Methods to Relieve Your Baby’s Cough at Home

Worried About Your Baby’s Cough?

Usually, coughing in babies does not indicate an underlying illness. Cough is a natural reflex of the body to clear your airways. A cough can last for a few days. Most commonly cough is due to a virus and is often accompanied by a cold.

Causes Of Different Types Of Cough In The Baby

Coughing in babies is of different kinds. Evaluating the sound and the symptoms of your baby’s cough is important so that you can seek medical attention for your baby if needed.

• Cough accompanied by cold: Cough and cold are caused by viruses and usually resolve on their own after a few days. Most commonly, these are caused by weather changes.
• Persistent cough: If a cough lasts for a few weeks, most probably it can be due to asthma, allergy, or any infection.
• Day-time and night-time coughs: These can be due to infections or allergies. Sometimes a cough can worsen at night.
• Sudden coughing: The baby may start coughing suddenly due to an obstruction in the airway. This might be due to swallowing an object. Coughing will usually expel the object. However, if you notice your child having breathing difficulty, contact a doctor immediately.
• Wheezing cough: This sound of cough when your child exhales is not normal and may need medical care.
• Stridor: This is a harsh coughing sound made when a baby breathes in and is caused due to infection in the respiratory tract of the baby.
• Whooping cough: This is due to a dangerous condition called pertussis. A whooping sound is heard after severe and prolonged coughing.
• Croup: It is similar to a barking sound and is caused by allergies or infections. It gets worse at night. The windpipes of a baby are narrow and when they swell around the vocal cords of the baby, resulting in difficulty in breathing.

Ways To Cope With Baby’s Cough At Home

You can relieve your baby’s cough at home by taking simple supportive measures Home remedies are not meant to stop the cough altogether.

• You can use saline nasal drops to relieve congestion if the baby has a stuffy nose. Nasal aspirators can be used in infants to clear mucus. Do nasal washes if a baby is unable to breathe through the nose. Put 2-3 drops of saline in each nostril and then suck the liquid coming out from the nose with an aspirator or clear it with a wet cloth to clean the dry mucus around the nose.
• Use a cool-mist humidifier. It prevents mucus in your infant’s airways from drying, making it easy to remove.
• Keep your baby well hydrated by offering plenty of breastmilk to a baby younger than 6 months or plenty of fluids if the baby is above 6 months of age. If it is difficult for the baby to breastfeed, offer the milk through a cup or a bottle.
• Make your baby sit in a steamy bathroom for a few minutes.
• Cough syrups are not recommended until your child is 4 years of age.
• Rub a vapour-containing rub over their chest if he is 2 years older and above.

Don’ts

• Honey is a very palatable sweetener and a favourite home remedy for cough and cold. However, it is not advisable for use in children below 1 year as it can lead to a serious illness called Infant Botulism.

When To See A Doctor?

Consult a paediatrician:

• If your baby has severe cough, wheezing, or stridor.
• If the cough is accompanied by a fever, this usually indicates a throat infection.
• If your baby has a long-lasting cough or coughing is specific to a particular season or environment.
• If your child is unable to breathe or is breathing rapidly.
• If the baby has bluish skin or lips.

Time And Home Remedies Will Be Your Constant Companion

The immune system of a newborn is developing stages and can get triggered by even the smallest of changes. Cough may be one of the many things you will have to know how to deal with as a parent. Although treatment for coughing in babies may not be always necessary, supportive care in the form of home remedies is essential to their health and comfort. Talk to your doctor if you feel your baby’s coughing is extremely bothersome or if the baby is having difficulty in breathing.

Conclusion

While coughs in babies are common and often not a sign of serious illness, understanding the types of coughs and how to alleviate symptoms at home is vital for parents. The blog emphasizes the importance of supportive care and advises when medical consultation is necessary. As a parent, it's essential to be informed and prepared to ensure the comfort and health of your baby.