Oh, the restless evenings! A toddler's coughing fits at night can make them (and us) feel drained and agitated. However, you may use any (or a combination of) these 9 solutions to assist ease your toddler's cough at night naturally.
Over the years, as a mother and a nurse, I have seen and used my fair share of cold cures and drugs. But we want to make sure we use the healthiest and most natural means possible to help relieve our darling infants' nightly cough.
It is essential to remember that the first step in treating a cough is determining its underlying cause. Thus, be sure to consult your child's physician for a diagnosis and the best course of action.
For the duration of this post, however, we'll be concentrating on nine strategies to treat your toddler's viral or common cold-related nocturnal cough.
Why Is My Toddler Coughing During the Night?
As mentioned before, there are a number of causes for your toddler's nighttime cough. For example, it might be an asthma attack, an allergy, or the ordinary cold.
However, it's critical that your baby see their physician right away if their cough seems whooping, wheezy, or accompanied by a high fever.
By doing this, you may assist in identifying the root reason and ensure that your kid receives the appropriate care.
Generally speaking, however, a cough might sound terrible, it typically doesn't indicate a serious illness. (Reference)
Furthermore, a toddler's cough, particularly if it's brought on by a virus or cold, tends to get worse at night for a variety of reasons.
KidsHealth.com states that many coughs worsen at night. The mucus from your child's nose and sinuses might run down their throat during sleep when they have a cold.
How Do I Get Rid of My Toddler's Nighttime Coughing?
Many tired parents wonder this as they attempt to comfort and quiet a child who is coughing in the middle of the night.
Had the experience. Completed that. I too understand your suffering.
But try not to give up. I have now reduced the list of effective cough treatment techniques to nine after many sleepless nights and a lot of praying.
Continue reading to find out if your toddler's coughing fits are caused by a virus or cold. The nine toddler cough cures listed below can help you and your child get the much-needed sleep you both need.
Note: Children of all ages benefit greatly from these cough treatments.
Seven Cough Remedies for Toddlers
1. Place them in an upright position.
As a result of secretions collecting in the back of the throat when laying down, it is advised that your child sleep with portion of his or her upper body elevated.
Put one or more pillows beneath their upper torso. By doing this, you can improve the way secretions drain and lessen the likelihood of cough episodes.
If your child doesn't often sleep with a pillow, you may raise their mattress.
We used to put a wrapped blanket beneath my son's crib's head when he was smaller. He was able to get some height using that technique without using cushions.
In contrast, my daughter enjoys having cushions under her head, so keeping her up while she coughs at night is not an issue at all.
Additionally, take off the pacifier (if any) to make sure they can breathe more easily.
By keeping the air wet, you can prevent your toddler's airways from drying up and aid in the removal of mucus. hence relieving congestion and coughing.
2. Use Cool-Mist Humidifier
The easiest technique to achieve air moisture is to spend the night in your toddler's room with a cool-mist humidifier. Additionally, you may utilize it in the room where they will spend the most of their daytime use during the day.
There are many of stylish and functional cool-mist humidifiers available on the market.
Since cool-mist humidifiers are generally safer for kids than warm-mist humidifiers or vaporizers, pediatricians typically prescribe them.
But the warm spray also works wonders for relieving mucus buildup and soothing an inflamed airway.
Making steam in the bathroom is the easiest way to give your kid a warm mist or vapor.
To achieve this, turn on your bathroom's hot shower and shut the door for a few minutes to keep the steam contained. As soon as you see steam rising, spend a few minutes (15–20) sitting in the bathroom with your kid.
You may notice that some of the mucus begins to drain and loosen after a few minutes. Make sure you take advantage of that by having your child blow several times (or use a suction device to remove mucus).
Your kid will sleep better if they take a hot shower right before bed and use a cool-mist humidifier all through the night.
3. Honey
A easy remedy for your toddler's cough and sore throat is honey.
Experts concur that over-the-counter remedies for children's cough are ineffective and may have unfavorable side effects.
Furthermore, it is not advised for any youngster younger than six years old to take cough medication.
Alternatively, there's a vast array of honey syrups available over-the-counter that can serve the same function. Actually, a few of these honey syrups include additional natural cough suppressants in them.
