Night Coughing

To rule out pneumonia or bronchial infections, I would take him in.

And I wouldn't give him cough meds.

There are lots of reasons a kid could cough only at night... my son does that from time to time... He has a lot of allergies, and possibly asthma (waiting to diagnose - hopefully he isn't asthmatic)... any allergies can cause coughing at night due to post nasal drip. That would be my first guess, as my son's allergies are flaring up right now due to spring trying to kick in... and he's been coughing at night/in the morning too... and his is from drainage that he needs to clear... then he's ok for the rest of the day for the most part.

I wouldn't be so quick to assume he's faking it...

My son was doing the same thing but running a low-grade fever every other day or 2 days also. It turns out he had walking pneumonia and he only coughed at night when he was laying down. Doesn't hurt to take him to the dr for a check-up just in case.

My kids cough at night because they have asthma and the pollen is irritating their lungs. It's worse when they lay on their backs. Take him in to the DR and have him check out it could be asthma.

yes-my son only coughed at night when he was diagnosed with asthma.

I would take him to the doctor just to be sure. I personally know four people in the last year that have had bad coughs turn into bronchitis and pneumonia. Either there is something in the air or a bad "bug" going around but I would at least have it checked. If it is nothing, then it is nothing and he wants some company at night. At least you will know for sure which one.
Good luck.

Sounds like a post nasal drip to me... :-) When the weather starts changing I always start giving my kids OTC Zyrtek... Allergies cause the sinuses to drain and when they are laying down it drips down their throat and irritates their throats... The kids don't get runny noses, just down the throat drainage... Ask your dr about it !

My 4 year old daughter is going through the same thing she is fine during the day and at night she wakes up coughing and coughing in her sleep and then her and I are both awake. I took her to the Dr and her Dr said that during the day she is able to clear her throat so she isn't coughing during the day and at night she is sleeping and the nasal drip is causing her to cough at night. So the Dr said for me to prompt her head up when she sleeps and they gave me children's sudafed and an antibotic because her throat was red and also some nose spray. I also rub vicks on the soles of the bottom of her feet and put socks on her. Thats seems to help and also a water bottle to help stop the cough. I hope this helps and I hope you little one feels better soon.

You HEAR your son coughing at night.
Thus, he is coughing.
And it is happening.
I would believe him.

Then, as an aside, he per his age, likes to sleep with you. Heck, I did that too when I was that age.
I would wake up, and creep down our long dark scary hallway, just to go to my parents room, to squeeze in between them, and sleep. They let me. I grew out of it. No biggie. I grew out of it one day. They knew I would.
It being childhood. But it is one of my fondest memories, of my childhood, of my parents. I LOVED them, for understanding and not shunning me away. They knew, it was a phase and I was a kid.

Kids at this age, also developmentally, do get night time 'fears' and about the dark. Kid stuff. Childhood.

my son does it every weather change, allergy drainage. try propping him up on more pillows
saline nose spray too

Texas is swarming with allergens right now due to the dryness. When he lays down, all the mucus drains into the throat causing it to be raw and sore. When he is up during the day, the drainage does not happen as much. Give him some Benadryl or other allergy med. Allergies can also create a low grade fever.
My entire family sounds like we have been smokers for ten years-hacking cough and dry throats. Oak pollen has been off the roof.

Get his ears checked-and use a humidifier.

It could be asthma, croup, allergies, a cold...you should take him to the dr. and get a diagnoses. In the meantime, try rubbing Vicks on his chest before bed and running a humidifier in his room

my daughter has some sinus issues, sleeping on an incline pillow helps with
the night coughing

Sounds like it could be allergies. Try a humidifier in his room at night.

Coughs are always worse at night when laying down.

Use a humidifier in the room, it will help no end.

R. M. - Parenting Consultant & Children's Seep Specialist.

Dry air, perhaps?
Cool mist humidifier might help.

There is currently an outbreak of pertussis in the austin area. My daughter got it despite having all her vaccines and it was at night coughing that was bad, and nothing helped her apart from a steamy shower. The test for pertussis is a nose swab, not a pleasant experince, and so if he is faking he most likely won't do it again. I do recommend getting it checked since you have a 14 day window to treat it before it runs its full course of several months.

My son had night coughing and it was allergies/asthma. I got him an allergy friendly pillowcase cover and started him on Zyrtec and that helped a lot.

His cough gets far worse if he catches a cold and now he has been officially dx'd with asthma so he is now on singulair and an inhaler.

I cough all night if I sleep on down, an old pillow (dust mites), or bedding that a cat has laid on.

Glad you decided to check into it. He is not faking.

I know I'm late but I agree could be allergies, ours have been terrible lately!! Cool mist humidifier is the way to go!!! :)