Treatment for Cough

I use Baby Vics on my kids' chests when they are sick with a cold. It eases the cough, especially at night. It's also safe to give him a teaspoon of honey before bed, too.

Put Vicks rub on his feet and cover with socks at bed time. I'm not sure why/ how, but this really works.

D.,
Do what Monica suggested. The vicks vapor rub on the feet. If your child will leave socks on even better. It REALLY does work. I do this before I even distribute cough medicine.

When my boys have a "wet" cough, I give them some Children's Benadryl about 1/2 hour before bed - I don't give a full dose, but it is usually enough to help dry up the loose stuff so they can get some rest. (They are 18 mo and 27lbs - I give them 1/2 or 2/3 of a tsp). I do not give them any during the day because they need to get it out of their bodies. Also, the Vicks plug-ins REALLY seem to help too. Good luck!

My kids move around a lot in their sleep too, so instead of propping their heads up we propped up the bed itself. I put a couple of thick textbooks under the legs so that unless they were upside down in bed their head was higher.

Hi D.,
I have a little one who just turned 2 on 2/14 & is going through the same thing. She likes "hot" tea with honey & lemon in her sippy ~ it's really warm tea. Honey is a natural cough supresent (sp?). There is a company called Hyland's that makes a 100% natural cough supresent. I've read on this sight to put Vix vapo rub on the bottoms of the baby's feet then put socks or p.j.'s w/ feet on & it helps the cough. I tried it last night on our 2 year old & I've tried it with our 8 year old. It works fairly well & I don't know how! Good luck!

There is a mucinex for children you can use. They have a version for chest and nasal decongestant. Give her extra fluids to assist the meds to work. I might also suggest using Nyquil and Dayquil (or the generic brand) for children. Then prop her up at night. That usually does the trick for my family.

Have you taken him to the doctor? With it going on that long you probably need too. You need to make sure it's not gotten down in his chest. There's a nasty bug going around that needs an antibiotic to get rid of it. Everyone I know who's had it has needed one. The Vick's on the feet and chest work great!!!

Love love love the Vicks idea. It works WONDERS!! The other suggestion I'd add, is a kids "Throat Coat" tea. You can get it at the health food store. I make a lukewarm to warm tea, depending on how hot your child can tolerate. Throw in some honey and let them sip away. The honey and the warm slick treatment of the tea, sometimes relieves the tickle in the back of their throat triggering the cough reflex. If propping doesn't work, just do the best you can. He'll work it out to where he is comfortable and can rest.
If the cough is productive, let it go. It is naturally cleansing the body of all it's crud. If it goes longer than a week, I'd call the MD.

instead of the vaporizer try the "cool mist humidifier" my children have asthma and to help them sleep through the nite w/out the cough i give them a little cough medicine and put the cool mist. it really does help.

A wet cough is productive so he needs to get the junk cleared out of his body. I used Vicks vapor rub on my children's chests and throats, they got a little honey and lemon in a small cup of tea to help coat their throats to keep them from getting raw. If the cough is bothering you a lot you might talk to your pharmacy about cough syrup.

Ever since the cough/cold medicines were taken off the shelves for toddlers, we've used honey. Our pediciatrician recommended for our 2 yr olds to use 1/2 tsp of honey for coughs.

Hi, D.! We have experienced coughing several times this winter, and the Vick's on the bottom of the feet works. I put it on my 12 year old son's feet, and I think he coughed twice all night, where he was coughing all night prior to the Vick's. I also put it on my 16 month old daughter's feet before I put her jammies on, and she never made a peep and slept all night! I also put it on both of their chests to help them breathe better. The other thing I've been doing in the morning when they get up is make them some decaf warm tea. It seems to help with the yuck in the back of their throats. Good luck with your little man!

Put a humidifier in the room at night and Baby Vicks on the bottom of his feet and then cover his feet with socks. Worked for my 20 month old son last month! He may wake up again in about 4 or 5 hours, so you may have to reapply the Vicks on the bottom of his feet. I know it sounds crazy, but it works! Oh also, give him 1 - 2 teaspoons of honey before he goes to bed. This will help coat his throat and was recommended by his pediatrician.

I read an article that said to put vick vapor rub on the bottom of your feet and to put socks on and sleep with the socks on at night. I haven't tried it but have heard that it really works. wishing you the best.

K. McConnell

I haven't been able to try this because since my mom reminded me of this remedy, my kids have been pretty healthy. However, I have heard many moms rave about how well Vix vapo rub on the feet works! You just slather a fair amount on their feet (soles) and put socks on. I also rub it on their chests when mine have colds. My mom is a massage therapist and uses a lot of reflexology. The area on top of the foot right under the toes and the area on the ball of the foot beneath the toes are the areas for chest/lung. You could massage those areas for a more natural way to help relieve the congestion/cough. Good luck!!!

I know this sounds strange for treating a cough but my mom and sister in law swear by it. I have yet to have a reason to try it. After your sons bath rub Vick's vapor rub on the bottom of his feet and have him sleep in socks. They say this works every time but I have no idea. It wouldn't hurt to try it if you have the vapor rub around. Good luck and I hope he gets well soon!