Help!! My 2 year old can't stop coughing at night.

[guslisa]

He's got a terrible head cold and the drip causes constant coughing all night. We're all exhausted! The poor guy literally coughs about every 4-5 seconds; his throat must be raw.

I've tried benadryl to dry him up, and it worked alittle, he had 10-15 minute intervals without coughing. But after a few hours, it went back to constant.

Any tips???

[Joyous]

I haven't tried this since hearing about it as the kids haven't been sick this winter yet....but maybe try rubbing vicks (with socks on top) on his feet. Do a search it sounds like it sometimes works.

[Emma]

Hi there! Here's what we do that's helped a bit...a humidifier to keep the air moist helps so much! Also...have you tried baby Vicks and a Vick's vaper bath before bedtime? My kids are 3...I can't remember how old your little guy is....but when things are really bad we do the children's triaminic and I give them 1/2 a dose due to their age. If I do this it's when they haven't been given ANYTHING else like benedryl, tylenol, or ibuprofen....works well for us. Also...I did try the Vicks on the feet w/ socks after reading a post here and whether it was a fluke or really worked I don't know...but my little one slept well that night. I was willing to try anything to help everyone get some sleep! Oh...you also might try elevating his pillow a little bit w/ some blankets or something....I've done that before and that seems to help w/ drainage. Hope this helps...good luck! ~Emma

[Rebekah]

My 21 month old was coughing like crazy last night too. A cool mist humidifier always seems to help plus last night I gave her Tylenol cold and cough medicine.

[Emma]

By the way...your avitar is so very cute! Look at that beautiful twin belly....why didn't mine look like that when I was pg w/ my twins?! Three words described mine...Stretch Mark City!!! ~Emma

[BC-NanceLee]

Are you sure he is not asthmatic at all? Asthma is almost always triggered by a cold, and coughing is just like wheezing for some kids/people.

[Zoey]

you may want to bring him to the dr.. just incase.
My kids were dx with the influenza virus.
I did otc cough syrup, vaporizer, vicks on the feet/chest/neck
Finally, last night I went ahead and gave oldest ds a breathing nebulizer treatment (it was his little brothers rx, but it worked).

[eli]

Just a month or so ago I remember hearing about a study showing that a tsp of honey was more effective at stopping coughing. Here's the info:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/12/03....ap/index.html

[kell2]

I was going to suggest the humidifier too. That works great for my kids.

[Kylie]

Put a humidifier in his room!