Any tips on relieving a cough?

*Lisa* - posted on 06/02/2010

Arrrghhh! I don't think I could stomach it!! haha!!
Well Baylee is better now. He still is a little stuffed up but not too bad.The cough is gone.
I just discovered that 'hand and mouth' disease is going around in Hong Kong! It starts off with a fever, and then ulcers in the mouth! That's exactly what Baylee had! I wonder why the doctor never mentioned that. OH well.

Nikki - posted on 06/02/2010

My daughter has got the same thing at the moment, we use the baby vicks, elevate her bed and vaporiser, just remember that if you use a hot water vaporiser to wash it really well every 3 days, otherwise bacteria can grow and make it worse, mine has a big plastic tub which comes apart, I wash it and chuck it in the microwave for a few minutes. I hate the blocked nose thing, my daughter will not sleep without a dummy and the stupid bulb thing doesn't work on her, so gross I know but I just suck it out, makes a huge difference if you can stomach it!

Suzette - posted on 05/31/2010

Aww I'm sorry jocelyn, :( I hope they get better soon!

*Lisa* - posted on 05/31/2010

Oh nooo!!! Must be something in the air!

Jocelyn - posted on 05/31/2010

You ladies jinxed me... now BOTH my little ones are sick and coughing...

Suzette - posted on 05/31/2010

Good to hear Krista!! Glad he's doing better! :)

I hope your little one reacts the same Lisa!

*Lisa* - posted on 05/30/2010

Good news!!! Must get a vaporizer...

Krista - posted on 05/30/2010

He's MUCH better today. I gave him a break from the sippy cup yesterday evening and all of today, just giving him his water in a bottle instead, and he barely coughed at all today. So I'm pretty sure the water in the sippy cup was the culprit.

I didn't call the doctor (my doc works weekdays), but I did call our 811 healthline, which is staffed by RNs, and they said that this isn't at all unusual -- that babies have a more sensitive gag reflex, and that a lot of them tend to cough and gag when first learning to drink water out of a sippy cup, because they're sucking too hard and a bunch of it goes down the wrong hole, so to speak. I put the vaporizer in his room last night and tonight, to soothe his throat, and he hasn't coughed at all since I put him to bed. So I think he'll be fine -- I'll just keep an eye on it.

*Lisa* - posted on 05/30/2010

Thanks Suzette! Sick babies are not fun. Mine was still coughing up a storm last night and blocked to high heaven. How's Sam Krista?? Did you call the doctor??

Suzette - posted on 05/30/2010

Lisa and Krista, I hope both of your little ones are doing better!

Krista - posted on 05/29/2010

Well, I took him to the doc a few weeks ago, mainly because he still had a fair bit of congestion from a cold. He said that it was normal for babies to retain some chest congestion after a cold. For awhile, he was doing better with the cough.

It only got worse this week, and I think it's partially my fault. I transitioned him from a bottle to a sippy cup for his meals, and he's having great fun holding his own cup. But I think he's not quite used to not having to suck as hard, because every so often, he'll suck in too much and start coughing and sputtering a bit. I think after doing that too many times, his throat got irritated, and so now we have that vicious circle. I haven't seen the doc again yet, as he only threw up for the first time on Thursday night -- he was in his crib, started coughing, and then I heard him gagging. I ran upstairs and there were half-digested carrots EVERYWHERE. I didn't call the doc because I figured it was a one-off, where he hadn't done it before, and was then fine up until today.

So I'll give the doc a call Monday morning. He's eating well and sleeping well, and everything else is fine, so I'm not TOO panicked about it just yet.

*Lisa* - posted on 05/29/2010

Poor Sam!! That's awful that he's vomiting because he's coughing so much! What did the doc say?

Krista - posted on 05/29/2010

Sam's got a bad cough too. It comes and goes, but a couple of times now, he's gotten into such a coughing fit that he threw up. He did this today over at my friend's house -- puked EVERYWHERE!. And of course, the more he coughs, the more irritated his throat gets, resulting in more coughing, and round and round we go.

So yeah, I think I'll be putting the vaporizer back in his room again tonight. I had taken it out for awhile, because it puts out so much mist that we were worried about mildew. But he can't keep coughing like this, poor little man.

Suzette - posted on 05/29/2010

I'm sorry Lisa!! I hope that he starts feeling better really soon. :( I wish you knew whoever gave him those throat ulcers so you could kick their butt. Damn inconsiderate people.

*Lisa* - posted on 05/29/2010

Thanks guys! Well he woke every hour last night and needed a bit of a cuddle to fall back asleep. He hasn't been coughing so much today so hopefully he's on the mend!! :)

Suzette - posted on 05/28/2010

Maybe some Vicks would clear up his nose? My mom used to use that on us when we had severely stuffy noses. My OB prescribed me Pearl pills for my cough when it was awful during the stuffiness. I don't know if children can get those or not though. They helped a little though.

The only thing I know of for cough is tea with honey, it soothes the throat. I don't know if your little man will drink that though. (Warm tea that is.)

The humidfier is a great idea, it also helps with allergies. =)
They also have the Saline drops but they have this thing called a Flush as well. (Also Saline.) I had that when my stuffiness got too bad during pregnancy. I'm not sure how well it would work with a toddler, but it's just saline and water. It could help.

I hope he starts feeling better soon!

Jackie - posted on 05/28/2010

She doesn't seem to be feeling to bad but the cough is still waking her up. The nose drops seem to help a bit. Thanks for asking :) Hope your LO feels better soon

*Lisa* - posted on 05/28/2010

Oh great. I just googled one of the medicines the doc gave me and it's side effects are: stomach pains and trouble sleeping for children... gah!

*Lisa* - posted on 05/28/2010

Awesome. Seems like humidifier is a running theme here! Will get one tomorrow. I tried to steam my bathroom up but it doesn't steam up. Strange. Too much ventilation I think. Cracks in windows etc.
Doc gave me some nose drops and a stack of other medicines hehe so I hope it starts working for him! It sounds horrible!
Thanks Jackie, I will listen out for that! Is Allison better???

Jackie - posted on 05/28/2010

Also, I want to add that Allison had Croop at 8 months old and it was absolutly horrid. If the cough sounds like a seal barking and her voice is high pitch when she makes noises you may want to ask the doc.

Jackie - posted on 05/28/2010

I've been dealing with the SAME thing.I've taken Allison to the doctor twice in the last week 1/2 and thay say her lungs are clear so there really nothng they can do but the tips they gave were....



A humidifier in her room or put her in a steamy bathroom

A touch of Benedryl for the congestion

AND try some Salien (sp?) drops in her nose to loosen the mucus and then use the bulb sucker to get some of it out. I found some drops called Little Noses for infants.



Hope this helps!

*Lisa* - posted on 05/28/2010

Oh a dehumidifyer is a good idea! I'll have to try those! Thanks Gillian :)

Lady - posted on 05/28/2010

Raise the mattress up a little by putting a pillow UNDERNEATH it, also try some thing smelly to relive the blocked nose like eucalyptus oil on a piece of cloth near his cot or in a humidifyer. Good luck, coughs and cold in babies suck!!!