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Baby Cough Remedies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that babies and children under the age of two should not be given any form of decongestant or antihistamine to treat a cough and or a cold. Some of these things will only serve to make a baby sleepy instead of helping the condition. Giving babies and young children these cough and cold medications can produce side effects that can include irritability, hyperactivity and lethargy. As such, finding something to help your baby's cough takes special consideration.

  1. When to Call the Pediatrician

    • If your baby has a persistent cough, it is highly advisable to call the doctor immediately. Also, if the baby is under three months of age, and has a cough which is accompanied by wheezing, running a fever, or has breathing difficulties, seeing a doctor is of the utmost importance.

    Avoid Honey

    • Honey is a common remedy to cure an adult's cough. However, it is not a safe cough remedy for children under one year of age and this is due to the chance of them getting infant botulism. Infant botulism is a rare form of food poisoning and children in this age range are at a higher risk.

    Humidifier or Vaporizer

    • For babies under one year, treating a cough with a humidifier or vaporizer is usually a safe option. However, when you do this, you must be sure that machine is clean. A machine that has been stored damp may have mold or mildew within the machine, which will make the coughing worse. Also, you must resist the temptation to add medications to the water.

    Respiratory Syncytial Virus

    • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a very common illness amid babies and young children. It causes respiratory tract infection and there is no vaccine to prevent it. The only treatment is the use of oxygen and sometimes an infant can be infected with this particular virus more than once. Symptoms of this malady can mimic those of the common cold which do include runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, watery eyes, fever and the development of a worsening cough and breathing that is labored.

    Environmental Factors

    • Numerous environmental factors can trigger coughs in babies. These include allergens, asthma and environmental irritants. Cat dander and/or dust mites can make a baby allergic to his surroundings and produce symptoms that resemble a cold, including the cough. In addition, babies who have asthma or a family history of asthma will tend to cough a lot. Cigarette smoke and other environmental irritants can make a baby cough. Removing these irritants can stop the coughing.

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