Colds and coughs are common in children under the age of five. Children's immune systems grow through germ exposure and their capacity to battle them. If you make your kid feel comfortable and control their symptoms, they will be able to get the rest they need to recover.
Typically, a cough lasts for two weeks. Many coughs are caused by common viruses that are not curable. Unless the cough is severe or accompanied by additional, serious symptoms, the best line of action is to give comfort measures at home.
Cough medication should strive to keep your child hydrated, quiet, and relaxed. It is not necessary to try to prevent coughing.
Continue reading to learn about home remedies for toddler coughing and how to know your child needs medical help.
Natural Home Remedies for Kids and Toddlers:
1. Use Honey
Honey, a natural sweetener, can help soothe a sore throat. Furthermore, honey contains antibacterial properties that can help in the battle against illnesses. Honey should not be consumed by children under the age of one owing to the risk of botulism. You can give a teaspoon of honey to children over the age of one as often as you wish, but you should be aware of the extra sugar consumption.
You can also try mixing the honey in warm water to help your child consume it. This will also help to keep your infant hydrated.
2. Humidity and Liquids
Children should strive to stay hydrated since water helps thin mucus in the airways, making coughing up easier and less uncomfortable. A cold mist humidifier also helps in lubricating mucus discharges and moisten the airways. Warm mist humidifiers, however, should be avoided, according to the FDA Trusted Source, as they might irritate the nasal passages and make breathing problems worse. A quick and non-invasive way to treat the toddler's cough symptoms is by keeping a cool mist humidifier in their room.
3. Apply Saline Nasal Spray
These over-the-counter nasal drops can be purchased in pharmacies. When used in combination with a nasal syringe or nose blowing, saline drops can help remove mucus by softening it. Follow the directions on the bottle to use the nasal drops carefully. If it's difficult to get these tiny drops into your toddler's nose, soaking in a warm bath will help open nasal passages and loosen mucus. This reduces the likelihood of postnasal drip.
If your child wakes up coughing, try applying saline drops before bed or in the middle of the night. Nasal saline drops are typically regarded as secure.
4. Take a Talk Outside in The Chilly Air
When it's chilly outdoors, you can use this ancient remedy, which depends on exercise and fresh air, to relieve cough symptoms.
If it's cold outside, wrap your child up and go for a brief walk that lasts no more than a few minutes. Although you should avoid overexerting your child, there have been some anecdotal stories of this relieving coughing and shortening the length of a cold. If their child wakes up in the middle of the night coughing, some parents open the freezer door and place them in front of it for a few minutes.
5. Use Vapour Rub
It's debatable if vapor rubs with menthol or camphor are advantageous. This balm has been applied to kids' chests and feet for decades, but a study on animals found that it can actually produce mucus, which might potentially obstruct young toddlers' lungs.
Before using any vapor rub, see your pediatrician. If you do use a vapor rub, putting it on your child's feet can be safer than putting it on their chest where they could touch it and get it in their eyes as toddlers are prone to do.
Never use vapor rub on a child's face or beneath their nose, or use it on babies under the age of two.
6. Use Essential Oils
These herbal products are gaining popularity and some of them can be helpful for lowering coughing or soothing aches and pains whether applied directly or diffused into the air. However, always check with your doctor before taking essential oils. Some oils are not appropriate for young children, and the dose is not monitored.
How to Check If You Need To Take the Child to The Doctor?
Call your child's pediatrician’s office if you've been treating your child's cough at home for a few days and it's becoming worse. The nurse on call can provide you with more treatment suggestions and assist you in deciding whether or not to come in for a visit.
Chronic coughs can be brought on by allergies and asthma, both of which require medical attention. If you suspect allergies or asthma are the cause of your toddler's cough, schedule an appointment.
Some indications that your child needs to see a doctor are:
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Temperature over 100.4°F (38°C) for more than three days and a cough that lasts longer than 10 days.
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When breathing causes chest pain and muscles in the neck or rib cage to contract, this could be an indication of an ear infection.
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In addition to watching your child's breathing, the doctor can occasionally use an X-ray to make a diagnosis.