One well-liked option is Zarbee's Naturals Children's Cough Syrup with Dark Honey.
A physician developed Zarbee's, which is produced with antioxidant-rich dark honey, to provide your child a safe and efficient approach to relieve coughs brought on by irritations, dry throats, and hoarseness.
4. Salt Drops
A lot of toddlers cough at night due to a mix of dry mucous and/or congested noses.
Therefore, it is a good idea to take care of the congestion difficulties as well as your toddler's cough. Their nasal passageways will then become calmer and more soothed as a result.
Have your kid blow out their nose to cure a runny nose. In the event that they are still unable to do so, you can carefully remove some mucus.
To clear up a clogged or congested nose, use saline spray or drops. Your kids' breathing will improve and their coughing will subside if they take a few saline puffs in each nostril and then blow or suction.
Your child will thus eat and sleep better if you use them throughout the day, especially before meals and bedtime.
5. Apply a heated compress
A chronic cough frequently aggravates the muscles in the chest. A gentle warm compress helps ease discomfort, ease tension, and ease muscles in the chest.
For small toddlers, heating pads are excessively hot. Alternatively, it might be helpful to place their favorite blanket in the dryer for a little while and then place it on their chest for a short while.
In order to lower their fever, we freeze the bean bag, lay it inside the puppy cover, and apply it to their forehead.
We put the bean bag in the puppy cover, microwave it on the lowest level, and let them embrace it if they have a chronic cough but no temperature. It nearly always eases their cough and induces sleep. An organic proso millet heating element is made of natural materials, as shown in the above-mentioned Puppy Microwavable Bean Bag.
Note: If they have a fever, avoid using a warm compress on them.
6. An abundance of fluids
Your child will keep hydrated if you make sure they drink lots of fluids throughout the day. Give your kid little sips of cold water at night to assist ease their cough (if required).
Additionally, soothing their sore throat and lowering their temperature (if any) can be accomplished by providing children with cold drinks like Popsicles and apple juice (avoid oranges).
7. Steam Massages
Another parent's go-to remedy for a toddler's coughing fits at night is vapor rubs.
According to a 2010 research that was written up in the journal Pediatrics, vapor rubs can help youngsters with their cold symptoms.
"Parents rated VR (vapor rub) most favorably for symptomatic relief of their child's nocturnal cough, congestion, and sleep difficulty caused by upper respiratory tract infection," the Pediatric research found after comparing VR, petrolatum, and no therapy.
8. Vital Oils
Essential oils have become more and more well-liked as natural treatments for a wide range of illnesses and symptoms in recent years. Certain essential oils, including eucalyptus and cypress, are believed to alleviate cough and congestion when applied topically or vaporized.
Having said that, it's crucial to remember that essential oils need to be used carefully, particularly around young people.
According to Healthline, "Essential oils have not been studied and affect children differently." Make use of oils that are safe for young children, expectant mothers, and nursing mothers.
Note: Not all essential oils are suitable for toddlers, and dosage isn't regulated, so always consult your doctor before using them, even if some may be helpful for naturally relieving your toddler's nightly cough.
9. Natural Air
Frequently, allergens and pollutants found in our own homes—such as smells, dust, pets, and other things—can cause coughing fits.
Getting your youngster outside for a short while to enjoy some fresh, chilly air may help ease the symptoms of a cough.
In summary
It's important to assist your kid recuperate, sleep through the night, and, well, help us maintain our sanity, by relieving their nightly cough!
Despite their widespread availability, over-the-counter cough suppressants are not deemed safe for use in children younger than six years old.
Fortunately, there are still many of techniques to assist soothe congestion and alleviate coughing in our tiny ones.
Your child should sleep through the night more comfortably if you use a mix of the above-discussed techniques, and hopefully so should you.
When you were a youngster, what natural remedies did your parents employ to treat your cough?
Notice: No medical problem is intended to be treated or diagnosed by this material. It is entirely informative in nature and is based on the author's experiences and personal beliefs. Please get in touch with your child's healthcare practitioner for a diagnosis and treatment plan.
comment 0 Comment
more_vert