Doctor doesn't want to prescribe anything for a really terrible cough/cold. Any recommendations?

Lyndsay - posted on 04/25/2010

If your child is under 6 he shouldn't be taking most OTC medications, although a very select few are okay for 2+. Health professionals generally feel that unless the child is extremely sick, its better to fight off the illness naturally because it helps to build immunity.

Karen - posted on 04/25/2010

humidifier ,nose drops, baby vicks , and a johnson's soothing vapor bubble bath before bed is great as well as propping up one end of baby's bed - it will help the fluid drain out better while they are sleeping instead of just pooling at the back of the throat making them cough. good luck and hope it clears out soon!

Lisa - posted on 04/25/2010

babies with chesty coughs are a nightmare. Doctors wont and all chemist are now 3 years plus. I have personally found a combination of saline(salt water) nose drops, it washes the mucus down into the stomach so its not on the chest and childrens nurophen. Hope this helps

Rachael - posted on 04/24/2010

for babies there is really nothing a doctor is allowed to prescribe. the medications aren't safe for the babies systems. only if it was a life or death situation would they probably give them anything. you can try sitting with them in a steamy room. put a humidifier in their bedroom. use the nasal aspirator, or you could also suck out the bugger with your motuh \(gross but it works). my doctor recommended squirting a little bit of breastmilk up the baby's nostrils. and give plenty of fluids

Adrian - posted on 04/24/2010

Children's benydryl will help with the drainage and it also helps to suppress the cough a little. It's the safest choice for a young child. It causes drowsiness so that will help with sleeping at night. Depending on the age of your child, you may be able to use something with the single ingredient called dextromethorphan. Use this sparingly, and only if the cough is really bad. If it's a productive cough, you wouldn't want to use it because you want your child to cough up the drainage, and this drug will suppress cough, leaving the mucus in the chest. Also, you could try putting vicks vapor rub on the collar of your child's pj's.

Claire - posted on 04/24/2010

Baby vicks bath works well for my kids. Also, vicks makes a nightlight/vapor-scented plug in that works great! If your baby is old enough for tea, try warm tea; if not, warm apple juice helps. Skip the milk until he's better, but use Silk if necessary.

Jaclyn - posted on 04/24/2010

Try a vaporiser..you can get them from the chemist excellent for night time sleeps.

Abbie - posted on 04/24/2010

also there is truth in homemade chicken noodle soup!!! Honestly everytime any of us are feeling under the weather I make a pot & we always feel better. Plus if your doctor gives you drugs for a cold, they will be less effective when you really need them!

Sharon - posted on 04/24/2010

There is no prescription tht will help stop a cold so your doctor is right.

Nasty coughs are horrible but again, there isn't much he can prescribe that will STOP the cough. There is a cough medicine with codeine but is that appropriate for a child?

Research more homeopathic remedies and stop worrying about prescriptions. I generally found a good steam session in the tub w/a "cold" additive (usually included menthol in the salts & eucalyptus) helped my childrens coughing.

A sweet honeyed tea also helped.

Andrea - posted on 04/24/2010

Paracetamol or ibuprofen (depending on age, I was advised you can give both alternately which can help). Karvol or olbas oil for the congestion (on a hankie, not on the child). Or Medised! It stops the mucus overnight and lets them sleep. Lavendar oil can help them sleep too. I've always told my daughter the best mediciine she can have is sleep!!

Bec - posted on 04/24/2010

baby vicks you can buy it at woolworths on bubs chest back and feet, if you have a nebuliser use it in the morning and night on bub. wrap baby when going to sleep, and have the window just a little tiny bit open also when baby is abotu to have bath steam up bathroom to clear the chest. always works for my son when he has a cold, good luck :)

Louise - posted on 04/24/2010

You do not say how old your child is? Most of the time there is nothing a doctor ca give to help with a common cold. Try to keep your child eatting with plenty of fluids on offer. Give baby paracetamol regularly after a feed. If your child is congested use either vicks vapour rub on there chest or use Karvol capsules on a bib. Unfortunately it is just a case of riding it out. Miserable I know to watch your child struggle to breath. If your worrid about a chest infection take your child back to the doctors and demand to be seen. Hope she/he gets better soon. xx