15 answers

Treatment for Cough

Hello,
My 21 month old son has had a nasty wet cough for the past week or so that's keeping him up at night. Any tips on helping him feel better? We have the vaporizer, but he moves around so much in his sleep that propping his head is useless. Any suggestions appreciated!

What can I do next?

Featured Answers

I use Baby Vics on my kids' chests when they are sick with a cold. It eases the cough, especially at night. It's also safe to give him a teaspoon of honey before bed, too.

More Answers

I know this sounds strange for treating a cough but my mom and sister in law swear by it. I have yet to have a reason to try it. After your sons bath rub Vick's vapor rub on the bottom of his feet and have him sleep in socks. They say this works every time but I have no idea. It wouldn't hurt to try it if you have the vapor rub around. Good luck and I hope he gets well soon!

I read an article that said to put vick vapor rub on the bottom of your feet and to put socks on and sleep with the socks on at night. I haven't tried it but have heard that it really works. wishing you the best.

K. McConnell

Put a humidifier in the room at night and Baby Vicks on the bottom of his feet and then cover his feet with socks. Worked for my 20 month old son last month! He may wake up again in about 4 or 5 hours, so you may have to reapply the Vicks on the bottom of his feet. I know it sounds crazy, but it works! Oh also, give him 1 - 2 teaspoons of honey before he goes to bed. This will help coat his throat and was recommended by his pediatrician.

Ever since the cough/cold medicines were taken off the shelves for toddlers, we've used honey. Our pediciatrician recommended for our 2 yr olds to use 1/2 tsp of honey for coughs.

A wet cough is productive so he needs to get the junk cleared out of his body. I used Vicks vapor rub on my children's chests and throats, they got a little honey and lemon in a small cup of tea to help coat their throats to keep them from getting raw. If the cough is bothering you a lot you might talk to your pharmacy about cough syrup.

instead of the vaporizer try the "cool mist humidifier" my children have asthma and to help them sleep through the nite w/out the cough i give them a little cough medicine and put the cool mist. it really does help.

Love love love the Vicks idea. It works WONDERS!! The other suggestion I'd add, is a kids "Throat Coat" tea. You can get it at the health food store. I make a lukewarm to warm tea, depending on how hot your child can tolerate. Throw in some honey and let them sip away. The honey and the warm slick treatment of the tea, sometimes relieves the tickle in the back of their throat triggering the cough reflex. If propping doesn't work, just do the best you can. He'll work it out to where he is comfortable and can rest.
If the cough is productive, let it go. It is naturally cleansing the body of all it's crud. If it goes longer than a week, I'd call the MD.

Have you taken him to the doctor? With it going on that long you probably need too. You need to make sure it's not gotten down in his chest. There's a nasty bug going around that needs an antibiotic to get rid of it. Everyone I know who's had it has needed one. The Vick's on the feet and chest work great!!!

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