Coughing 2 Year Old

Updated on January 02, 2012
A.P. asks from Portland, OR
18 answers

My 2 year old has a really raspy cough, you can hear the phlem in her throat. It was only at night for a couple nights then today she is just coughing up a storm. We both had colds and I thought she was better then she started coughing, I am a first time mom, should I take her to the doc? Is there anything I can give her? Thanks

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A.L.

answers from Dothan on

Yep, time for the Doc...call & let them know what's up in entirety, they will tell you then if it is something the Doc wants to see her about.

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D.A.

answers from Portland on

Watch for ear tugging or complaints of ears, yellowish/greenish stuff coming out of the tear ducts in her eyes (definite sign of sinus infection), try wet cotton socks with dry wool socks over the top at night. This should loosen the mucous in her chest and help her get it cleared out. I know this sounds funny, but it actually works. You might also prop up one end of her bed a bit so her head is elevated.

Get her into a hottish shower and let her drain out in there. A steamy bathroom is good too, just run the shower and sit with her. You don't actually have to be in the shower to get the steamy affects.

We also like to use saline to help loosen the nasal congestion. Sometimes we use Little Noses, this helps loosen the nasal congestion, too.

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K.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Yes, take her to the doctor. My 2 year old son had the same cough and we took him to the doctor and he had croup cough---its a viral infection where kids start coughing really hard especially at night time. He is fine now. I was giving him warm milk with honey. Then he got another cold and was coughing even more but is better now. So, yes go get it checked.

2 moms found this helpful

R.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try a humidifier and some honey and lemon to soothe her throat. My guy (3 in April) developed a deep barking cough a few days ago, I did both and his cough is nearly gone, down to maybe twice a day, and much, much looser.

1 mom found this helpful

L.G.

answers from Eugene on

Elderberry syrup. A 1/2 tspn 4x a day.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.P.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

My daughter (15 months) has a similar cough right now, and I took her in today. I'm so glad I did. Unbeknownst to me she had a double ear infection in addition to her cough. Also, her pediatrican shared that pertussis (whooping cough) is going around terribly right now, and so she put her on a antibiotic that would treat the ears but also the cough even if it is pertussis. I say when in doubt, call the dr.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

As an old time mom, I doubt that she needs to go to the doctor but you can call the advice nurse to be sure. A cough that rattles indicates that the phlegm is loose. The coughing is her body's way to keep it loose and to cough it up. If she's wheezing that is a different story. A wheeze is the air having difficulty passing through the passages. This may indicate asthma. Put your ear to her chest and listen.

Chest congestion which is different than a rattly cough can indicate the need for an inhaler or nebulizer. A cough caused by asthma would be a tight cough not rattley. But other than that there is no treatment that the doctor can offer that you cannot to at home.

Use a humidifier. That will help. And steamy showers.

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J.M.

answers from Missoula on

I would take her to the pedi. At the very least, he will be able to give you the dosage information on cold medicines. You don't want to leave a cold unchecked in kids so young... While it may be nothing, there is the chance that it could develop into something worse. Better to be safe than sorry. :)

Although, when I notice that my DD starts coughing I give her some Little Colds (brand) Honey Elixir. It doesn't have any actual medicine in it, so it is safe to use without a doctor's recommendation. She has never had a cold progress past the initial stages, and they have never lasted longer than a week. Not sure if it's due to the Honey Elixir or her immune system, but it has worked for me. :)

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T.C.

answers from Hickory on

I wouldnt be to worried. If it was the croup, it will sound like a bark, you can google it, but you will know that something isnt right. Also, they will have a fever. My daughters get croup all the time and once you have heard it, you will be able to tell the difference.
I give my 2 year old 1/2 teaspoon of childrens mucinex.... I am a cna and mucinex is one of the best things that we use.
My daughter got a bad cold after having tubes put in her ears and her Ear nose and throat dr told me about the mucinex...So i use it al the the time, saves alot of trips to the dr and helps her sleep better.......

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H.G.

answers from Dallas on

Call the pedi. There are prescriptions that can be given to help. You don't have to try to figure it out by yourself! Natural remedies do work but sometimes you need something more. See what can be called in for her or get some otc recommendations. There's no need for her as well as you to be miserable!

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R.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

There is an homeopathic cough syrup and cold n cough syrup (has a little bear on the box) you can purchase over the counter for sure at Shopko...not sure if elsewhere, but we us that and works like a charm. Would recommend not using any other cough medicines though as children that young shouldn't, in my opinion, use them.
Also I second using a humidifier and vics rub on chest and feet or vics wall plug ins. As far as going to the doctor I would wait it out and see how things go. Rushing too quickly to dr only gives a fee as sometimes ilnesses just need time to run its course. But I was a first time mom too years back and needed the comfort of knowing from the dr things were okay. Hope she is well soon!

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N.L.

answers from Boston on

When I was little and my coughs would get to the phlegmy stage, my mom would always say, "Good, it's breaking up! Get it all out." Hopefully this is a good sign. I feel like if it gets much worse, you could call the doctor, but my pediatrician says no OTC cold meds at this age, so it might not be much help. I second the recommendations of steam, honey, and vicks. Also you might try saline nose drops because post-nasal drip can make coughing worse.

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M.M.

answers from Boston on

Yup...I'd take her to the doctor and have her checked out--kind of sounds like my sons asthma which flairs up w/viral infections (and started right around age 2) but it could be just a cold...in the meantime, try a humidifier and little noses saline nasal spray; they should help w/ the mucus/phlegm if it's just a cold and try to keep her as propped up as possible when she's sleeping...Good luck...hope she feels better

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Take her to the Doctor.
Coughs can be due to anything and many things.
You don't want it to get worse.
The only way you can diagnose it, properly, is to take her to the Doctor.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

The doctor will probably get her on a nebulizer. If so, ask for saline rather than the albuterol/Zopenex. Steam up the bathroom and hang out there for a bit.. Good old vaporizer, Vick's has a small one you can plug in and its great! Try Similsan or Hyland's Cold medicine, its all natural and perfect for my two yr old:) Hope this helps

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H.G.

answers from Portland on

Very warm water, a little lemon juice & some RAW uncooked honey mixed together.

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B.P.

answers from Cleveland on

id take her in on monday or tuesday its probably a respatory infection my daughter has the same thing and is on an antibiotic for it

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K.J.

answers from Seattle on

I'd take her to the Dr. Never hurts to have her checked out. They can always give her something better than over the counter med......:)
Good luck!

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