Hi K.,
It is hard to listen and watch our wee ones cough so much, but as long as her Dr. has cleared her of any serious conditions, such as whooping cough etc...her cough will get better a little everyday, but probably will hang around for a couple of weeks. My 3 yr old is also healing from a very nasty cold, and that's when it seems that the cough is almost worse than in the beginning sometimes. It's actually good for them to cough because it helps clear out their lungs. But if it disrupts their sleep then they don't get the rest they need which wears down their body a bit and it seems like it takes forever for them to be 100% doesn't it? So this is what I suggest...after 12 yrs of trial and error, having a RN as a friend, Dr's old fashioned and modern advice, and my own intuition of not relying on medication all the time for my family.
A cool air humidifier does help, but you have to be careful because the extra moisture can cause mold and when mold spores grow rampant it is NOT good for anyones health. Use it sparingly, and make sure you clean it well everyday with vinegar, heck a few drops of tea tree oil might work too...it's a natural disenfectant.
She's pretty young, but over one year...maybe a little bit of honey to soothe her cough a bit so she can rest.
Warm liquids. Beef broth is really great to drink especially when we are sick because the protien and vitamins in beef really boosts our immune system. I also give my children a daily dose of Fish Liver Oil (omega fatty 3 acids, small amount....not just great for the brain, but can boost the immune system as well. Nordic Naturals for children is a great vitamin brand.
You want to keep her warm, but a shot of cold air (like going outside for a minute or the humidifier), helps them take a deep breath which increases that exchange of gases and oxygen to her lungs and helps clear them out.
I havn't tried it yet, but I'm looking into acupressure to help soothe a bad coughing fit. Just google acupressure for coughs and you'll get oodles of info.
There are certain yoga moves that are great for adults when sick...I'm sure there are modified yoga moves for children as well. Research on internet unless you know a good yogi.
If her cough is worse at night, prop her upper body up more, or just pick her up and hold her upright on your chest while you walk her around or rock her until the coughing passes. Laying flat worsens the cough.
Running and being really active worsens a coughing fit..which has 2 sides to it...the coughing helps expel the bad stuff, but it's no fun at all for her to cough so much...as long as my kids are acting and looking "normal" without a temp., I can't really stop them from being active, even on their "sick" days, but I make sure they have more calm time so their bodies can rest.
LOTS of water or some low sugar juice. Water is one of the best things to put into our bodies when we are sick.
I also know a chiropractor and a myopracticioner and they both say that even young children benefit from adjustments to help them through their sicknesses and to support a healthy immune system.
As long as she acting and looking normal and her temp and heart rate are normal, unfortunatley her cough could linger for a while. Just keep her comfortable as much as possilbe, knowing that her coughing is actually doing some good for her.
Though I use mostly basic old fashioned 'chicken soup' remedies for my family when thier illness seems normal and/or they are cleared from the Doc. I will give my kids modern medicine if the natural, homeopathic ways are not working. There are pediatric OTC medicines. I think that they have come a long way, but have heard some news about children's cough medicines that it really isn't that helpful or healthy...I really think they should be the last resort. Research some of the Naturopathic children's "medicines" that are out there.
As with anything...make sure you do your homework when seeking the best ways to treat your children. Base your decisions on inner wise mamma instinct, being informed and educated, and making your choice out of love and not fear. Fear always clouds our best judgment..ie: "I won't give my children antibiotics or medicine because it's worse in the long run", when actually using modern medicine may be better choice for a certain situation. OR, "I don't believe alternative medicine works and I only listen to my Dr."....when an alternative approach will work just as well and will be healther in the long run for certain conditions. And ALWAYS make sure any natural medicines you give your children will not interfere with any regular medication they are taking.
Eastern medicine, alternative medicine, old fashioned remedies, AND modern western medicine can all work beautifully together when we empower ourselves enough to be informed and take action. (sorry, just my 2 cents about all the extreme views of medicine in our culture:)
As I'm typing at 1 am, my little one is crying out for me because her cough is waking her up:) Now it's off to take care of her.
Best of luck with finding the right remedy for your daughter.
In peace,
A.
mom of 4