Treat Toddler Coughs At Home Effectively

Introduction

There are many ways to ease a toddler’s cough at home without medicine, such as honey (for children over 1 year), fluids, saline drops, and a cool-mist humidifier.

Colds and coughs are common breathing problems in young children. Most colds get better on their own. Helping your child feel comfortable and managing the symptoms makes recovery easier.

The FDA does not recommend over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for children under 2, and many product labels say not to use them under age 4.

Paying attention to the sound of the cough can also give parents clues about its cause:

• Coughing comes from the chest: Due to mucus in the airway.
• Dry cough from the upper throat: Due to infection and swelling around the larynx.
• Light cough with sneeze: Due to postnasal drip.

A cough after a cold can last up to two weeks or more. Here are Health My Lives cough remedies for children at home, to limit the need for medicine.

Call a doctor if your child has labored breathing, wheezing, blue lips, a fever of 102°F or higher, signs of dehydration, or is getting worse.

Cough remedy for toddlers at home

Cough for toddlers with honey

Honey is a natural sweetener which helps soothe a sore throat.

Honey can ease nighttime coughing in children over 1 year. However, honey is not safe for babies under 1 year old because it can cause infant botulism, a serious illness.

For toddlers over 1, parents can give about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of honey, for example before bed. You can also mix honey with warm water for the child to drink. The extra fluid helps thin mucus, making it easier for the child to cough it up.

Use nasal salt drops

Saline nasal drops or sprays are a safe remedy for children. They can reduce postnasal drip, which may ease coughing spells. If your baby has a stuffy nose, use saline drops to loosen mucus, then gently remove it with a bulb syringe.

Provide lots of fluids

Staying hydrated is especially important when your child is sick. Fluids keep airways moist and help thin mucus. Offer drinks often throughout the day.

Children do not have to drink only water; you can offer a variety of drinks and foods to tempt them, such as milk, diluted juice, watermelon, or yogurt.

Use a humidifier

You should increase the amount of moisture in the air to reduce the risk of triggering of your baby’s cough during sleep or at rest.

When buying a humidifier, choose a cool-mist humidifier. The FDA advises avoiding warm-mist humidifiers. Use distilled water if possible, and clean the humidifier often to prevent mold and bacteria.

How to treat cough for children with chicken soup?

A bowl of warm (not hot) chicken soup is comforting and easy to eat. It provides fluids and nutrients, and the warm steam may help loosen mucus.

Cough for toddlers with saltwater

Gargling warm salt water can soothe a sore throat, but most toddlers can't gargle without swallowing. Save this remedy for older children who can gargle and spit reliably.

Mix about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water, and supervise your child while they gargle.

Cough for toddlers with essential oils

Homemade chest rubs made with essential oils such as peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary, and clove oil are not a safe choice for toddlers.

• Peppermint (menthol) and eucalyptus oils can trigger breathing problems in young children.
• Essential oils can be poisonous if a child swallows them, even in small amounts, and can irritate the skin.
• Do not use homemade oil rubs on babies or toddlers. Ask your pediatrician before using any chest rub, and call Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) if your child swallows an essential oil.

How to treat cough for children with ginger

Warm ginger drinks are a traditional cough remedy. There is little evidence that ginger itself treats coughs in children, but a warm drink can soothe the throat. For children over 1, you can mix a little fresh ginger and lemon juice into warm water with honey.

Hopefully, with the cough remedies for toddlers that we suggested above, you can ease your child's coughing spells. If the cough lasts more than a few weeks or your child seems very sick, see a doctor.

Sources

• Should You Give Kids Medicine for Coughs and Colds?, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Infant botulism, MedlinePlus