Tips for helping a 8mo with a cough

[~Bec~]

Any ideas on how I can help DS with his cough? I'm taking him to the docs tomorrow afternoon but was wondering if anyone had any bright ideas in the meantime. It's worse from about 4:30am onwards and he usually only dozes from this point until he wakes up properly in the morning. (He's usually in our bed in between us at head height.) I've had plenty of respiratory infections over the years and one thing that helped me was to sit up more, especially when trying to sleep. His cot is slightly raised so that his head is higher. When he gets unsettled during the night that's when we bring him into our bed so that we can resettle him there (which works well). If his cough is bad I often put a pillow underneath him but it's to raise his upper body (not just his head) so it rest about his lower back. If he's still coughing madly I sit him up and lean him against me for support. He usually falls asleep like this and then I will move him to a more horizontal position (I sound a bit cruel making a baby sleep sitting up but it does help his cough). Unfortunately he hasn't worked out how to cough it up and spit it out so he just keeps coughing. Poor little tyke. He's never distressed by it - barely even gets grumpy.

Any suggestions?

[hayleylea]

i dont know if you are into trying any medicines etc. But infant demazin is really good for colds. Dont know if it will help with the cough though, but i suppose it stops the snot from going to his back of his throate which might stop the cough???? They can have it from 6 months of age.

Sounds like your doing the right thing by raising his head etc...Maybe try a vapouriser in his room aswell?

[HunterzMummy]

Do you have a steam blower thing (cant remember its proper name lol) If not you can get it from a chemist $50 Hippo they are worth the investment..you just leave it running during naps. Also buy the vicks drops that you put in it.

I use to bath bub, then let the steam fill the bathroom (in the shower) then rub vicks over his chest and back. Raise his mattress with a pillow under it. then put him down with the hippo deluxe.. It makes such a difference.

[tobmac]

i raise the cot with phone books and put a pillow under mydd2 when she was like this. has he been to the dr and have they given him anything? ask for a chest xray as my dd2 was really sick and it showed on the xray and they did more tests and after awhile she did get better, the weather changes dont help much

[sueb31]

It sounds like a vaporiser would help. It might be some bronchospasm after a cold (abit like can happen in asthma in older kids / adults). The dryness and irritation of the throat makes them cough. The vaporizer helps by increasing humidity. They cost about $40 from teh chemist. You will know the first night if it helps.

An alternative is putting them in a steamy room or putting hot water in a saucepan in their room but I always worry about burns and accidents so don't like that idea myself.

Sue

[~Bec~]

THanks ladies - I've just been reading another thread and have decided to pick up a vaporiser after work this afternoon.
xx