My toddler just started coughing the other day and I don't want to give him any cold medication because it never seems to help. I want to give him something to sooth his cough other than constant juice. He doesn't have a fever or much of a runny nose just a nasty cough, so I'm not real sure what to do. Any suggestions?
To be honest the first response that I read to put vicks on his feet I thought that is the craziest thing I've ever heard this person is out of their mind. Then I kept reading more and more people said it so I thought why not it's worth a try. I even told my mom and she started laughing!! Well I put it on at 7:30 and he was cough free till about 3:30 and he woke up coughing, I'm assuming it wore off. I put some more on and within 5 min he was sleeping and not coughing. So I am a believer it works... I'm going to have to try it on myself next time I get sick!!
HI L., When ever my daughter comes down with a cough or cold, I put a humidifier that I bought at wal mart for $10.00 in her room while she sleeps. There is a spot on the top for vix or you can add the liquid vix to the water. She sleeps and so do her dad and I!! Good luck
L. H.
Runny Rhino Cold Relief Pops, available at Walgreen's. They are a bit on the expensive side but something a toddler probably would actually take since it looks just like a sucker!
Hi L. K,
My daughter does this also however, she is 5. (I don't know if that makes a difference) I didn't like using Bendryll because it made her very sleepy, ok at night though. I took her to the pediatrian and she is prescribed to allergy medicine that doesn't make her sleepy. Hope this helps.
L.
How crazy! My grampa sent me an email last night about a new way to clear up coughs -- you place vicks on the bottom of the feet, cover with socks and they say the cough will clear up shortly. It was a study done and the doctors can't believe it works -- it has alot to do with the accupressure points on your feet. Try it -- it could only help :)!
My son had a horrid cough for about a week. He wasn't sleeping well at night and we had already tried putting his bed on an incline and using a humidifer. I decided to try the Vicks nightlight - worked like a charm! He was able to sleep through the night and that marked the turning point of his cough! Best of luck to you!
L.,
Putting Vicks on the bottom of his feet with socks does seem to work for my kids. It is worth a try. A humidifier would also be beneficial.
Are you sure it's just a cough? How long has he had it? My daughter seem to have a constant cough all summer. I finally got the doc to admit she probably has some allergies and put her on liquid Claritin. That worked for a while. The cough never went away. She's now also on Singular and doing so much better. You may want to call your pedi also.
Good luck!
I too just got an email about the vicks on the feet with socks at bedtime. I was very curious about whether it was a hoax or if it really does work. So if you try that, please let us know if it works!!
It's a chance it's allergies. My son gets a raspy cough that is from allergies. Benadryll works the best.
hey L.,
this might sound a little off the wall. but put some vicks (brand) vapor rub on the soles of his feet, and put on a pair of socks... right before bed. do that a couple of nights or so... his cough will disappear. you could also put a little rub on his chest. been there done it, it really does work. take care,
S.
I read somewhere that a pediatrician gave her kids straight corn syrup, because that's the primary ingredient in cough syrup anyway, and it coats the throat. I've never tried it, but it might help. A humidifier at night has always made a huge difference for me.
Good luck.
They have cough patches at the pharmacy, what I have done for both of my kids is cut one in half, and put it on the outside of their pj's so it doesn't bother their sensitive skin, it helps them sleep at night. Then, I just put the other half in a ziplock bag. They work wonders! I think Triaminic is the brand?
Hi L.!
I just read something extremely interesting. In the article I read it said to put Vicks Vapor Rub on the bottom of their feet (works for adults too). It's supposed to start working right away.
Hope this helps!
Blessings!
This may seem wierd but i was told to put a litle Vick's Rub on the bottom of his feet and put socks on him. This does help, i use it on my 1 year old. and my 2-1/2 year old- it does help.
you could even put some on his chest and back, and cover with a warm sweatshirt.
Try some freeze pops- 100% fruit, OJ. for the Vitamin C
My Dr. told me to drink alot of cold Water- when i get a cough and it does help!!
maybe even putting a cool mist vaporizer in his room at night, would help??
Good luck!
Hi L., go back to the basics....tea with honey and lemon. I used to give it to my kids and my mom used to give it to me. Even just honey and lemon help to cut the mucus. Best wishes, C.
I noticed at the store that they have sore throat strips for kids, I think they work like the chloreseptic spray to soothe the throat and like a cough drop.
