Coughing at Night

My children's Dr have NEVER suggested an over the counter cold medicine for a child that young. I would take my baby to a different Dr and demand that they do something. I have also read the reports about those meds being deadly for children under the age of two and I just wouldn't risk it. Hope she feels beter!

J.,
I am (again) facing this problem with my son (3rd child). My oldest coughed so much at night that she would actually gag herself and almost vomit. Nothing (vicks, vaporizer, humidifier, over counter meds, steam) worked. Her doc changed meds constantly. I finally switched docs cause I had had it with the drugs. They worked only temporarily and never solved the problem. She rarely slept through the night without coughing. No coughing really during daytime. After switching docs we found out that it was asthma. The first night after using the albuterol with the nebulizer and singulair tablets, she actually slept for the first time in like 3 months! She ended up having tubes put in due to so many ear infections/URIs. Since the tubes have been in, no need for the nebulizer or singulair. No coughing.

The doc said a cold, ear infection, allergies, exhaustion, stress...all can trigger asthma at night. The tubes cured the ear problems...and now..no asthma. Amazing how the 2 were related!

I use the nebulizer on my younger 2 kids. Even when my son had the croup at 14 months, it was the only thing that helped. It is great. I swear by it.

Could this be the problem? I love Franklin Park Peds. Dr. Haidar solved our problems immediately. He is wonderful with all of my kids.

It is so hard when they cannot tell you what is wrong at such a young age. Best of luck! :)

The only thing you CAN do is clear out her nose with a bulb syringe (sp?) since she can't blow it herelf yet...and put her to bed with a vaporizer / steam in her room...or you could also elevate her crib a bit by putting a pillow under the MATRESS (don't let her sleep with a pillow) but keeping her upright a bit may help and then waiting it out. My 7 month old is going through the same thing right now. She has her first cough and there's no fever ...just a runny nose and coughing at night. It's probably a viral infection and antibiotics won't do any good : (

Try the vaporizer in her room when she's sleeping and keeping her nose clear as best you can...putting a little vaseline under her nose will help her feel more comfortable too (if she's stuffy). If those attempts don't help your doctor can give you a RX for Cerdon-DM ...it's a cough suppressant safe for children.
Good luck...I hope your LO is better soon!

OK, I recently got this email, I don't know if it works, but it's definitely worth a try!

Cough Remedy

Sorry, no graphic for this one, and don't laugh , it works 100% of the time although the scientists at the Canada Research council (who discovered it) aren't sure why.

To stop nighttime coughing in a child (or adult as we found out personally), put Vicks Vaporub generously on the bottom of the feet at bedtime then cover with socks.

Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief.

Works 100% of the time and is more effective in children than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition it is extremely soothing and comforting and they will sleep soundly.

I heard the head of the Canada Research Council describe these findings on the part of their scientists when they were investigating the effectiveness and usage of prescription cough medicines in children as compared to
alternative therapies like accupressure. Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good due to the chemical makeup of these strong drugs so,
I listened.

It was a surprising finding and found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime, and in addition, to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.

My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, coughing stopped in a few minutes and believe me, this was a deep, (incredibly annoying!) every few seconds uncontrollable cough, and she slept cough free for hours every night that she used it.

First and foremost, you need to make sure that you have good humidity in your house (ie humidifier, etc) because durimg the winter months it's sooo cold and dry. I'm a firm believer in juices and I sell naturopathics. What I've found is that #1: Do not give the child any milk before bedtime, or, for that matter, at all when your daughter is sick. #2 Make sure that you pile the pillows high under her head at night. #3 Teach her to cough up the phlegm that is characteristic of sickness. #4 Rub Vicks vapor-rub not only under her nose and chest (with turtleneck), but if you put in on the bottom of her feet, she will not cough at all whatsoever at night (very interesting, huh). All of these are surefire winners of the cough epidemic. If you need any more ideas, just send me a note, a have a handful more!

My 1st son was sick ALOT when he was little and my others ones get this cough once in a while still. If I were you, I would treat it like you would home-remedy for croup. I would bring your daughter into the bathroom and turn on the shower on hot and let the room steam up. Breathe that for a while. And if it does not get better and she is starting to get upset and/or cry and panic because she can't breathe without coughing, then I would put her in the car and go for a night drive with the windows cracked OPEN. Or stroller ride if you feel safe enough for that. The cool moist air is also good for breathing. Also she is sitting more upright and there is less nasal drippings down her throat.

Along with the Vick's on the feet like someone else suggested, personally I use Tiger Balm. I think those things are what you could do without medicating. Best of luck, I hope you all get some sleep.

My 3 1/2 year old just went through this- it turned out to be an upper respiratory infection. Not contagious but we aren't suppose to send him to preschool. Now my 2-2 year olds have it and I can relate to how you are feeling. I have been giving them an infant cough/fever from Rite Aid

I still use the old home remedy of vics vapor rub and a warm mist vaporizer. Works for me and my kids and now my grandkids.

My daughter has had a problem with developing a cough with a cold...I just recently heard that rubbing Vicks VapoRub on the bottom of her feet will help eleviate the cough.
Then I started with a cough so I tried it on myself, and it does indeed work. I like the idea of vicks on the feet instead of on the chest near the face.
Hope your daughter gets better really soon.

If she's only 15 months, don't give her anything OTC. Instead, try using a vaporizor with the Vicks steam. These really do help.

If you have not see the news info., please educate yourself on the recent infant cough/cold medicine recalls. After the recalls, there really are not too many over-the-counters to choose from. My daughter had a cold/cough a few months back and the dr. prescribed a medication that seemed to work. You may want to talk to your pediatrician again before giving her anything. Good luck!

J.,

When our son is sick he constantly has a very congested cough. My doctor suggested a humidier and we use it all winter long! She also said not to use any of the OTC medicines except Delsym (orange box). This is not on the list of items being taken off the shelves.

Good luck.

C.