Thread: Helping little ones sleep with a cough

My little one has been coughing non stop for 3 days now, he wakes himself up coughing so he's hardly getting any sleep. Think its just a common cold (don't you just love this time of year) he has the runny nose and temp too.

I've tried benylin cough syrup and he's been having ibuprofen twice a day to see if it will help him sleep but so far it's not working.

Would of taken him to the doctors by now but we're not where we live at the moment worst comes to worst i'll haven't to take him to a walkin centre but before i do that.

Just wondering if there are any other things i can try before i give in and take him to the doctors

Are you in UK? If so go into your local pharmacy. I always do this if I am unsure, and all the ones I have happened upon have been superb.

Yeah in the uk, think as soon as my daughter wakes up i'm heading there

If you think it is the gunk sliding down the back of the throat when bubba is sleeping try Karvol. Works wonders for Miss Gonzo.

Will try anything, he needs sleep and having him sleeping on me half the night is not helping with me sleeping.

When Big Tree was little my then next door neighour recommended Medised to help him sleep. It's a painkiller with a mild sedative in and it worked wonders for him.

Since toddler tree's birth it has gone up to age 6 only for some reason but I confess I have and do use it on Toddler Tree if he is ill and it's affecting his sleep. Purely because 9 times out of ten once he has slept he feels sooo much better for it. It's never done him any harm and it never did big tree any harm but it is a very personal decision to go against guidelines.

You can gt plug in diffuser things for the bedroom as well which helps circulate the air better or something like that, not entirely sure how they work but they are supposed to be good. also if it sounds like there is something on his chest try running the hot taps in the bathroom with the door and windows shut. The steam helps clear the chest.

I swear by Olbas oil - a few drops on their pillow and it definitely eases breathing and reduces coughing. Depending on your youngster's age, you could try Vicks Vaporub too. I know Olbas is fine from 3 months, but I think Vicks is only okay from 2 years? Ask the pharmacist - they'll know. Don't just rub it into her chest though - I find rubbing it on their back as well, in between the shoulder blades, is particularly helpful for coughing.

Pharmacy will probably suggest paracetamol instead of ibuprofen, as it's better at breaking fevers. Keep an eye on her temp though - if that's not coming down it may be better to go to walk-in. You could also try tea with ginger, honey and lemon - the ginger is good for fever, honey soothes the throat and lemon helps open the airways.

In our last quarter where we had radiators, I would put some Vicks on a damp flannel and put it on the radiator (which was on), and it seemed to really help her at night.

I never use cough syrups, pointless really, paracetamol with honey and lemon drinks. A GP will only prescribe to a child they believe to be unable to fight the level of infection as the immune system needs to gain strength to help fight future problems.

I know it sounds harsh, but the Pharmacist, other than dispensing, also get paid to sell over the counter remedies.

Paracetamol and Ibuprofen taken at 2-3 hourly intervals will help the temp which will, in turn, stop the infection, in this case the cold, from having the necessary environment to spread.

Poor you, it's hopeless when it's them not us!

Beebs x

Been looking at the Medised S-T we used it with my daughter she never slept when she was ill but the bloddly thing never worked with her lol. Think i may try it though. he needs sleep to get over this.

beeb its so hard watching them so ill and not being able to do anything for them.

How old is your widget?

If he's in a cot, a bowl of steaming water placed just beside the head end of the cot will keep the air moist. Avoid leaving the heating on as it will just dry the air out.
Raise the head of the cot slightly on a phone book to help stop phlegm collecting in the back of his throat.
If he's very tiny, you can get a pipette/bulb thing from most chemists that lets you suck the snot out if they're too young to blow (revolting but effective).
Before bedtime, if small enough, lay him face down on your knees and gently rub and pat his back with cupped hands to help loosen any phlegm and get it up.
A drink of slightly warmed orange or apple juice with a spoonful of honey in it is soothing (brush teeth obviously)

How old is he?

My daughter is terrible with her chest and no medicines (apart from amoxycillin once its got to chest infection stage) help. Ibuprofen and Paracetamol like BBC said is the only thing I use but I also find it helps if I give her extra pillows and prop her up so she sleeps in a less flat position.

The Dr also said the change in temperature could cause it (when the heating turned off at night) so I turned the radiator off in her room and she always has the window slightly open.

Usually, I know its no help but with my daughter when she has a bad coughing episode she tends to wretch and usually ends up throwing up then it seems to clear her chest.

If he's old enough lozenges can help as they tend to numb the back of the throat which can lessen the tickley feeling which makes them cough more.

Sorry I can't be of any real help.

You and your son have my sympathy.

put a pillow or rolled up towel, under the head end of your LO's matress, making them sleep in an upright position, will help them. Keep the room air moist (wet towel on radiator or cup of water in the room), keep the room at a reasonable temp. I found that if coughing persists, then stand in the bathroom with your LO, turn on the hot water and let the room steam up. TBH, a dr won't be too bothered with a cough, unless a temp is there. And keep up the fluids

He's 14 months, but yeah he's been throwing up with the constant coughing bless him. I've put a pillow under his head but he moves around so much i tend to find him up the other end of the cot half way though the night.

I'm going to try everything hopefully this doesn't last long

He's been sleeping on and off since 11am this morning, do i let him sleep for as long as he wants?

A small dose of brandy and rum mixed with warm water and brown sugar. And mum finishes the rest for a good night's sleep, too. Honest, my mum used that on my little brother when he had terrible asthma as a very small child and at the very least he could sleep.

I know, alcohol and small children isn't to be advocated, so if you do go for it, it's tiny amounts!

Otherwise, keep the bedroom slightly cooler than the rest of the house and keep him wrapped up when you go out - fresh air works wonders. Keep a close eye on his temperature and if it's OK and he's eating OK he'll be fine in days.

let him sleep, don't give him alcohol and medication, Social Services will be on you with a sharp stick if you have to go to the hospital and they even suspect it.

try nursing him, sit down, hold him facing you, head to the side and let him sleep, the heat from your chest warms the mucus in his chest and it slips into his tummy when he coughs it up, because you're holding him he won't feel frightened and wake up, when he has a good old coughing fit he'll vomit the stomach mucus up as well. You might notice slightly wet stringy pooh as well, again just mucus.

I know sitting nursing a child sounds like a chore, but prop pillows around you and go for a nap as well, bugger the house, get friends or family to bring you food and accept all offers of help, I'm sure you make enough.

Beebs x

PS typed while wearing rubber gloves....... oh matron!

When my 2 are like it I use tixylix night cough. It is advised for 6+ only, but only because some mothers were using it as a sedative so they could sleep rather than actually helping their child!
My friend is a health visitor and uses the same stuff on her children who are 2 and 4. I give my youngest half the dose it says on the bottle. usually it only take 2-3 nights and she's OK.
Youngest has a terrible cough that has come out the last couple of days, and last night she actually made herself sick. So tonight she will get some night cough medicine before bed.
I found that medised didn't work on either of mine!

I used to use the Tixylix stuff when DD was little and she was poorly (it was 2+ back then) but it didn't even occur to me to circumvent the age restriction for DS. Might do that next time he's ill as I remember DD getting over things very quickly because she slept and her body recovered.

So little one is better in a matter of a day slept though last night, would never have thought to use piriton. But after 2 doses cough was completely gone. Amazing stuff def be stocking up before i leave for germany.

i use fenchel honig when the little one has a cough. i get it send from germany, and it's recommended by my sister in law , who practises as a midwife in germany.