Hi,
I am a mother of a 5 week old girl and a two year old boy. What I do when my son gets a cough is put vicks vapor rub on his chest, and when he sleeps I make sure to raise the bottom of the bed with a pillow. Keeping his head up helps with the drainage. I also use the vicks plug-ins around the house. One other thing to try, would be a hot shower. Shut all the doors and windows. The steam seems to relieve the cough at least for a little while. Other than that nothing seems to work, but waiting it out. If it starts to get really bad I would take him to the doctor. I tried antibiotics with my son, but that really didn't help when he got his bad cough. Just try some of thos remedies and see if it helps anyway. Good Luck and best wishes.
E.
L., my aunt, how is very interested in herbal remedies, just sent me an e-mail suggesting you put vicks on the bottom of your feet (or kids) put on socks and go to bed. with in 5 minutes the deep cough should quiet. its something that is absorbed rather than ingested and has been used forever. next time my son has a cough i'm going to try it. if you are interested in reading the artcle let me know.
m
L.,
I just read an article about soothing coughs in children without giving them medication that works 100% of the time. Apparently you should put Vick's Vapor Rub on your childs feet and put socks over their feet. This apparently suppresses the cough for several hours at a time and is especially good at bedtime because it is soothing and helps them sleep. I haven't tried it myself but it's worth a try since it's non-invasive and easy to do.
We use a cold mist humidifier almost constantly during the winter for our kids. Another thing I heard of and have tried is rubbing Vicks vapo rub on the soles of their feet. I also use essential oils such as eucalyptus, lavender, and peppermint in a blend with a lotion and rub all over their back and chest. It really seems to help and when my daughters get croopy, I even put a small drop of certain oils on the crown of their heads. The vapors really help them to breathe better and soothe the inflammation and it's all natural. You can find out a ton on the internet if you just google, natural ways to cure a cough, or how to use essential oils.
Hope that helps! :)
Try putting Vics Vapor Rub on his feet and then put socks on and have it sit over night as he sleeps. This should help him not cough. There are many pressure points in our feet and this will calm his coughing spells.
If his throat hurts from coughing, I would give him some warm decaf mint tea with honey and lemon juice in it!!! Always helps me!!
F*Y*I...Was reading through some of the other posts, and just wanted to let you know that it's children under a year that can't have honey b/c it can cause botulism, after a year is fine!! Also, the vick's on the feet sounds interesting!!! LOL
I use vicks and a humidifier. I agree that it works wonders. If your child doesn't like the way it feels on his skin put it on his clothes. I put on their chest, back, and neck. Also Dylsom works very well too. It is just for coughing. My ped reccomended it and it helped my son sleep. Good luck!!
I'm sure everyone has given you this advice which is don't give cough/cold medicine to kids under six, according to the new FDA guidelines after the latest research shows that not only does it not work, it may even be harmful in some cases. Other people may have a list of ingredients to avoid....good luck!
All the responses are great!!! Just thought I'd add-don't give him so much juice!! He needs to drink water. I squeeze some fresh lemon juice in my kids water, especially when they are sick, because it gives them extra vit C. to boost their immune system. Also, the humidifier definetly works. Load up on moisture and vitamin rich fruits, like canaloupe.
Keep him in a moist area as much as possible... Warm baths, humidifier in his room, even just run a really hot shower and let him play with some toys on the floor of the bathroom so he'll breathe in the moist air coming from the shower. Good luck to you, hope the little guy feels better soon :)
I have put Vick's vapor rub on my kids feet and put socks on over them. It soothed the cough for my kids. I also use the Dimetapp Elixir. My kids are 5 and 2.
I hope your son gets rid of the cough soon.. :)
Hi Lacy!
I always resort to an old tried and true - hot (or warm) tea with honey and lemon juice. The honey helps coat his throat to sooth the cough and the lemon juice gives him extra vitamens...
Good luck!
E. T.
Yes, I use the vicks and a humidifier--works wonders. I know babies should not get honey, but I have two kids and have worked with kids for years, and never herd that they shouldn't have honey until they are three. I think it is one year!
Hi L.,
Look up online about apple cider vinegar and honey. I have no idea the dose for a toddler but this is a miracle solution for coughing and throats. Apple cider vinegar is actually a big holistic health cure for a number of problems.
The measurements I have heard are 2 tbls acv and 1 tbls honey, you can dilute it with water... your little guy may not like the taste but if it helps :) Good luck.
H.
This sounds a bit crazy and I haven't tried it yet, but a couple weeks ago, after the childrens cold medicine recall, I heard on the news that to calm a cough you can put VapoRub on your feet and cover them with socks. They couldn't explain why it works, but supposidly it does. If you give it a try let me know how it works out. Good Luck - I've got a toddler with a cold too, just no cough.
