Seven Tips To Calm A Child’s Cough

Overall, the summer was a lovely break from the flu, fevers and runny noses. Barring a couple short-lived colds, my son escaped with barely a runny nose. But with winter around the corner, and a bout of Bronchiolitis a couple weeks ago, I know the colds won’t stay away from us for long.

Last winter, my son was sick a lot, and along the way I found a lot of methods that worked well to treat his colds – and in particular, those nasty coughs that often come with the colds. Since cough medicine isn’t okay for small children, here’s how I treat my son’s cough to make him as comfortable as possible.

1. Raw Honey – Raw honey is perfect for coating throats to ease soreness and fight off coughs. Typically I feed my son a small spoonful of honey (about 1/2 a teaspoon) and he gobbles it right up. I also tried my hand at honey lollipops (recipe and directions here) and they were a huge hit with him – even when he’s not sick! Finally, you can also add honey to a bit of hot water and give it to a child as a drink – which is also a great way to get liquids into them too. (Please remember, children under one year of age should not have honey.)
2. Fir Needle Oil – I used to use eucalyptus oil, but recently I found that it’s not safe for children under 10. Now I’ve switched to fir needle oil, which has a number of health benefits for fighting colds, cough and congestion. I like to throw a couple drops in a pot of water and simmer it on the stove all day long to ease his congestion.
3. Steam in the bathroom – Just before bedtime, I try to run a hot, steamy bath and sit with my son in the bathroom for 10-15 minutes to help clear congestion. Adding a couple drops of fir needle oil to the tub can make a big difference as well.
4. Pillow in the crib/bed – Laying down flat causes more congestion, so I like to toss a couple extra pillows in his crib to help him lie propped up. For smaller children, you can also elevate the crib mattress by putting a pillow or rolled up towel under one side of the mattress.
5. Eliminating Dairy – Dairy actually stimulates the production of mucus, so I avoid giving any dairy products while my son is sick to keep the phlegm away.
6. Vicks Babyrub – I apply Vicks Babyrub to his chest and his feet (covered in socks) to help with both congestion and a cough.
7. Humidifier – We actually run this most nights all winter long simply because the Minnesota winters are so cool and dry. It’s a huge help in not only fighting colds and clearing up coughs, but also preventing bloody noses and dry skin.

Those are my tips for calming a toddler’s cough. Other mommas, any you would add?