Ways to Soothe a Baby's Cough
Babies are especially susceptible to developing upper respiratory infections that can cause coughs because they put everything in their mouths and are often around other young children who carry germs on unwashed hands. According to the Mayo Clinic, babies commonly experience 8 to 10 colds in the first two years.
Babies are especially susceptible to developing upper respiratory infections that can cause coughs because they put everything in their mouths and are often around other young children who carry germs on unwashed hands. According to the Mayo Clinic, babies commonly experience 8 to 10 colds in the first two years. While there are a number of ways to soothe a baby's cough, newborns less than 90 days old should be taken to a doctor if they have a cough to avoid serious complications, such as pneumonia or croup.
Step 1
Keep moisture in the baby's room by running a cool-mist humidifier. The extra moisture keeps the baby's throat from getting dry and relieves the nasal congestion that often causes the coughing.
Step 2
Give your child extra fluids to thin the mucus, making it easier for the baby to cough it up, according to the National Institutes of Health. If you are breastfeeding, continue with the practice because breast milk provides extra vitamins that keep babies well.
Step 3
Suction out the excess mucus in the baby's nasal passages with a suction bulb designed for this purpose. In addition to helping the baby breathe better, eliminating the mucus reduces the amount of post-nasal drip in the baby's throat that causes coughing.
Step 4
Massage your baby's chest to help loosen the phlegm causing him to cough. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants and young children often have trouble expelling excess mucus because they don't cough deeply enough.
Step 5
Mix a half tsp. of honey in warm water and feed it to children between the ages of 2 and 5, according to pediatricians at Healthy Children.org. Children over 5 can tolerate 1 tsp. to soothe dry scratchy throats.
Tip
Prevent the serious disease known as whooping cough by getting your baby immunized with the DTaP vaccination, according to Healthy Children.org. The shots should be given to babies at two, four and six months and booster shots provided at 18 months and 4 years.
warning
Children under the age of 2 should not be given over-the-counter cold medications because they can cause serious side effects, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. As a matter of fact, children under the age of 6 can experience side effects such as convulsions, rapid heart rate and even death from over-the counter cold medicines.