to see them suffer and I always feel so helpless even when I try to make them as comfortable as possible.

Good luck, hope she feels better!

I would definitely take her to the doctor, especially since she is wheezing. My son has asthma, and at first we thought it was just a cold. We run a steam vaporizer (cool mist ones have to be cleaned daily). The steam ones put out more than the cool mist ones do. Just make sure it is across the room from her bed, and if she is in a big girl bed, you probaby will want to avoid since she can get burned by it is she pulls it over. We also like to use Vapor bath before bed when the kids are stuffed up. It seems to help clean them out a little bit and allow them to get to sleep. You can also try to elevate the head of her bed (pillow under the mattress) so she is propped up a bit while sleeping to keep her a little less congested. Also, just lots and lots of fluids to flush it out.

The good old bulb syringe is really effective. I also use a humidifier and saline nose drops. If you don't have a humidifier, just take her in the bathroom and run a hot shower with the bathroom door closed. Make sure to take her in to the doctor if she is struggling to get enough air. Watch her stomach. If it looks like her stomach is moving in and out with her breathing, that can mean that she's having to work hard to move air.