A cough is the body's reaction to infection, irritants in the air and allergies. Antibiotics will not cure viral infections or help heal a cough faster. Most coughs caused by infection last one to two weeks, then go away on their own. While stopping the cough completely may not be possible, simple home remedies help relieve your baby's cough and make sleeping easier. Seek medical attention immediately if your infant turns blue, has difficulty breathing, has a high fever over 103 degrees Fahrenheit or coughs up blood.
Step 1
Use a cool-mist vaporizer in your infant's room to moisten dry air and ease his cough. Run the vaporizer for 30 to 60 minutes before putting your infant to bed to allow the machine to put moisture in the air. Clean your vaporizer and change the water daily to prevent the growth of mold or bacteria. Hot-water vaporizers can cause serious burns and should not be used in an infant's room, according to the Healthy Children website.
Step 2
Continue to nurse or bottle-feed your infant at his normal feeding times. Fluids keep your baby hydrated while easing his cough and moistening his irritated throat. "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Children" states that congested infants have trouble nursing or bottle-feeding. Make feeding easier for your infant by using a bulb syringe to clear excess mucus.
Step 3
Make sure your infant is getting plenty of rest. A cough can keep a baby up at night and make napping difficult during the day. Keep his nasal passages clear to help ease his cough and make sleeping easier.
Step 4
Close the door to the bathroom and run a hot shower to loosen congestion. The steam created by the shower helps loosen chest and nasal congestion, making it easier for your baby to breathe. Sit in the bathroom with your infant for up to 20 minutes. Remove loosened mucus from your infant's nose with a bulb syringe every few minutes. Do a steam treatment before bedtime to ease cough symptoms, making it easier for your infant to fall asleep.
Step 5
Purchase saline drops or solution from your local pharmacy. Dr. Renee Jenkins, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommends using saline drops and a bulb syringe to loosen and remove mucus from your infant's nasal passages. Put a few drops on a cotton swab and gently swab the inside of your infant's nostrils. Allow time for the mucus to loosen, then gently suction out mucus with a bulb syringe. Use this remedy as often as necessary while cough symptoms persist.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid over-the-counter cough or cold medicines as a remedy for your infant, which have been known to cause severe health problems in children under the age of 2.
