HELP!! Any night time cough / cold magic remedies ?

[MM22]

So we've gone through many coughs and colds, but last night was by far the worst. My 3 year old spent the entire night up with a bucket thinking she was going to be sick as she was coughing so hard. The cough is clearly due to her cold and she seems relatively ok during the day.

I've lifted the head end of the bed with books, given her nurofen, saline spray, childrens vicks... but nothing seems to help her sleep - the coughing is terrible!

Any advice? I really don't want to have to resort to antibiotics but I'm running out of solutions... helpppppp!!

Desperately tired! x

[Strawbs]

vaporiser will help. x

[pripolla]

Any steam helps, even from the shower! Also warm liquids - warm apple or orange juice with a little honey - but avoid milk as it makes the mucus worse. Hope this helps, works for us. Good luck!

[jennyh]

Definitely vaporiser! Seriously good. We have a Vicks one.

[Saffron]

Well, antibiotics are not likely to help anyway. Here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-20767470 , in a recent article the Lancet confirms what other published works have been reporting for years: "Antibiotics are ineffective in treating patients with persistent coughs caused by mild chest infections, the Lancet journal reports."

Little Saff has coughed herself to vomiting on a number of occasions over recent weeks. It's so disheartening. Out of desperation one morning a couple of weeks ago (when we were both coughing and miserable), I let her have some of my Lemsip. It did make her much better. BUT, then I felt guilty when I looked up the expectorant ingredient gauifenisen, only to discover that some studies reported an increased risk of adverse events in toddlers given this drug, eg diarrhoea, allegy, etc.

I did think about going to the GP to ask about getting an expectorant on prescription, but her cough is slowly improving on its own. Maybe worth checking with you GP if the cough doesn't get better?

[SebsC]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Vicks-Paediatric-Mini-Ultrasonic-Humidifier/dp/B003XQNDH0

I bought one of these. Definitely on my top ten of must have baby products. Whenever LO has a cold I put this in his room when he sleeps and definitely seems to help his breathing.

[Bonfire2010]

We've got the same one as SebsC and I think it's one of the best things we have bought. Definitely helps when my son has a cough/cold.

[marypoppins]

Sudafed is amazing, get the blue bottle an give 2.5mls morning an night ONLY!! It's been a must in our medicine cupboard since doctor recommended it few years back!!!!! Hope you have a better night...

[The Nappy Lady]

Isn't Sudafed 6 plus now? Most of the 'decent' meds have been reclassified.

[Saffron]

Yes, many of the active ingredients in cough meds for young children have been reclassified. Basically, if your child is under 6 yo, you probably need to see a doctor for a prescription if the cough requires medical attention beyond a boiled sweet: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/hard-to-swallow-the-truth-about-toddlers-cough-medicines-803077.html. This is an old article, and there have been even more strict reclassifications recently. Basically, the medical concensus is that for the incidence of side effects in young children, the benefit seen from these meds is not significant to justify the SE. (Sigh.)

We've been going round in circles here from one cough/cold to another all autumn, debating whether there's any point going to the GP or not. I feel like, more than likely, I'd go and they'd say to give Little Saff paracetamol... oh yes, then let's not forget that paracetamol is correlated with asthma... so have a pat on the back and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Decided not to go in the end...

(double sigh)

[gigglesworthy]

My 5 year old has had a terrible cough/chest infection - we nearly ended up in A&E on account of no space at our local doctors and a really bad night of bad breathing. We finally got an appt and he was given antibiotics and an inhaler in case his breathing got worse again (the doc said this respiratory thing is rife at the moment). We are now doing both anti-bios and occasionally the inhaler and he is much improved however a BRILLIANT thing someone suggested to us was to rub vicks on your child's feet and then put socks on. I cant tell you how it helped his breathing and gave him the first non-coughing night. Its worth trying... Good luck all.

[damzel]

Vicks on feet? I'll be trying that on my little girl tonight. How funny

[susyp]

yes i have heard of vicks thing - it makes sense in a reflexology sense but didn;t work for us.

just wanted to say as I posted a similar thread recently - thank god after 4 horrendous weeks my daughter now only has a slight cough - wakes her up at 6am but at least we get to there ok - the end is in sight even if you think you are drowning! coughs are so awful!

susypx

[susyp]

Just wanted to bump in case anyone has a problem with recurrent cough - my daughter's chronic cough returned today for third time (each time 5 days of health - then it;s back!) - on her first really bad day she always vomits loads of mucus - well she did this today just as my entire family arrived for lunch. Nice!

I had bought the vicks warm mist humidifier on recommendation of people on forum. However v nervous to use it cos we have just had her room decorated . But I decided tonight - we can repaint the room - we can't take any more sleepless nights. So on it goes.

2 HOURS not one cough. I mean that's an eternity for her even during her "well" periods!

my only problem is that I don't think I filled it enough so will be getting up at 3am to shut it off! But it definitely seems to be working.

will see in the morning how the paint's looking!!

susypx

[Saffron]

Does it plug into the mains? You could put a timer on the socket?

[susyp]

Doctor now says thinks its a dust mite allergy brought on by a cold. So out goes humidifer onto anti histamine and steriods. It completely makes sense actually. Just putting this on in case it's relevant to anyone else.

susypx

[Vickyg]

Hi All, something to consider especially for nocturnal coughs is asthma. Often bought on by viral infections in the under ones, but common at all ages. Should respond to Ventolin inhaler which can be prescribed by GP.